Special Effects

Ernie and Marilyn Gunders have had many years of experience in ministry, most recently having spent three years living with the Gogodala people in the Western Province of Papua New Guinea.

During this period they identified a very real need to give local National pastors and church leaders access to resource material and in-service training.

Mobile resource centre

What they envisaged was a "mobile resource centre", able to move along the rivers and lagoons of this wetlands area, providing both accommodation for the missionaries and a study and teaching centre for local leaders. Research concluded that a sailing vessel would be the most economical and viable option for this ministry.

In March 2000, a Christian couple in the USA, Brett and Leigh-Anne, offered to give their yacht to a missions organisation for just this kind of work.

And so began an adventure for Ernie and Marilyn which continues as they take this sailing vessel "Special Effects" up the Queensland coast from Hervey Bay to the Aramia River in the Western Province of PNG.

Special Effects

"Special Effects" is a 32foot, fiberglass, sloop rigged yacht. She is fitted out to comfortably support three crew members, with generous space to accommodate up to ten people in a small group setting. She was extensively refitted before being given to us and is ideally suited to the task ahead of her. With a draft of only four and a half feet she will negotiate the wetlands with ease and her twenty seven horsepower diesel engine will give her authority over the tides and rivers of this area.

There are plans to visit the Solomon Islands and Bougainville at a later date in answer to an invitation from local churches to offer help in remote locations.

"Special Effects" is also carrying medical supplies for the hospital in Balimo, and a quantity of material for primary school children. During their time in PNG Ernie and Marilyn observed the desperate lack of resources in schools in the district. Each year saw schools slow to recommence after the Christmas holidays as there were no materials available to the students or their teachers. "Project Schoolbag" addresses this need by supplying each student with his or her own cloth bag containing an exercise book, two pencils, a biro, eraser, ruler and a sharpener. A soft toy or tennis ball is added as a personal gift. Church groups across Australia have embraced this project and bags are being made and filled by individuals, Women’s Groups, Youth Groups and Sunday Schools.

Tehillah Ministries Inc

Ernie and Marilyn are missionaries sent out and supported by Tehillah Ministries Inc, an Australian registered charity, incorporated in Queensland.