Wallis and Futuna
Missionary reports first baptisms on South Pacific island of Wallis
On a beautiful, moonlit night, Daniel and Anne-Marie gave their lives to the Lord.
It was low tide on the island of Wallis, so missionary Barry Baggott had to walk at least a half mile through ankle-deep water to find a suitable spot for baptism.
“Every once in a while Daniel would steer us clear of an area where we might step on a stingray, cut ourselves on some coral or get tangled in seaweed,” Baggott said.
It was the missionary’s first trip to the French territory of Wallis and Futuna, small islands in the South Pacific, north of Fiji. The territory, home to about 15,000 souls, has no known Churches of Christ.
Baggott, who oversees a ministry that produces French Gospel literature in Nashville, Tenn., traveled with longtime coworker Bob Prater, who currently lives in Germany. They began the trip in New Caledonia, an island of 249,000 people, northwest of Australia, that also is a French territory and has no Churches of Christ. They spoke to religious groups on the island and conducted Bible studies before flying to Wallis.
The workers also made a two-day visit to the island of Futuna. The island is divided into two kingdoms. In one of them, Sigave, the king refuses to let non-Catholic groups evangelize, Baggott said. In the other, Alo, the missionaries met with a small evangelical church. The church’s members showered the men with flower leis for their journey back to Wallis.
“We were touched by how quickly and warmly this group took us in,” Baggott said, “and pray that this will be an open door for teaching in the future.”
Baggott hopes to make another trip to the islands later this year to follow up with new contacts and to encourage new Christians Daniel and Anne-Marie.
“Things won’t be easy for them, but they are ready to suffer for the Lord’s sake,” he said. “So it looks like the church has begun on Wallis and Futuna.”
It was low tide on the island of Wallis, so missionary Barry Baggott had to walk at least a half mile through ankle-deep water to find a suitable spot for baptism.
“Every once in a while Daniel would steer us clear of an area where we might step on a stingray, cut ourselves on some coral or get tangled in seaweed,” Baggott said.
It was the missionary’s first trip to the French territory of Wallis and Futuna, small islands in the South Pacific, north of Fiji. The territory, home to about 15,000 souls, has no known Churches of Christ.
Baggott, who oversees a ministry that produces French Gospel literature in Nashville, Tenn., traveled with longtime coworker Bob Prater, who currently lives in Germany. They began the trip in New Caledonia, an island of 249,000 people, northwest of Australia, that also is a French territory and has no Churches of Christ. They spoke to religious groups on the island and conducted Bible studies before flying to Wallis.
The workers also made a two-day visit to the island of Futuna. The island is divided into two kingdoms. In one of them, Sigave, the king refuses to let non-Catholic groups evangelize, Baggott said. In the other, Alo, the missionaries met with a small evangelical church. The church’s members showered the men with flower leis for their journey back to Wallis.
“We were touched by how quickly and warmly this group took us in,” Baggott said, “and pray that this will be an open door for teaching in the future.”
Baggott hopes to make another trip to the islands later this year to follow up with new contacts and to encourage new Christians Daniel and Anne-Marie.
“Things won’t be easy for them, but they are ready to suffer for the Lord’s sake,” he said. “So it looks like the church has begun on Wallis and Futuna.”
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FeedbackPraise God! It is so encouraging to see the gospel preached in new places. I hope that the churches in the US will continue to step up and send more missionaries to these remote places. Keep up the great work Barry!AnthonyEdgewoodNorth Dighton, MA
USAOctober, 6 2010
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