Anna Faith Fuller: Hello, this is Anna Faith, and welcome to episode thirty four of Faith Talks. I am coming to you live from Mount Hagen, Papua New Guinea. So our family is coming to the end of our six month missions journey here in PNG, and it would take many podcasts to share all that God has done and all the things that he has taught us. So I won’t get into those right now, even though some of them may slip out as we go along through this podcast. But being here has given the special opportunity to have learned many things from the believers here in PNG.

And we have the special blessing of having one of those believers here with us today. And her name is Candice Kumbi and she is a young woman here in PNG who has given her life to the Lord. And I have been so encouraged—and my sisters have, too—as we’ve spent time with her. She serves here in her local church and helps her father behind the scenes with many projects. He is the pastor here at the church, and so I have asked Candice to share all of her experience or several of her experiences of how God has worked in her faith journey, and I hope her testimony will be a challenge to all of you listeners that no matter where you are, God wants to use you.

So Candice, thank you so much for bravely joining us here on Faith Talks and speaking in a second language for everyone to hear. I was commenting earlier to my sisters that Candice speaks very, very good English and probably better than me. And when I told Candice this, she said, well, I used to read a lot of books when I was growing up. And I said, ah, that must be the secret because I didn’t like to read too much growing up. Anyways, we are very excited to hear from you.

So how about you? Just to start? How about you share a little with us about your background living here in PNG? Things you enjoy and your family and whatever else you want to share.

Candice Kumbi: Well, thank you for having me on the podcast. First of all, it’s been a blessing and a great encouragement getting to know you all the Gillmore family. And it’s been really nice having you all stay with us and having a good fellowship and everything. I’m just going to share a little bit about my background. Well, as Anna mentioned, my name is Candice Kumbi.

I’m from Mount Hagen, the highlands of PNG. It’s pretty much in the center of the country if you’re looking at the map. I enjoy music, singing, art and baking and of course, serving God in my local church. A little background about myself: I worked three years in a local bank and then I decided to leave. And now I’m doing a little home industry to support myself and of course, helping my dad with the ministry.

My parents have been serving God in our home church, Mount Zion Baptist Temple, which my dad, as Anna mentioned, has been a pastor for almost thirty five years now, which is a great blessing. I’m the fourth of five siblings. I have three older brothers and a younger sister. And just living in PNG—I live in Mount Hagen. I’ve been here most of my life.

In my opinion, this would be the best place to live. We have a really nice climate, an abundance of fresh produce and scenery. And of course we have good coffee, which is really nice. So I think that’s pretty much a little bit about myself.

Anna Faith Fuller: I want to comment that Mount Hagen is just such a beautiful place. It’s just perfect weather. The night time is nice and cool, and especially for us because we were just in on the coast and the coast is very hot. So when we came back, we were very excited to get back to the Highlands where everything is perfect temperature. And my sister, one of my sisters, was commenting that she said once she got back here to the Highlands, she’s like, there’s something that was always on my mind before that’s not on my mind now.

And then she was like, oh yes, it’s not hot here.

Candice Kumbi: It’s cool.

Anna Faith Fuller: Yes, it’s cool. It’s a beautiful place. So we enjoy we love being here in the Highlands. So let’s go to the next question. How did your faith journey begin?

You can share a little bit about your salvation testimony, childhood growing up.

Candice Kumbi: Sure. So, I was brought up thankfully in a Christian home. My parents were saved before all of my siblings and I were born. Which is a great blessing because my parents didn’t grow up in a Christian home themselves. Papua New Guinea especially, where everyone’s pretty much religion is a really big stronghold here.

Like everyone goes to church, but not—how do I put it?—really knowing Christ and accepting salvation. They just go for go to church because you know, it’s what they’re used to. So religion is a big, a big stronghold here. But, our grandparents actually weren’t, did not grow up in a Christian setting Christian environment, very religious. So my mom came from a Pentecostal background and my dad came from a Catholic background.

But thankfully, through God’s grace, they were saved. And then they got married. It’s, it’s an amazing story how they got met. And, God brought them together. And then after that, we were all born.

But, I was brought up in a Christian home. I made a profession of faith when I was six years old, but I actually thought I was saved growing up. But growing up, there was a sort of a sense of emptiness inside, and I ignored and I pushed aside for many years thinking I was saved. You know, you get so used to growing up in Christian home, attending church services, involved in ministry, everything. But it wasn’t until a few years ago that I heard the Word of God in the preaching.

