NE W T RIBE S MIS SION OF C A N A D A
NTM@work your connection with tribal missions
The Messy Work Of Planting A Church page 16
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NTM@work Vol.70 • No.3 • February 2012 NTM@work team Executive Editor: Macon Hare David Bell, Debbie Burgett, Rex Crawford, Ian Fallis, Jon Frazier, Patrick Hatcher, Chris Holland, Dena McMaster and Jason Bechtel. NTM@work is published by New Tribes Mission of Canada. Subscriptions NTM@work is provided free to readers in Canada on a yearto-year basis. To receive the magazine or have it sent to a friend, e-mail info@canada.ntm.org, or call 519-369-2622. If you no longer wish to receive NTM@work, please send a note and your name and address to NTM@work PO Box 707 Durham ON N0G 1R0 The magazine may be read online at ntm.org/magazine. Requests to reprint articles should be directed to Executive Editor Macon Hare at macon_hare@ntm.org or call 407-323-3430. Contents of this magazine may not be reproduced in whole or in part unless expressly authorized in writing. NTM worldwide Canada 519-369-2622 USA 407-323-3430 Australia 011-61-2-6559-8646 Europe 011-44-1472-387700 Cover photo: Aaron Jex Photo this page by: Chad Mankins
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4 CONNECT: Find opportunities to pray, to give, to learn, to laugh and more.
16 COMING THROUGH THE MUD
For centuries, the Tobo people of Papua New Guinea have held fast to their cultural beliefs, traditions and rituals. Breaking through the many layers with the truth of the Gospel would not be a neat and tidy task. But the missionaries hadn’t come for easy. They had come fully prepared for a messy, spiritual battle. And that’s what they got. This issue is the Tobo story. 3
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Interface: One Summer Was All It Took
After spending her summer taking the Interface program in Papua New Guinea, Ragan Grime’s heart was changed forever. During the classroom time, she got a liberal taste of what missionaries learn during their training — culture, linguistics, phonetics, translation, and how the Old Testament and New Testament work together as a cohesive unit. During the evenings, she visited with support missionaries and heard stories of how God had worked in their lives, empowering and enabling them to be there. And later, she met tribal believers in a remote village where NTM missionaries had planted a church. Their vibrancy, knowledge of God’s Word and His redemptive work of grace in their lives awed Ragan and the other students. And something important clicked for her. “God revealed to me His heart for those who have not heard the Good News of Jesus Christ,” wrote Ragan. “I am so grateful for the time He used this summer to reveal the urgency of missions to me.” Find out what Interface has to offer you: ntm.org/magazine
That’s not very nice! David and Vanessa Maynard were in the throes of language learning in Manila. Now it was time to study family terms like mother, father, aunt, uncle etc. When it was David’s turn, the teacher asked him if his two sisters were married yet and had families of their own. Wanting to be more adventurous than just answering, “No,” he proceeded to say, “Walang asawa sila,
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ka si mataba sila.” When the teacher gasped and his wife giggled, he knew something had gone wrong. David had meant to say, “They don’t have spouses because they’re still young (bata pa’).” But he had actually said, “They’re not married because they’re fat (mataba).” Once the teacher realized he was not being mean, they enjoyed a good laugh.
