A room (at the CLTC guesthouse) with a view.

Patrick returned from his last teaching trip in September. While there he taught 2 courses – Acts (was taught both in person and online) and Eschatology in-person.

Some days you would never guess that CLTC is near the equator. Living at 5000 feet above sea level can bring some “cold” weather – especially for the students who come from the coast. It was the dry season and it got down to the high 50’s in the house some mornings!

Patrick is also faculty advisor for a cell group which meets weekly for devotions, team building, and planning their monthly outreach to a local church.

24 Hour Power???

3 Power Sources: Solar Batteries linked to the solar panels, diesel back-up generators, and PNG’s national hydroelectric plant. Yet there is not always 24 hour power. CLTC is still trying to get the new solar panels integrated with the electrical system. It’s complicated and we don’t really understand it but are thankful for smart people who do. 🙂

Farewells are important in Papua New Guinea so the Bth 2 class – some of whom Patrick has taught for 3 years- wanted to have a party for him.

As grass fires spread near the college property the students and other volunteers helped prevent the spread by cutting and removing dry tall grass. (Click on the picture arrows to see the slide show.)

CLTC’s Annual “CLTC Day” Celebrating over 60 years

(Click on the arrows on the pictures to see the slide show.)

The Guesthouse Hill….

…will be much easier to climb now that Patrick has a new hip!!! He underwent surgery in early October 13 and he is recovery very well.

Clarkston Cru

It was very encouraging to have a recent graduate ask for the opportunity to share his testimony, and we had a great turn out that week. God is working in these young lives!

Couldn’t resist sharing this picture…Karis “the pied piper” keeping the nursery at church. 🙂 (A friend sent this picture to Jan.)

Praise:

1. The Cru club at Jan’s high school is growing.
2. Patrick’s continued teaching opportunities at CLTC & with Clarkston Bible Institute
3. Patrick’s successful surgery. It happened on October 13 – and now he has 2 new hips!

Pray:

1. For Patrick’s visa for his next trip to PNG at the end of January 2026.
2. Jan is excited about the new students coming to CRU. Pray that God will open the hearts of those coming who need to believe in Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
3. Please continue to pray that the CLTC leadership will find solutions to rising security issues, especially in the poultry division of the college.
4. With CLTC’s tuition increasing students continue to need help with school fees. Pray that that there will be an increase in profits from the chicken farm and other sources of income so that the students’ portion of their school fees can be reduced.
5. For our students who will be graduating on December 6th. Pray they will live what they have learned and accurately teach and preach God’s Word.

It is a challenging course for many of the students as they learn advanced exegesis skills for the first time.

Patrick’s Romans Class

These are 2nd year bachelor of theology students who will be graduating in December.

At the end of the course students give presentations/lessons from a selected passage in Romans.

Sunday Service at CLTC (3 Sundays a month)

Outreach to local churches – one Sunday a month

Students Old and New

It’s the rainy season so…soccer on the basketball court and…

Kid’s Corner!

CLARKSTON, GA

High School Cru Club

Cru Fast Break Conference

The students were challenged to make Jesus “The One” in their lives. They attended different workshops where they learned more about personal Bible study, prayer, and how to share their faith.

Kristin!!!

Praise:

1. Kristin completing Master’s degree and her desire to help others through Christian counseling.
2. The high school students attending the Cru conference and growing in their relationship with the Lord.
3. Patrick’s continued teaching opportunities at CLTC.
4. Patrick already has his visa and tickets for his July – September trip 🙂

Pray:

1. Kristin will be refreshed this summer and for the Lord’s leading and blessing on her as she begins counseling in the fall.
2. The CLTC leadership will find solutions to rising security issues, especially in the poultry division of the college. Major break-ins in the breeder sheds have affected the profitability of the farm. Pray for protection.
3. That there will be an increase in donations and profits from the chicken farm so that the students’ portion of their school fees can be reduced.
4. For wisdom as we encounter so many needs in Clarkston and at CLTC.

CLTC celebrated 60 years of training leaders in the South Pacific! The day included a worship service of thanksgiving and praise. Several staff and council members (including Patrick) shared reflections about God’s leading and faithfulness over the years. It was a special day which would not have been complete without a “mumu”.