And the verse that the preacher mentioned was in 2 Corinthians 13:5, it said to examine yourself whether or not you’re in the faith and to prove your own self, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates. And he was preaching on the life of Judas and God’s Word. Really convicted my heart at that time on my need for salvation. And, you know, being in the church for so long, like everybody knows who you are. And sometimes it’s a fear of shame that comes in and says, you know, people know you and they expect you to be saved, and you’re living a life that somewhat seemed like a life of a Christian, but you weren’t really saved.

But then I thought again, well, it’s between me and God and it’s eternity. And what am I going to do to make sure my eternity is secure in Christ? So I had to overcome those fears. And I said, well, I need to get saved. It’s between me and God, and I need to get my life right with God.

So it was a few years ago that God’s Word really convicted my heart. And I really, truly made a repentance and ask God to save me from my sins. Life hasn’t been the same, and I can know for sure that I have peace and assurance. And I think 1 John 5:13 really says that, that ye may know that ye have eternal life. And that’s something that I’m grateful for.

So that’s really how my journey of faith began, my salvation testimony.

Anna Faith Fuller: That’s very encouraging. I know that verse 1 John 5:13 has been a big blessing to me. And even recently when we were on Muschu Island, I was sharing that with several girls who were like, they had made a decision and they were saying, oh, I, I feel like I did, but I don’t know for sure. And we were just saying, okay, I’m going to believe that what God says it’s true. And he says, I can know and I can have that peace.

So I know that that verse has been a special blessing recently. Can you share a little bit about how God started working in your heart as a young teen girl to serve the Lord, or even younger than that, or older than that? And what difficulties have you faced as you have decided to follow the Lord? Let me share a little bit about that.

Candice Kumbi: Sure. So, especially being a pastor’s kid, I don’t know if some people who are listening are pastor’s kids or have parents who are involved in ministry, involving in ministry as early as the teen is, I don’t know, somewhat like because your parents are involved, you somewhat fall in line to be involved in taking part in church ministries and everything. So before I was even saved, it was as a teen, I, early on was involved in church ministries and, you know, whatever we had needed to be done in the church, taking part, maybe in singing or helping out with the youth or, you know, all that stuff. But it was after salvation that I truly understood and truly, yeah, I truly understood the importance of serving God. Serving God wasn’t about because your parents are involved in the church, that you have to be involved.

Or if your dad’s a pastor, that obviously you have to be like, because your dad’s serving the church. So you obviously have to be a part of that. But, after salvation, it was really, I’m serving God, not because my parents are in the ministry or my dad’s a pastor, but because I have a personal relationship with the Lord and it’s my duty to be of service to him where I can. And that was where I started. Yes, to serve the Lord.

I think the difficulties that I faced, as I decided to follow the Lord. Mostly I know it’ll be different for different, people or teens, especially in the US, cultural differences here in Papua New Guinea. But as cultural expectations, you know, growing up, people expect you to live a certain way to achieve a certain thing, especially when it comes to education or when it comes to, you know, ending up getting a high paying job or the physical things. People, most, most parents want their kids to be successful, become doctors, engineers or lawyers, accountants or somewhat the expectation was there to live up to the physical, but really, trusting Christ, it was a challenge to really, am I really going to follow God one hundred percent or am I trying to please people by? Okay, I can follow God, but you know, I want to do this as well because, you know, it’s accepted among everybody where you have to be at a certain sort of a level with your education.

You have to have this kind of job, this kind of job, because, you know, everybody thinks that’s what you’re supposed to do. So I think a difficulty that I faced is really the mindset of, am I truly going to follow God one hundred percent, or am I going to live a life where I’m pleasing everybody with, you know, with the physical accomplishments that I may have in my life? So yeah, that’s that’s that.

Anna Faith Fuller: Yes, I know that is, I think that’s the same in the US in many ways. Success is a big, big drive for people. But realizing that the ultimate success is living for eternity, living for the next life. So that’s, you know, a big challenge and probably anywhere you go. I haven’t been to all the countries of the world, but I’m sure it’s an allurement that the world gives.

So, what trials has God grown your faith through? I know our theme is, God’s journey of your trying of your faith. So any trials that specifically stand out to you that even if they’re small or maybe they’re big, that God has grown your faith and your patience in your walk with him.

Candice Kumbi: Yes. So, how God is really growing my faith, I would say not grown, but it’s growing. Like it’s a process. It’s happening right now. So my, my, for myself personally, I’m actually going through a struggle right now.

So it’s kind of like a trial. So it’s kind of like a work in progress, but God has been teaching me a lot. And not only that, seeing my parents, especially for them going through a trial, which I mean, all of us as a family going through situations, but really, God is teaching me through the process I’m going through right now. And not only that, but seeing how my parents handle the trials and tribulations that we’re going through has really been an encouragement and a source of strength where, you know, in spite of the physical setbacks or the challenges that we may face in life, at least we have somebody we can depend on. So that has been a really encouraging thing where it has been helping my faith to grow spiritually.