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CANADA
James & Marie Mack
Ministry: Mobilization Team serving southern Alberta Sending Church: Stuartburn Gospel Chapel, Stuartburn, MB
photo by Dale Stroud
“We are hardpressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.” 2 Corinthians 4:8-9
Both James and Marie grew up in the farming and ranching sector of the Cypress Hills, in southern Alberta. James made a commitment to the Lord at about age 12 at an evangelistic meeting in a small country church. Because of a lack of discipleship, he did not live for the Lord, but rather turned away from God. Later, as a result of a financial crisis during the early years of their marriage, James re-committed his life to the Lord on March 18, 1982. “In the months that followed the Lord showed me that I must make Him, not just Saviour, but LORD of my life. After committing everything, totally, and completely to Him, the Lord literally did miracles in my life showing me that He can be my all in all—in the area of finances and life itself,” explains James. As a young child Marie remembers wanting to know God. While listening to a Billy Graham telecast, she realized God required her to ask forgiveness for her sins and accept Jesus Christ as her Saviour. Marie writes, “Then, in grade five, the Gideon’s came to our classroom and gave us each a New Testament, telling us to read it and pray every day if we wanted to be blessed. I did and I was. Real growth came 20 years later when my husband recommitted his life to the Lord and I understood the awesome privilege of totally giving oneself to Jesus Christ who has given Himself totally to us.” Shortly after re-committing their lives to the Lord Jesus Christ, James and Marie became active members of the Christian Missionary Alliance Church in Irvine Alberta. In 1990 the Lord began to impress upon them the need to begin training for full-time ministry. After graduating from the Briercrest Bible College in Caronport, Saskatchewan, they pastored in the Christian Missionary Alliance Church and later in the Fellowship of Evangelical Bible Churches (FEBC). After resigning due to health, God called them in a different direction. “We spent approximately a year and a half seeking God’s guidance. In January of 2011 we were led to attend a Missions Conference at Millar College of the Bible where we met Peter & Linda Enns—NTM representatives. After much prayer and seeking God’s will, we joined the Mobilization Team of NTM Canada. As we embark into this new chapter of our lives, your prayers are greatly appreciated.” jim-marie_mack@ntm.org
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C ONNEC T As if tribal ministry isn’t complicated enough …
An important part of our NTM missionary training was learning about animism and how it affects the tribal peoples’ lives and complicates every aspect of a tribal church planting ministry. Animism is the belief that everything in the world, including people, plants, animals, objects and even dreams and ideas have a soul or spirit which “animates” them or makes them “conscious.” A tribal person believes that all these “souls” are “out to get him” and he must constantly either deceive or appease them with rituals handed down through many generations in order to secure his own well-being. So he lives in perpetual fear that his life, his health, his garden and his future are always hanging in the balance. Did the tree he just passed along the trail put a curse on him? How should he protect himself? Even with all this knowledge from our training, it’s still a huge shock to arrive and realize that it’s really true — animism is a major part of their lives. But having been prepared, it is easier to deal with this sad reality — a reality that only the Gospel of Jesus Christ can change. — Chantal Pilon, Konyagi Tribe, West Africa Find out more about missionary training: ntm.org/magazine
“When he prods me, I hear His voice and I have begun to obey.” — Mario, Guanano tribe, Brazil
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photo by Dale Stroud
Look out below! You know you’re a bush pilot when your fellow missionaries contact you with the news that your next landing in their village might be a little tricky. The tribal landlord had planted coconut trees on a third of the airstrip! Guess he didn’t want all that nicely cleared land to go to waste. — Josh Dalton, Philippines Learn more about being a missionary pilot: ntm.org/magazine
The dance must be perfect. Everything depends on it. For days the Tepehuans prepare. They fast. They take ritual baths. They hold their anger. The Tepehuans of Mexico believe that if their god is pleased with their all-night dance ritual, he will give them rain and their crops will prosper. They believe he will cleanse them from anger, sickness and pain. But if he is not pleased with the dance, they will go hungry and get sick. As evening falls on the night of the ritual, they begin the dance. Men, women and children skip and hop around a large fire, seeking their god’s favour. One by one, exhausted dancers fall to the dusty ground. But as soon as they catch their breaths, they join back in. The dance has to work. Dawn is coming. They must earn their god’s favour. Their very lives depend on it. Hear more stories like this: ntm.org/magazine