Student Life

Outreach Weekend

Eschatology and Acts Classes

CLTC SCENES

Meanwhile…Back in Clarkston

Summer Apartment Ministry

Overall, it was a difficult summer with many extra challenges. There was definitely some spiritual opposition as we attempted to bring the light of Jesus where there is so much need and darkness. With two weeks left a fire broke out in one of the buildings. We normally gathered outside this building and began the program with a group game before beginning activity rotations. We moved our base to another area and by God’s grace, kids came and so did we to finish out the summer! 🙂

“Pop” August 30, 1934 – July 8, 2024

It was not unexpected but still difficult to say good-bye to our beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. After a slow decline over the last few years he is now whole and home with his Savior. We had a special service sharing many fond memories and thankfulness for a life well lived.

Mom and Dad were married for 67 years. The group picture is only part of the tribe! Dad is survived by his wife, 4 children, 11 grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren. Pop loved to play so I just had to include some old pics of him and the kids. (The first one is from a trip to visit us in Papua New Guinea. Note that Pop has Benjamin’s hat on his head! 🙂

Praise:

• For the wonderful gift of Jon Colcord to his family and friends.
• For 60 years of God’s blessings on CLTC and for Patrick’s continuing opportunity to teach there.
• For the interns who spent the summer in Clarkston helping with the refugee ministries.
• For Karis’ opportunity to intern with Chattanooga Football Club. (This is a professional soccer program.) Karis’ goal is full-time work in sports management.

Prayer Requests:

• Pray for the CLTC farm to make a good profit (Most of the stock-feed comes from outside of PNG and the PNG kina continues to decline on the world market.) Pray for stability in exchange rates!
• Pray for next year’s students – that many will apply and both the new and returning students will be able pay the increasing costs of coming to CLTC.
• Pray that the gospel seeds that were planted during the apartment ministry will result in salvation for children and their families.
• Pray for quick approval of Patrick’s visa. His next trip to PNG is Jan. 30 to April 5 and he will be teaching two courses – Bible Interpretation and Romans.
• Pray for endurance and energy for Kristin as she completes her counseling internship AND continues to work full-time. She is due to graduate with her master’s degree in May!

Dental Team

Campus Life

Namos and Jane, who are from the PNG/West Papua border, are graduating in November and plan to establish a training center there. This is a strategic ministry for Christians living on the border. West Papua is governed by Indonesia which is predominantly Muslim. Namos and Jane desire to strengthen area churches through Biblical teaching and discipleship.

Ready, Set, Go!

Praises:

1. Patrick’s passport was lost and then found! He sent it overnight express to the PNG embassy in DC. However, it was delivered to the wrong address and was AWOL for about 4 days. Praise the Lord that it was eventually delivered to the PNG embassy and visa stamped in it that same day. It is now in hand, tickets bought, and Patrick scheduled to fly to PNG on July 3rd. PTL!
2. Jill and the dental team. Praise for the blessing they were to those who received training and as well as those who received the dentures
3. CLTC typically accepts more students than they have room for because there are always some no-shows. This year so many arrived that CLTC had to convert some empty staff housing into student housing. Good problem to have!
4. All of Patrick’s students were in-person. He enjoyed the interaction and lively class discussions and feels like the students all progressed in their understanding of Scripture. He is looking forward to teaching the book of Acts and Eschatology (3rd term) July & August.

Prayer:

1. CLTC’s farm continues to struggle partly due to increases in stockfeed. Pray for wisdom and help for those managing and caring for the poultry.
2. Students will make good progress in their studies, especially the 2nd year Bth students. (See pic of Patrick’s Romans class above). They are doing research to write a thesis by the end of the school year. Graduation is at the end of November.
3. Comfort for those who lost family and friends in the recent landslide in the Enga Province (about a hundred and fifty miles west of CLTC). We have 3 students at the college who are from this area. Pray God will give them peace.
4. For our summer apartment ministry which begins June 4. Tuesdays will be a literacy program and Thursdays will be a VBS program. We have much to do in preparation and need much wisdom, love, grace, and patience as we work with these kiddos!

CLTC Graduation

It was a BIG graduation day on December 2, 2023 for 49 graduates. CLTC offers 7 different courses of study. The graduates completed courses ranging from community development to a certificate in Bible and Ministry to a Masters’ degree in theology. We are so thankful for all these men and women who come and commit years of study so they will be able to better serve the churches in Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and South Pacific islands.

Family

Colcord Thanksgiving

Mimi and Pop with a bunch (but not all!) of their grandkids (and spouses) and greatgrands.

Scott, Jan, “Mimi and Pop,” Kim and Robbie.