Anna Faith Fuller: And how have you seen God grow, specifically your patience and just encouraging you, making you that perfect and entire, wanting nothing through maybe this trial or other trials and the trying of your faith in your life?

Candice Kumbi: Sure. So as your theme verse for this our Faith Talks podcast in James 1:3–4. I’m seeing it play out in my life. Especially with the trying of my faith. Definitely patience.

God is really working on my patience, and I think patience for me would be teaching me how to wait. Sometimes we expect things to be done at a certain time, you know, I don’t know for the young men, but especially for the ladies, we have sort of a set calendar, a set time where, you know, by this age I should be doing this, this, this. But you know what? If God says, wait, you know, put a stop on that pause. You know, I want you to learn some things before I let you move forward in life.

Sometimes it can be difficult and it can be challenging. But one thing that’s really, that I’m learning through the trying of my faith is, as you mentioned, patience, learning how to wait on the Lord. And I think moving on to the verse in the same verse would be that ye may be perfect and entire, for me, thinking about the perfect kind of looking back in verse three, it says that the trying of your faith. And then it says to let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, perfect and entire. I think for me would be to really giving everything to God and trusting him completely.

Sometimes we want to hold back on things and yeah, we trust God. But, you know, there’s this physical aspect of, you know, how things are going to turn out. But trials coming in our lives in my life especially, is really, teaching me to really put my complete trust in the Lord and. Yes. And then moving on, I think for to being perfect and entire wanting nothing, wanting nothing.

Really thinking about the word wanting it brings me back to Psalm 23. It says, the Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. You know, and I think just having that complete trust and assurance in the Lord being our Shepherd, that whatever trials and situations that we’re going through life, that he’s working things out for a purpose for a purpose—teaching us patience, teaching me how to wait and also letting me, reminding me that I should trust in him. And in Psalm 23, as I said, that I shall not want.

I think of want in reference to our needs. Most of the times we’re thinking about, you know, what shall we eat? What shall we drink? Physical things—but God is trying our faith and teaching me to remember that. Teaching me patience, but also helping me trust completely in him that you know, what needs and what desires that I have in life, that he will, he will provide and he will take care of.

But in his timing and when what’s best for us.

Anna Faith Fuller: Yes. And sometimes it’s confusing to us because trials only seem to be negative in our lives. You know, like God, why did you allow this thing into my life? It’s more than I can handle. But just the amazing reality that he is using this hard thing for us to completely put our trust and our patience in growing that, so that we will be this perfect and entire vessel of him that doesn’t want anything, but that rests completely in him.

I think that’s an amazing reality. And even what you’re saying that he doesn’t want us to want anything. He has it all for us already, so we don’t even have to desire it because he’s going to give it to us. How about you share a little bit with us about how God is leading you in your future ministry?

Candice Kumbi: Sure. So. Growing up and then after my salvation, everything. I’m actually in the church involved with our youth choir and youth ministry, Sunday school kids. I think years ago, if you would have asked me that question, probably my response would have been a little bit different, more towards, you know, this life, as you said, working for this life and not the next life, but with God bringing us through or bringing me through the trial of my faith is really put perspective on what, what’s more important and what will last.

I’m involved in certain ministries in the church and, how God’s leading me in the future. Well, to be able to use my talents, treasure and time involved in the ministry and taking part in the work of God, studying the Bible in depth in our recent Bible Institute and prayer and reading of the word, I believe God’s actually, slowly but surely leading me down a specific path, though I can’t say right now, but I know he’s working on my heart and his time will make everything clear on what specifically he wants me to do. And I’m excited and probably nervous, but looking forward to what God will help me do in my future ministry.

Anna Faith Fuller: Amen. I think it’s neat that, you know, it’s so easy to say, I’m going to—in the future, I’m going to do this profession or, you know, this job. That will be my identity. But realizing that serving the Lord should be your identity, you know? And if you have a job on the side, then that’s not a bad thing.

But the focus should be on serving the Lord. Because like we were talking about, you know, if you’re living for eternity, then you’re going to be putting that as number one in your life, even as your whole purpose for living here on this world is to serve the Lord. So, I know that’s an encouragement just to hear, for you, like in the future. Okay, I’m going to be serving the Lord in some way, you know. So what encouragement would you give young women in the US or around the world from a young woman who is serving the Lord here in PNG?