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Dancing till You Drop
PHILIPPINES
Grant and Marianne Bayfield
Ministry: Church Planting Sending Churches: Glenelg Baptist Church, Durham, ON; Faircreek Church, Fairborn, Ohio Grant came to salvation early in life, but only as a teenager began to pursue a more life-changing relationship with God. In the process, he began to desire to help people understand the Gospel, particularly those who have no way yet of hearing it. At 16, while interviewing an NTM couple, Grant decided that he wanted to head to New Tribes Bible Institute and pursue the role of a tribal church planter. After missionary training, he moved to the Philippines and served for 8 years, first learning the trade language, then assisting other missionaries as he waited for a team to be ready to go to a remote area. He then teamed up with NTM Filipino missionaries in a mountain village. Marianne grew up in a military family and came to know Christ at an early age. While in the 4th grade a missionary couple came to speak at her church. For the first time, Marianne’s eyes were opened to the needs, and she realized that she wanted to go overseas and share the Gospel with those who hadn’t heard about Jesus. After high school, she attended Word of Life Bible Institute where she met an NTM representative who told her about the 6-week study-abroad program in Papua New Guinea called Interface. So after graduating, she shipped off to PNG to learn first-hand about church-planting in remote areas. God used this challenging experience to confirm for Marianne her desire to work with NTM full time. While Marianne was studying at NTM’s training centre, a missionary on home assignment named Grant came to speak to the students. They hit it off immediately and 6 months later, Marianne went to the Philippines for the summer. While she was there, Grant asked for her hand in marriage. The two were just married on January 1st! Marianne will be studying the trade language before they move to join their Filipino co-workers in the village. blogs.ntm.org/grant_bayfield/
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C ONNEC T by Dena McMaster
Sometimes the hindrances and complications to missionary work can come in an unexpected package. In this case it was a hairy little creature with long arms and a tail — a pet monkey named Coco. The monkey had been a source of contention for our team during her entire life in captivity. She often escaped and wreaked havoc above us. We would hear a noise on the roof and Coco would peel back the tin and chatter down at us. To me she always sounded triumphant. Sometimes she would even come down into the living room and lead us on a chase, throwing things at us as she leaped from place to place. Of course the roof would have to be repaired and eventually someone would manage to capture Coco and return her. Her owners were not immune to her attacks either. She would flit from place to place in their living room, tearing down curtains, throwing knick-knacks to the floor – all the while chattering happily, seemingly glad to have something ornery to do. Then the day came for Coco’s owners to leave for home assignment. They were going to release Coco into the wild and hope that she would reunite with her wild relatives. So we decided to have a good-bye party for them and Coco at our local
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swimming hole — a series of underground caves that caught water during the rainy season and formed underground pools. In spite of the trouble she caused we were all sad to see Coco go. Not sad enough, however, to take her home with us! We arrived at the caves and let Coco out. She immediately took off for a tree where several other monkeys were perched. They began chattering to one another like long-lost friends. It looked as though Coco had found a new home. So we settled down to enjoy the festivities and the food. We had carefully saved a package of Girl Scout mint cookies sent from home for several months just waiting for the right moment to enjoy them. As I pulled them out and began to peel back the plastic, Coco swooped
photo by Dale Stroud
Monkey Business
“Since I believed in Jesus’
death and resurrection for me, I learned to read my own language, and now I
am able to read God’s Word every day! These words
are very big and difficult to understand, but I pray ev-
ery time before I read the Bible or prepare to teach
a lesson and God opens my
eyes so that I can ‘see’ the
words and understand them. It is not my strength, but His, and I am so thankful
that He has given me this work to do.” — Welsen,
Tobo tribe, Papua New Guinea
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down from the tree, grabbed the cookies and took them up to distribute them to her new friends. We sat speechless. Somehow Coco had managed to get away with yet another evil deed. Our mouths were watering for those cookies but we watched helplessly as several monkeys enjoyed our treat. Sharing this stolen sweet seemed to cement Coco’s relationship with her new friends. We were sad that Coco had returned to the wild without even a glance back. I guess we thought she might show a little remorse but she just acted like a monkey.
