Tehillah Ministries Inc is a not-for-profit missions organisation, incorporated in Queensland Australia, and a registered Australian charity, formed in January 2000. We exist to provide Christ-Centred Ministry for the relief of poverty, suffering, distress, misfortune and helplessness of people both spiritually and physically, in the South Pacific.
Our motto is ”Equipping the Church“.
During the 1990’s, some of our missionaries were deployed in Papua New Guinea. They observed first hand the difficulties faced by the leaders of the emerging National church as missions handed over total responsibility to them, then withdrew from their country. Gradually, through lack of finances, resources, on-going training, encouragement and sometimes discipline, some leaders faltered. Others gave up, some even succumbed to the temptations of power and authority. The majority however, continued to faithfully serve the Lord, but under ever increasing difficulties.
Ernie & Marilyn Gunders, at the end of a term of service in PNG, while debriefing with mission leaders, shared their vision for future service. They had the seeds of a new idea to address the problems they’d encountered on the field; A self-contained ”Mobile Resource Centre“, able to support missionaries in remote and isolated areas for extended periods of time. Additionally it should be able to carry any resource materials which might be needed in teaching, helping, equipping and providing for the needs of communities, and especially of churches in these remote areas
They were encouraged to pursue this God-given plan, and wait on Him for further guidance. To fulfil their vision they needed a boat, specifically a sailing yacht, something not readily available to typical missionaries, and they tried unsuccessfully to obtain a boat.
For 18 months they prayed and waited for God to reveal His plan and purpose for them. They undertook sailing lessons, formed Tehillah Ministries, and became affiliated with Coastlands Ministries Inc, an organisation which facilitates the operation of Christian boats operating in the South Pacific. By then they felt ready to continue their ministry - but there was still no boat.
And then it happened… Unexpectedly, an email arrived at Coastlands from an unknown couple in the USA. ”We have a 32 foot yacht, could you use it?“ Coastlands immediately contacted Ernie, and together they discussed a possible response. Ernie emailed his resume to America and 10 days later came the reply,
”My wife and I would love to give our yacht to Ernest and his ministry.“
So began a wonderful relationship with Pastor Brett and Leigh-Anne Monk in the USA which continues to strengthen today.
Brett and Leigh-Anne had a similar vision: to use a yacht for ministry to isolated people. They purchased a suitable boat, named it ”Special Effects“ and spent some years refurbishing and preparing it for the work ahead. By 2000 they were ready to go, just as Brett was ordained and took up the leadership of a new church. Now they had no need of their boat! Had they misread the Lord’s direction in buying the boat in the first place? Or was it meant for some other missionaries?
They searched the internet for a mission organisation who could make use of their boat and found Coastlands, thinking it was based in the USA. And that was the boat Tehillah was praying for! It came ”home“ from the USA on the deck of a cargo ship and was unloaded in Brisbane. Because we are a charity, there was no Customs duty or import tax to pay. Friends of Tehillah sent their semi-trailer to Brisbane, loaded ”Special Effects“ and delivered her to Hervey Bay.
Since then she’s operated in the Torres Strait, north of Australia, and into Bougainville, PNG. She’s proven the point - this is a very effective way to minister to the isolated and remote - in a ”Mobile Resource Centre“, actually a floating mission station.
The United Church of Papua New Guinea, Bougainville Region, has invited Tehillah to participate in a long term program to strengthen, train and equip their leadership. This begins with the construction of a Pastor’s and Vocational Training Centre to be situated on the old mission station of Skotolan on the west coast of Buka. Tehillah will provide initial training and administrative staff as we work towards our eventual replacement with National staff.
These plans are now formalised, a Memorandum of Understanding between participating parties has been signed, and the training program commences in 2006. The UCPNG owns two coconut and cocoa plantations in Bougainville which were developed last century to provide a continuing income for the Church. Unfortunately these were largely destroyed during the crisis, and 16 years of neglect has now rendered them virtually useless.
Tehillah has begun the planning necessary to conduct a long term rehabilitation program for these plantations. Research is currently being carried out into the viability of the remaining trees, the replacement of many of them, the production of coconut oil, and opportunities for value adding to it on-site.
Tehillah continues to grow in size and commitment.
Many small islands and atolls lie dotted around the coast of Bougainville and further out into the Pacific. These are home to numerous small villages. They are remote and isolated, some are extremely difficult to get to. ”Special Effects“ has a unique role to play in providing transport, accommodation and resource supplies for missionaries visiting these places. Many places long isolated from the community by distance and the results of the crisis are once again able to receive ministry teams who come with fresh faces, new ideas for presenting the Gospel, medical help and resources. Yet they don’t need accommodation, toilets or food to be provided for them. The yacht does that.
Local churches are asking for training for their Sunday School teachers, Youth Leaders, Women’s Fellowship Leaders and others. They also need resources. Local communities are asking for vocational training in many areas. Needs and opportunities to help are everywhere.
Tehillah is there and working on many projects, Click Here to find out more.
