About Us

Our Leadership

Jim and Joni Bliffen have served in the ministry in Christian Churches in the United States since 1981 and moved to Papua New Guinea in 2014 to serve with Pioneer Bible Translators (PBT). They were working with PBT when Steven Dazim and other men from Tiap Village decided to start Faith Bible College. During their time in PNG, Jim was able to travel out to Tiap often to support the college. He also worked with Beyond Baptism's co-founder Bobby in the grading and transmission of tests. In May 2016, Jim had the privilege of teaching the first Old Testament Survey course at the college, and in August 2021, Jim and Joni were also able to attend the first graduation ceremony of Faith Bible College.

Jim holds a bachelor's degree in New Testament with minors in Greek and History from Kentucky Christian University. He also has a master's degree in Intercultural Studies from Johnson University. Joni holds a bachelor's degree in Intercultural Studies from Johnson University. Joni works as the Administrator of Finance for Pioneer Bible Translator's branch in Papua New Guinea Branch and was able to help with the purchase of the supplies to build the Faith Bible College classroom which was funded through a Bircher Foundation Grant. Jim and Joni relocated back to the United States in 2020, but they continue to travel back to PNG each year to support both PBT and Faith Bible College.

About Beyond Baptism

Beyond Baptism was originally founded by Bobby and Sue Ellen Wrenn in 2012 to support remote areas in Papua New Guinea with discipleship training and care. For ten years the Wrenns traveled to Papua New Guinea and supported the Aruamu Bible translation work by recording audio versions of the Bible to help those in the village who were illiterate. Through Beyond Baptism they also taught Bible and leadership courses. During 2016 Beyond Baptism received a grant to help alleviate starvation in many villages due to extended drought conditions in PNG. When the Aruamu people felt led to start a Bible college to help teach their people, Beyond Baptism helped select curriculum for the college and managed the grading of papers and tests for the students.

Due to illness and the inability to continue traveling to PNG, the Wrenns passed the leadership of Beyond Baptism to Jim and Joni Bliffen in 2022. Jim and Joni have served in the ministry in Christian Churches in the United States since 1981 and moved to Papua New Guinea in 2014 to serve with Pioneer Bible Translators (PBT). They were working with PBT when Steven Dazim and other men from Tiap Village decided to start Faith Bible College and Jim was able to travel out to Tiap many times to support the college. He also worked with Bobby in the grading and transmission of tests.

Beyond Baptism is currently working to provide internet connectivity to Faith Bible College in Tiap Village in Papua New Guinea. This project should be completed in January, 2025 and the hope is to begin other projects which could include helping other remote villages have access to recorded scripture, supporting national missionaries as they spread the Gospel to other villages and installing a recording studio to help more people have access to God’s word. The possibilities are endless as wedream of different ways to make God’s word accessible to the least reached people of the world!