SOUTHEAST ASIA Greg and Kadie Ried
Children: one on the way Ministry: Church planting Sending Church: Blaise Baptist Church, Mocksville, North Carolina Greg and Kadie were both raised in Christian homes and exposed to missions from an early age. At the age of 13, Greg had the privilege of seeing his parents sell their business and go into full time missionary service. This helped him realize the importance of missions. In high school he was challenged with the idea of people groups having never heard the gospel. This caused him to go on a short-term missions trip, and after seeing it for himself he knew God was calling him to tribal church planting. Kadie’s journey into full time missions was a gradual process. It was a combination of hearing from missionaries while growing up and facing the truth of God’s Word. During Bible college especially, she was challenged with the truth that God is deeply concerned that the whole world know and worship Him. Greg and Kadie met while Greg was teaching at the Missionary Training Centre in Durham, and Kadie was attending as a student. They were married after Kadie graduated from the course, and continue to work at the Missionary Training Centre. Throughout this next year, they will transition from their ministry of training others in Canada to a role of church-planting in Southeast Asia. “We are excited for this future ministry and how God will use us to bring more people to worship Him.” ntm.org/missionaries/greg-kadie-ried
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Keep Your Missionaries Gone!
Tribal church planting in one word is hard. Precious tribal souls need the Gospel, but actually being able to do that work over the long-haul is difficult. Over time, missionaries can get discouraged, burned-out and sometimes come home much sooner than they really planned or wanted to. But here are some ways that you can help keep them gone. 1) Find a tribal missionary (or two or three) and connect up with them personally. Then stick to them like glue. Let that missionary know they are not alone and that you are rooting for them and for what God is doing through them in their tribal ministry. • Pray for them diligently • Give to them financially • Send care packages regularly • Email notes of encouragement • Visit them whenever you can — take a group of young people from your church and work with the tribal missionaries, seeing life through their eyes 2) Find a support missionary (or two or three) and do the same for them! They are one of the biggest assets in keeping tribal missionaries gone. Support missionaries teach the tribal missionaries’ children, fly the planes and helicopters, buy their supplies, fix their computers, make sure they get their financial donations on time, keep their taxes and insurance straight, and even write stories for this magazine so that people can stay informed. Without the substantial manpower support from their fellow missionaries, tribal missionaries must leave their remote locations and come home. If you believe tribal souls are worth it, help keep both tribal and support missionaries gone! Find a missionary: ntm.org/magazine
Asian Artichoke Dip 1/4 c. sour cream 1 c. mayonnaise 1 c. grated parmesan cheese 4 oz. can chopped green chilies 2-3 cloves minced garlic 14.5 oz. can plain artichokes (in water – drained and chopped)
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Mix together and place in a shallow baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until set. Use celery, crackers or pita/tortilla chips to dip. NTM missionary Kristie Harris snagged this delicious recipe from a sweet Asian lady and has been making it ever since. Enjoy!
Still living in the city while learning the national language, Jake Ketchum ran into their little corner store to get his daughter’s favourite dinner – ramen noodles. He met a neighbour there and began chatting. The missionary always tries to speak as much of the language as he can, and if he gets stuck, people usually try to help him out with whatever English they know to keep the conversation moving. So after speaking the national language for a while, his neighbour suddenly asked him in English, “Do you like me?” The question caught Jake off-guard. None of the people had ever asked him that before. Would his answer have cultural implications that he wasn’t aware of? His neighbour must have noticed the awkward silence because he pointed to the noodles in the missionary’s hand. That’s when Jake remembered that the word for noodle in that language is mie and is pronounced like the English word me. He was asking if Jake liked the noodles. The missionary was thankful he hadn’t made a fool of himself by answering, “Yes, I do like you — as a friend.”
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Um … is this a trick question?
SOUTHEAST ASIA
Julie Arnold
Ministry: Church planting Sending Church: O’Connor Free Methodist Church, Kakabeka Falls, ON “I couldn’t get the thought out of my head: unreached people groups are asking for missionaries, but there are not enough Christians willing to go. That seemed so wrong. I knew there were millions of people in the world needing Christ, but I hadn’t realized that some of these were eagerly asking to be taught—or that they were being denied because people like me were ignoring their request. “I look back to that day, as I sat in my Bible college seat, as a significant landmark on my journey into missions. The journey began when I was just a little girl, being taught the truth by my parents. At an early age, I came to know that my sin separated me from God, but that Jesus died to take my penalty. I asked Him to forgive my sin, and He did. From then on, I was a member of God’s family, and I continued to grow in His ways. “Although I grew up as a missionary kid, I didn’t seriously consider missions for myself until I was in Bible school. There, what began as interest in missions changed into a wish to be involved, then into a desire, and then finally into a plan. I was not always convinced that God would want to use someone like me for such an important job, but I offered myself to Him by applying to New Tribes Mission of Canada. “I took the missionary training in Durham, ON, and left there more convinced than ever that I was on the right track—although I had no idea to which part of the world that track was heading. I ended up working other jobs for the next four years, before making a visit to several fields where NTM works. It was during my reflections after this trip that I chose to pursue joining the Southeast Asia field. “I am aiming to leave Canada in July 2012 to begin language & culture study on the field. After that, my desire is to be part of a tribal church-planting team. I am excited to see what God has in store, and what part He has for me to play in sharing the Good News of His truth and love with those who have never heard!” juliearnold.blogspot.com julie_arnold@ntm.org
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I’m listening to lesson 69 again!