Candice Kumbi: Okay. So, I think probably two things, from my perspective, serving God in PNG. Maybe there may be differences with how we interact with people in the U.S.—obviously, there are big differences, but I think one thing that would help us give a common understanding would be, finding guidance and finding encouragement through the word of God. And I think the first thing that comes to mind here as an encouragement would be Hebrews 12:1–2, where it says to lay aside every weight and to put our focus in Christ. As young women serving the Lord, or even young teens serving the Lord, sometimes we I get so sidetracked with, you know, everything that’s happening in the world.

Want to be up to date with a new trend or the latest things that happen, want to be relevant to society and everything. But it’s important that we lay aside things that are going to drag us and weigh us down and make us lose focus on what’s important, and that is to focus on Christ. And I think another thing to mention here as an encouragement would be sometimes we think, you know, whether it’s serving God on the mission field as you guys are here with your family, or if it’s serving God in your little corner with the Sunday school class in your local church, whether you’re in front or, as my pastor says, if you’re serving in the front line or in the back line or even in the middle line, wherever you may be, we can still serve God in whatever capacity we have. And that’s that’s encouraging. And in 1 Corinthians 4, it says that us.

As stewards we are required to be found faithful. So my encouragement would be that whatever work you’re doing, whether you’re on a mission field serving somewhere, or if you’re in your local church involving in a Sunday school ministry or a choir or just helping around in the church, we can still serve God and to be faithful to that ministry that he has called us. So yeah, I think that’s an encouragement that I could give to people listening.

Anna Faith Fuller: Yes. Well, thank you so much for sharing with us. And just to conclude here, are there any concluding thoughts or applications to our listeners that you would give today, just how they can change their lives from hearing how God has changed and worked in your life?

Candice Kumbi: Sure. So I think what would be a good thing sometimes, you know, in life we want we don’t like want trouble or we don’t want trials. We want everything to be perfect, all sunshine and rainbows. But as a believer, that’s not so. God uses trials to shape and to mold us.

And it’s a good thing. And as our Bible school teacher says, with regards to trials, every believer is either going through a trial, coming out of a trial, or you will go into a trial. So we can’t escape that. It’s part of our Christian walk and our Christian journey with the Lord. And I believe here is God is God is still working through your trials and whatever you may be facing, I don’t know, maybe the situations you may be going through or anyone else may be going through is different from what I may be going through.

But knowing this, that through all of it, God is trying us. And as Job says that once we’re tried, we come out as gold and more fit for the Master’s use in his ministry to further the gospel and to grow his ministry. So I think that would be a concluding thought for me.

Anna Faith Fuller: Yes. Well, thank you again for sharing with us. I know it will be a big blessing for girls all across the US and across the world to hear from another young woman who is serving the Lord. Here on the other side of the world in Papua New Guinea. And just, some concluding thoughts that I have been thinking of from listening to you, just to encourage each one of us to really assess your life and ask God to, if there’s a certain trial that you are going through, or maybe it’s something that maybe you’re a young teen and you always had this one dream and God maybe is directing you in some other way and some ministry that he wants you to do that maybe you need to give up that worldly dream and pursue a spiritual dream that God is putting in front of you, and I can just tell you that you will not.

You will not be. You will not regret it if you serve the Lord, because serving him is what he has created us for. True. And even just thinking back to the beginning, why did God create man and woman? He created them because he wanted to have a special relationship.

He didn’t have to make us, but he desired us and he wanted to have that special relationship with mankind. And obviously we have sin. That’s the problem that holds us back from having that full relationship that we could have with the Lord. But your life is short, you know. You don’t know how many years you have, and you’re going to go through different trials.

And God wants you to, in each of those trials, to look to him and say, okay, God, perfect me. I don’t want to be wanting things. I know that if I trust you, I will be fully satisfied. And so I just encourage you, if there’s any weight in your life that you know, is holding you back from experiencing that new life, even living, you know, we’re living in this life, but living for eternity, living for the Lord. Just ask God to help you take a next step in whatever that may be.

Maybe there’s some relationship that you have that maybe you need to, you know, put behind you. Maybe there’s some sin that you know is in your life that’s holding you back. Maybe there’s just some desires that you’ve had that are towards the world. And I just encourage you to ask God to remove those desires and give you desire for the Word of God and for the things of the Lord and for the preaching of the Word of God and just and putting yourself in situations where you are hearing truth and God is changing you. And so I know that’s encouragement from both of us here and we are praying for each one of you that in whatever corner you may be of the world that you would determine, Lord, I’m going to serve you.

I want to live for my next life. I don’t want to live for this life. And I know that if I do that, I’m not going to want anything. And you will experience what Psalm 23:1 says, and here in James 1:3–4. So I encourage you as you continue on your journey of faith, that you remember that faith doesn’t just talk.

Faith walks.