Hall Thanksgiving in Ohio

We enjoyed all the family and great food. However, the newest cousin, Mary, had the most pictures. (Everybody else looked about the same as last year. 🙂

Clarkston

Clarkston Bible Institute

CBI currently has both online and in-person students. Students come from Myanmar, Burma, Tanzania, and the U.S. They are zooming in from Myanmar, Minneapolis, Rochester, and Atlanta. 

(The top row in the picture below are all teachers at CBI.)

After School Program

Jan helps with a weekly after school program at Parc 1000 – the same apartments where we have a Reading Club each summer. This December Patrick & I both helped with a Christmas party for the children. They received “tickets” to rotate through the activities and games.

Face Painting

Patrick and I enjoyed running the “photo booth.”

At the end the message of Jesus being the best present ever was shared with them!

Clarkston Cru Club

Cru Club is going well. We meet after school every other Friday. We have new students every week. They don’t always come back, but they always hear about Jesus!

This is us! Christmas 2023

Patrick flying out to Papua New Guinea again on January 25. Jan still teaching at Clarkston High School and holding down the home fort. Mark and Julie (in Maryland) with a college freshman and high school senior! Kristin (in D.C.) taking her last semester of classes to earn her Master’s in Christian Counseling. She then begins a year-long internship (while still working to pay the bills!) in May. Benjamin is still loving working for Primerica. Karis is looking for job opportunities that will utilize her training in sports management.

Praise:

1. For the students who recently graduated from CLTC.
2. That the farm support program is continuing to recover.
3. All the ministry opportunities in Clarkston.
4. For all the adults who help with Clarkston’s CRU club.

Pray:

1. Peace in Papua New Guinea. There has recently been unrest in the 2 largest cities due to tensions between the police force and government officials. Pray for a peaceful and just resolution.
2. CLTC students will understand and apply God’s Word as Patrick teaches Romans and Bible Interpretation there for the next 8 weeks.
3. For an internship for Kristin that will enable her to keep her current job. (Yes, she will be a busy young lady!)
4. For peace and guidance for Karis as she interviews and explores different job opportunities. 
5. For new life in Christ for students who are hearing the gospel at Cru!

It was with great excitement that Jan and Karis boarded the plane this past June to have a month with Patrick back in Papua New Guinea!

Settling in and shopping PNG style.

View of the Christian Leaders’ Training College from “Vision Hill”

Faculty Retreat and College Classes

(Click on the arrows on the pictures to see the slide show.)

Kids – School, AWANA, and just hanging out.

PNG/CLTC Life

(Click on the arrows on the pictures to see the slide show.)

People and Places

(Click on the arrows on the pictures to see the slideshow.)

Praise!

1. Jan and Karis were able to visit PNG and reconnect with many friends, neighbors, and former students who had become CLTC staff.
2. All our luggage made it. One bag was lost but made it to the college a couple of days later. (That bag had all the books Patrick was giving to the students, and a water filter!)
3. Benjamin survived the month on his own. 🙂
4. CLTC’s new solar panels have been installed and the solar power system will soon be operational.
5. CLTC’s chicken program is continuing to improve! (Read the CLTC newsletter attached to the email we sent.)

Pray:

1. The farm will continue to improve (production and sales).
2. CLTC has had a significant increase in student applications the past few years. Pray this trend will continue.
3. Pray for the proper installation of batteries for the solar panels.
4. Pray for the 60+ students who will be graduating in early December. Pray they will serve with wisdom and love as they return to ministry in their churches.
5. Patrick’s visa will be approved soon for his next trip – end of January to the end of March 2024.

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We are very excited to announce that Jan and Karis will be traveling with Patrick to Papua New Guinea this summer!!! We will be with him for a little over a month and then Patrick will stay for about 7 more weeks to complete the school term.

Meanwhile, the school year and summer have been full-on with Clarkston ministries.

Parc 1000 Summer Club

We have only had 2 weeks of Parc 1000 so far, but we have a few pics to share. It is a slideshow so click on the arrows to see more pictures. 🙂

Clarkston International Bible Church: Camp Encounter

Clarkston Cru Club Highlights – 2022-23

(Click on the arrows to see the slideshow.)

Family…

(Click on the arrows to see the slide show.)

Praise!

1. Visa approvals for Patrick, Jan, and Karis came in time for us to make the trip this summer!
2. Parc 1000 had a good first two weeks and we have great summer interns and summer teams to keep it going.
3. Camp Encounter has had a record number of campers and is already maxed out at 120 children.