A solar-powered media player, about the size of an iPod, has become a very important tool in tribal ministries in the last few years. After teaching the Bible lessons, missionaries record them on the players and the tribal people can listen to them over again as much as they want to. Missionary Phil Henderson found his translation helper, Sherife, listening to a player when he came by to visit one afternoon. “I am listening to Lesson 69,” Sherife said. “It is about the death of Jesus. I always listen to this lesson. It is my favourite. I listen to it because it reminds me of the mercy that God showed us. If it wasn’t for Jesus dying on the cross none of us would have any hope of being saved. There is no other way. If it wasn’t for Jesus’ death we would be in big trouble.” — Phil and Elin Henderson, Mozambique You can teach Firm Foundations lessons too. Get your teachers guide at: ntmbooks.com
Slippery Little Devils “He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps. He has put a new song in my mouth.” Psalm 40:2-3a
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Lea Betts and her husband are learning the culture and language of the Karen people of Thailand. Since it was corn harvest time, Lea asked her tribal friend, Joe, how his harvest was going. “Oh, I’m not harvesting corn,” he told her, “I’m grabbing eels.” Eels? She must have misunderstood him. “But I thought you said you were for sure going to harvest your corn starting this week,” Lea said. “Well,” Joe admitted with a smile, “We are harvesting our corn. But it is so wet and slippery it’s like grabbing eels.” She should have known that Joe was always joking around.
praise
The Kuna people of Panama recently received Psalms, Proverbs and Exodus in their own language. This year, the entire Bible, Old and New Testaments, is expected to be completed in the Kuna language. Now more Kuna people need to learn to read. Get information on how you can help fund a literacy program among the Kunas, or how you can get daily or weekly prayer updates from New Tribes Mission: ntm.org/magazine
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Please tell me I didn’t say that! Kim Lockwood thought she knew the Pal tribal word for “rolling.” So when her son was playing and rolling down a hill in Papua New Guinea, she kept pointing and saying the phrase for “rolling” over and over. Unfortunately, because of a misunderstanding involving a dung beetle, she found out later she was actually repeating to everyone, “I just had a bowel movement.” Find out how you can learn another language as a missionary: ntm.org/magazine
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INDONESIA
Andrew (YongChan) and Christine (HyunKyung) Kim
Children: Erin (Yerin) and Annie (Yerang) Ministry: Computer engineering in Canada, and enroute to Indonesia as church planters Sending Churches: Listowel Bible Chapel, ON; Kangnam assembly, South Korea Andrew and Christine were born in Seoul, South Korea, and raised in Christian homes. Andrew was saved at age 13, and was baptized at age 18. While at Bible camp, he met a New Tribes missionary from Thailand. Through the missionary’s testimony, Andrew saw God is still working in many countries, and desired to be a missionary. When he was a university student, God allowed Andrew to go on several mission trips, and used these to call him to be a missionary. Christine was also exposed to missions at an early age and thought that every Christian should be a missionary to preach the Gospel to the ends of the earth. Her desire grew when on mission trips as a university student. Christine discovered New Tribes Mission online. In 2005 they got married, and in 2009 they moved to North America for missionary training. “Through the training, we have learned that our lives can be a more powerful message than our speech. We are so thankful that God called us to deliver His Good News to the darkness, and to have this time to prepare.” They graduated from the training in May of 2011, and in October they visited Indonesia. Currently, Andrew is working in the computer department at the Canadian home office and training centre, and Christine is helping with childcare and at the NTMC Academy. They are praying that God leads them to be in Indonesia as church planters in His time. ntm.org/missionaries/ andrew-and-christine-kim
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Freedom Song
by Debbie Burgett, contibuting editor
