The Christian Foundations

CHRISTIAN FOUNDATIONS: BASIC TEACHINGS 

formerly titled Christian Foundations for the South Pacific

BY 

REV. DR. WILLIS C. NEWMAN 

(B.A., M.Ed., M.Div., Ph.D., D.Min.)

© COPYRIGHT 1993, POLYNESIAN MISSIONS 

First published 1993 Friendly Islands Bookshop 

Taufa’ahau Road, Nuku’alofa 

TONGA

Typeset and printed by Taulua Press 

Nuku’alofa 

TONGA

© Copyright 2008 Newman International, LLC

Published by Newman International, LLC

Tacoma, Washington USA

Scripture taken front the New American Standard Bible

© 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, by the Lockman Foundation. Used by Permission. 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1992 INTRODUCTION 

2008 INTRODUCTION 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

HOW TO BE SAVED 

CHRISTIAN FOUNDATION ONE: THE BIBLE 

CHRISTIAN FOUNDATION TWO: GOD 

CHRISTIAN FOUNDATION THREE: CHRIST AND HIS WORK . . 20

CHRISTIAN FOUNDATION FOUR: MANKIND 

CHRISTIAN FOUNDATION FIVE: THE HOLY SPIRIT 

CHRISTIAN FOUNDATION SIX: THE CHURCH 

CHRISTIAN FOUNDATION SEVEN: THE FUTURE 

CHRISTIAN FOUNDATION EIGHT: SALVATION 

CHRISTIAN FOUNDATION NINE: ANGELS 

CHRISTIAN FOUNDATION TEN: BIBLE STUDY 

CHRISTIAN FOUNDATION ELEVEN: GROWTH

BIBLIOGRAPHY 

SELECTED VERSES 

1992 INTRODUCTION

The purpose of these basic foundational doctrines is to introduce new believers to the evangelical Christian Faith. The studies are interdenominational in nature and brief in content. The theology is conservative and evangelical, reflecting those core teachings held dear by the Bible believing church through the centuries. Denominational distinctives have been avoided. 

Though new converts are the primary readers in mind, the studies will be helpful for those older Christians who have not had the opportunity to survey and learn the basic teachings of Christianity. I also hope that this little volume will be helpful to the individual who is not a Christian, but is honestly searching for God in a real, personal way.

In conjunction with the study of this ebook, I encourage you to read the many Scripture verses that are listed throughout the chapters.

This ebook is a genuine labor of love to the kind and generous South Pacific Island people who over the years, I have grown to deeply appreciate and love. I desire that this book will help motivate Island people to continue on with the Faith of Christ that was first delivered by the faithful pioneer missionaries of so many years ago – and by which the Pacific has so greatly benefited. I pray that many Islanders will be saved, become productive Christians, firmly grounded in our Lord Jesus Christ, and taking the gospel to neighboring South Pacific nations.

I extend my gratitude to those many people who have helped in the preparation of this book: my former teachers in Bible School and Seminary (any flaws in the book are mine, not theirs), the writers of the books on Evangelical Christianity, Graham Carter for initiating these studies for UCB Pacific Radio, Graham Swinburne and David May for its publication, and the many generous supporters and friends of Polynesian Missions.

Willis C. Newman

Nuku’alofa, Tonga, 1992.  

2008 INTRODUCTION

Much has happened since I first wrote this little book. The lessons were first designed for a radio program in Tonga. They have been studied by many people and students. My experience in Tonga and the South Pacific was a fruitful delight. God enabled us to start a Tonga Bible College, and a teaching site for Faith Evangelical Seminary, which is still thriving, and managed by Dr. Uili Fukofuka. I was able to write many manuals.

In 1998 I moved back to the USA where I continued on with Faith Evangelical Seminary, and began teaching in a local community college. My Filipina wife, Esmie, introduced me to the wonderful world of Filipinos, and our teaching and seminar ministry now extends across the Pacific to the great land of the Philippines. God has also permitted me to continue on with the work in Tonga. 

God also has given us much training and experience in online teaching; consequently, we started Newman International LLC, and Bible-teaching-about.com website. Our ministry now extends all over the globe. I trust this little ebook will be of important value as you read and study the Word of God. I have made little change in the original content of the book. Its truths are timeless.

Since the book was first written to South Pacific Islanders, I have retained the illustrations common to that region of the world. It may not fit your culture, but I hope you can identify with the truths. Though they are not quite as clear as the original printing, I have also included some of the pictures that will give you a bit of the color of the Islands. I lived 12 years in the middle of the Pacific, and much of my heart still lives there among the sandy beaches, swaying palm trees, and easygoing lifestyle.

Willis C. Newman

Tacoma, Washington USA, 2008

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

I was born and raised on a cattle ranch in central Idaho, USA. The closest village was about a 30 minute drive, and its population was about 150 people. After spending a short hitch in the Army, and working in a sawmill, I went to work on road construction in central Oregon. That is where a pastor led me to Christ in 1965. 

I decided to try college, and eventually completed a bachelor’s degree (B.A.) in psychology, and master’s degree (M.Ed.) in counseling from the University of Portland. Finding some success at higher education, I took a one year certificate course at Multnomah School of the Bible, and finished up with a master of divinity (M.Div.) in pastoral studies at Western Conservative Baptist Seminary. From there I completed my Ph.D. in church administration at California Graduate School of Theology (1978), and a doctor of ministry (D.Min.) in cross cultural studies at Faith Evangelical Lutheran Seminary in Tacoma, Washington.

God gave me time in pastoral ministry for eight years, and from there I started teaching. First, I serve as director of pastoral studies and taught Bible, counseling, and church history at International College and Graduate School of Theology in Honolulu, Hawaii. 

From there, I had the opportunity to establish a Bible school and Seminary in the Kingdom of Tonga, South Pacific. That project started in 1985. There I served for eight years as the South Pacific director for Faith Evangelical Lutheran Seminary and Polynesian Missions. I kept my hand in teaching courses in theology, Bible, missions, apologetics, etc. I also was guest lecturer for International School of Theology – Asia (Campus Crusade in Manila).

In 1998 the Lord moved me back to the Pacific Northwest, USA where I still lecture for Faith Evangelical Seminary (they changed their name), and teach several courses in psychology and sociology at a local community college. I also picked up credentials for counseling. My Filipina wife of nine years, Esmie, is a graduate of Faith Evangelical Seminary, University of the East (Manila), and University of Washington. She is an accountant and office manager. 

We both tend to this website, and travel to Tonga and the Philippines to establish the work of Newman International, LLC.

The next page deals with how to become a Christian. The Apostle, John, wrote, “Many other signs therefore Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name” (John 20:30, 31).

Consequently, it is good for me to deal with first things first, and make sure that I fulfill the purpose of the New Testament in obedience to Jesus Christ.

NEXT, How to be Saved