Pray for:

1. Safe travels. It’s about 23 hours of flying time. And pray our luggage arrives with us!
2. The Lord will give Karis a special time of reconnecting with people and places in what is home to her.
3. The Lord will use Jan to encourage the staff and students at the college.
4. Patrick as he prepares and teaches the Book of Acts and Eschatology (the study of end times).
5. Benjamin will survive a month on his own!

Patrick arrived at CLTC on Monday, January 30 and began teaching ALOT of students the next evening! (His PNG visa approval was delayed and he had to change his airline tickets, but thankfully he was still able to arrive before classes began.) His very large Bible Interpretation class just kept growing and growing. The final count was 25 in-person and 14 virtual from CLTC’s 2 urban campuses. Teaching in-person and virtually is a challenge anywhere, but add to the mix power and internet outages and that he was teaching two nights a week, and it was sometimes overwhelming. 🙂 During the day he taught the Book of Romans to a total of 22 students: 11 in-person and 11 online.

Patrick really enjoyed teaching these present and future church leaders. The increased number of students was a great encouragement to him.

FARM REBUILDING

We are thankful that CLTC’s training program has been able to continue despite some serious setbacks in the farm. It was great to see chickens in the breeder sheds again. There are also day old chicks peeping in the hatchery.

AWANA still going strong!

GIRAMBIN PRIMARY SCHOOL

CLTC helped to start this school about 15 years ago. It is a 2 minute walk from our campus and children of CLTC staff and students attend there along with children from nearby villages.

HELP JUST IN TIME – A NEW GENERATOR

This new generator was provided by donations in addition to an interest free loan given by New Zealand friends. It will replace the ancient ones at CLTC and will work with new solar panels to provide 24 hour power to the college. Exciting times! To give some perspective on this….Last year an earthquake in PNG caused damage to the hydroelectric plant at Yonki Dam and CLTC’s aging generators could not keep up with the demand. We were literally in the dark. Pray CLTC can get the new generator and solar panels up and running soon.

ROOM WITH A VIEW

Another beautiful PNG afternoon. This picture was taken right outside the guesthouse flat where Patrick stayed. As always he missed his family but loved his time in PNG.

Clarkston Bible Institute (CBI)

In December CBI celebrated its 5th graduation with a total of eleven students. (Four were not able to attend in person.) During this past year nine students were online (through zoom) and two attended in person.

The graduation included testimonies and the Karenni youth choir. The choir (which includes three of Jan’s students from the high school ) sang some sweet worship songs and they were led by a CBI graduate, Shako. Shako graduated last year and just returned from a short mission trip to Thailand.

PRAISE:

1. Despite the delay of his visa approval Patrick arrived before classes began.
2. The increased number of students CLTC is training.
3. Financial and personnel support that are helping revive CLTC’s farm program.
4. CBI students who graduated in December.

PRAY:

1. Jan and Karis are tentatively planning to go with Patrick when he returns to PNG this summer. They will be there for a month. Pray for timely visa approvals for all or Jan and Karis will not be able to go.
2. For Patrick as he prepares to teach in-person and online again. Lesson plans and assignments have to be adapted in order to effectively teach all the students. AND reliable power and internet are needed!
3. Pray CLTC can get the new generator and solar panels up and running soon.
4. CBI – Clarkston Bible Institute begins a new school year in late July. Patrick will be in PNG, but pray for many in-person students. Patrick will resume teaching when he returns in mid-September.

Patrick enjoyed reconnecting with former students – Maxon Mani on the left and Simil Hondolwa on the right. Maxon is CLTC’s new Principal and Simil is a church leader in PNG and part of the CLTC Council. It is wonderful to see these men taking up such important roles and faithfully serving the Church.

One highlight was the annual Thanksgiving Service. Festivities included preaching, singing & dancing as the offering was presented and then feasting together. See if you can find Patrick in the slideshow. 🙂 The last 2 slides are of a “mumu” dinner – meats and vegetables cooked in an underground oven made of heated rocks.

While the theological training program continues the CLTC farm is another story. Due to various complications CLTC lost the breeder and layer chickens. They are presently rebuilding the flocks but it will be several years before the farm has recovered. At this point all staff are working for a food allowance until the financial situation improves.