Barefoot and trembling, Mahli and her two friends stood shoulder to shoulder, almost holding each other up, as they faced the new tribal believers seated cross-legged before them. Mahli’s thoughts raced like one of their escaping pigs. Why are we up here? Are we crazy? We can’t sing! She tried hard to swallow the dust in her mouth as everyone quieted down. What possessed us to do this? Then she remembered why. The Great Creator God. They were going to sing their song to Him — a song they had written together one afternoon as they laid on their bellies by the river. His death had set them free. They couldn’t keep the words inside any longer. Clasping hands, the three young girls slowly began to sing. But it was more like a heartfelt whisper. Thank you, Great Creator For all You have done You took away our darkness And proved the spirits wrong … Their soft, timid voices grew in strength with every word. You are the One true God You sent the blood-giver Thank you, Great Creator We are now free forever!
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Squeezing each other’s hands, they knew that what they were singing about was true. It was real. Nothing else mattered except that God was bigger and more powerful than anything. He could help them even when … things were so hard. And He could change things too … someday. Mahli’s thoughts flashed back to a young tribal girl being beaten and forced into a canoe by her uncles to go marry someone she didn’t want to. In their Papua New Guinea culture, girls didn’t have a choice in who they married. Male relatives made that decision — for the good of the family line. Fighting was not only useless, but dangerous. The struggling girl had gotten her hand smashed with the back of a bush knife as she tried to grab on to a tree near the river’s edge. But she didn’t have a choice. Mahli and her friends wouldn’t have a choice. But they did have a choice right now today. They would sing to the One who gave up everything for them. Mahli searched out her own family seated among the new believers — and choked slightly as she saw them. She had already noticed changes. God could be trusted. He would take care of all of them — and the culture they came from. Thank you, Great Creator For all you have done … Mahli’s eyes smiled as she sang. No matter who she married, she was already free.
Will wonders never cease? Bill and Kelley Housley had been praying for Amos’ wife for a long time. So when they returned to the remote Inapang village in Papua New Guinea after home assignment, they were thrilled to hear that she had been baptized. “Oh, I wish I had been here to see that.” Kelley said wistfully. But that wasn’t the only amazing change that had happened while they were gone. A tribal man now whipped out his cell phone and said, “You can see it. I took a video with my phone!”
photo by Dale Stroud
See videos and pictures from around the world: ntm.org/magazine
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praise
In December, a group
of Bulongish people in Guinea heard the final Firm Foundations Bible lesson and learned in their own language about the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. Several placed their faith in the finished work of Christ on the Cross. Find out how you can pray daily or weekly for the work God is going among tribal people around the world, or learn how you can buy Firm Foundations Bible lessons you can teach: ntm.org/magazine
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Living in A World of Walls
A new neighbour, Arlindo, just moved in across the street from missionaries Duane and Nadine Howe, who serve in Cruzeiro do Sul, West Brazil, at the mission centre. And sure enough, the first thing going up is a big wall. Brazilians believe in tall brick walls for security and privacy. But it soon became obvious that the wealthy Arlindo believes in even taller walls! “What really amazes me … and still does … are the walls,” said Duane. “I have been teaching in several different locations from Psalm 139 … one of the statements that David makes is that ‘You have hedged me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me’ (v. 5). In the Portuguese translation it says, ‘You wall me in.’ I like that,” he said. Living in a world of walls, Duane knows where his real protection comes from. He hopes to share that news with Arlindo someday soon. 15
THE MESSY WORK OF PLANTING A CHURCH
Coming Through the Mud by Debbie Burgett, contributing editor
The rain kept pounding, and the pools of mud kept spreading. It was supposed to be the dry season, yet it was worse than most rainy seasons. Still the stream of Tobo people kept coming — slogging through the thick sludge — to hear the Bible teaching. But the literal mud they were now wading through was nothing compared to the spiritual mud they would also have to wrestle with as they listened to the NTM missionaries present the Bible. The Tobo people had followed several other religions and cults over the years. And jumbled up with centuries of animistic beliefs, it was now all blending together — like too many colours — into an ugly brown.