• Praise Points:
• Patrick was able to return to PNG and is scheduled to teach 1st & 3rd terms in 2023. Also, it looks like there will be an increase in students.
• Students and staff had great attitudes (even under very stressful conditions).
• Donations came in and assets are being sold to keep the training program running.
• Prayer Requests:
• Pray that the farm will continue to make progress growing the layer and breeder flocks.
• Pray for the 2022 graduates (December 3rd ) – that they will faithfully preach, teach, disciple, and live as followers of Jesus.
• Pray for the 2023 students . . . CLTC’s new school year begins at the end of January. Pray that the new and returning students will be able to come. Pray the PNG Church will stand behind (in prayer and support) the students that they send.

Patrick is back in Papua New Guinea! He arrived July 11th and is thrilled to be teaching in person for the next 8 weeks. We’ll give a PNG report in the next website update.

Praise the Lord that Patrick made it safely back and is able to teach in person!

Pray for the college support program. It’s a long story but they have had to re-start the poultry farm with 5,000 chickens (instead of 100,000). Please pray for business, farm, and finance personnel who can help rebuild the business.

Clarkston Happenings

Summer Safari Club

We are back for another summer of Safari Club. It looks a little different this year because we have had some full-time interns as well as weekly missions teams helping us. We are thankful for all the volunteers as well as the kids the Lord brings each week. We meet Tuesday and Thursday afternoons and the clubbers rotate through 4 different activities – Bible, Phonics, Read-Aloud, and Leveled Reading. Our goals are that they come to know Jesus and that they learn how to read well! (Click on the arrows below to see all the pictures.)

Praise the Lord for a great summer of teaching and interacting with these young ones.

Pray these children will feel loved and treasured, that we can continue to build relationships, and that we can share the gospel in all we say and do.

Camp Encounter

Karis graduated from college in May and began an internship as Co-Director of our church’s summer day camp – Camp Encounter. Camp Encounter is for children who live in the Clarkston zip code. Approximately 100 children attend and are encouraged to attend all 6 weeks. The goal is to build relationships with them and their families in order to share Jesus with them and to have opportunities to follow up. Camp Encounter has been a great opportunity for Karis to experience ministry in Clarkston. (Click on the arrows below to see all the pictures.)

Praise God for all the children who have attended Camp Encounter.

Pray that hearts and lives will be open to the gospel and that many will come to know, love, and follow Christ.

Hall Family Happenings

Kristin

Kristin is still working full-time for Capitol One Bank and full-time on a masters degree in Christian counseling, so she is busy! However, she continues to enjoy traveling and was not too busy to travel to London and Paris with friends! (Click on arrows.)

Praise the Lord that Kristin has completed one year of her program. (1 down and 2 to go!)

Pray for continued strength and wisdom for Kristin to balance her busy schedule.

Benjamin

Benjamin is in his second year of working for Primerica and he is loving it! A recent highlight was the Primerica international convention at the Mercedes Benz in Atlanta. Benjamin was able to meet many of his team members in person and was inspired by stories of people from all different socio-economic backgrounds becoming successful. Benjamin’s team is called the “Island Team” with members from Tonga, Samoa, Hawaii and Benjamin from the island of Papua New Guinea. 🙂

Shameless plug for Benjamin – If anyone you know needs some financial advice you can share Benjamin’s contact information. Cell: 470-310-0115 or email through this link: http://www.primerica.com/benjaminhall

Praise God for this job that perfectly fits Benjamin’s interests and gifts and that constantly challenges him.

Pray Benjamin will do well in his work and honor the Lord in all that he does.

Karis

Karis graduated in May from Toccoa Falls College with a Business Administration degree that included a concentration in Sports Management. In August she will begin an internship with “Push the Rock” which is a sports ministry based in Pennsylvania. Karis will be involved in various administrative roles which will initially include running an after school P.E. program and organizing a fund-raiser for Push the Rock’s 25th anniversary. (Click on the arrows below to see all the pictures.)

Praise God for Karis’ graduation and internship opportunity.

Pray for her as she moves to Pennsylvania – that she will settle in well to her new job in a new place. Pray for peace and for friends and that she will grow closer to the Lord through all the changes.

Mark, Julie, Dylan, & Luke

We were not able to see Mark and family this summer (Patrick got sick the week we were supposed to go), but here are some pictures! (Click on arrows.)

Praise the Lord for Dylan and Luke’s progress in school. Yes! Dylan is a now a senior!

Pray for Mark, Julie, and Dylan as they discern next steps for Dylan when he graduates in June.

Pray for strength and wisdom for Julie at work. She has a “heavy” job as part of the administration for Montgomery County Public Schools.

Thank you for taking the time to visit our blog. Thank your for your love, prayers, and support! Psalm 96!