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What was the truth? Some Tobos had become so confused searching for it, they had given up all together and had decided to live however they pleased. But at long last, hope was on the way. After living with the Tobo people for four years in order to fully under-
photo by Chad Mankins
stand their language and their lives and the massive knot their beliefs had become, NTM missionaries now invited the people to come and learn the truth about the Sovereign One and His book called the Bible. The goal was to plainly lay out the truths of Scripture from Creation to Christ and allow its strength and power to
untangle the Tobos’ long-held misconceptions — and clear the path to belief. The messy, yet memorable journey had begun. Three hundred pairs of mud-caked feet squeezed into or around the clearing at the centre of the Tobo village. They sat on banana leaves, hardwood plank pieces or long,
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people can tell us different things,” Jason assured the anxious people as the three men sat down. “If this incident had really happened, how would we know which story was true and correct? Each person may or may not have told us the truth based on what they saw or thought they saw.” The missionary then went on to explain that people cannot be trusted to deliver oral messages. Being human, we’ll forget parts, add parts or leave parts out. Now a long line of people joined Jason and his co-worker Chad Mankins at the centre of the clearing. Chad whispered an important message into the first man’s ear. “God’s Word was written down by more than 40 different men called
photo by Chad Mankins
rough-hewn firewood logs — anything to keep them off the soupy ground. Scarfs, towels or umbrellas shielded them from the relentless sun above. The Tobo people chatted as they waited for the teaching to begin. Missionary Jason Knapp stood in the middle, along with any pigs, dogs, chickens or toddlers that happened to wander by, and began his introduction. Suddenly, three men came running into the circle out of breath. “There’s been an accident down by the river!” the first one shouted. “A man stumbled and fell off the cliff!” “I saw him jump on purpose!” exclaimed the second one. “I saw someone push him!” yelled the third. “This is just an example of how
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photo by Jason Williamson
The tribal people weren’t laughing anymore. All their beliefs were based on oral stories.
prophets from a land called Israel. God spoke and they wrote it down carefully so that His message through all time would never be lost or mixed up.” Of course, when the message was whispered person to person down the line and the last man spoke what he heard, the Tobo people enjoyed a good laugh. The end message had become so ridiculous, it was not anything like the original. “So how do we know that the oral stories our ancestors have passed down to us are really true?” Jason pointed out. “Perhaps the messages have gotten all mixed up.” The tribal people weren’t laughing anymore. All their beliefs were based on oral stories. Now they were introduced to the ever-existent Sovereign One who had an important message for all the people of the world, including the Tobo people. He alone knew the whole
photo by Aaron Jex
Eski, a recent believer
Jason teaching
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The more they listened, the more surprised they became. This God was unlike any they had ever heard about before. He alone was all-knowing, all-powerful and all-present everywhere at the same time.
photo by Janeene Mankins
truth of mankind’s story and could be trusted to tell it correctly. But He hadn’t left His important message to oral chance. He had it carefully written down so it would remain true and unchanged forever. Now they were hearing that message for themselves. “In the beginning God …” Immediately, mud began to rise in Tobo minds. What? The Sovereign One meant His message for all people? So the white men have been keeping it from us! I knew it! That’s why we don’t have all the secret riches like they do! These missionaries can’t be trusted! But I’ll listen anyway to learn the secret too. But the more they listened, the more surprised they became. This God was unlike any they had ever heard about
Chad shares a lesson
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before. He alone was all-knowing, allpowerful and all-present everywhere at the same time. What? He alone? But isn’t He just like Satan? Don’t they both do these things? We don’t even know who will win the battle yet — He or Satan! “… created the heavens and the earth.” Yes, we’ve heard this before. He created everything. So what? Different spirits do different things. Some are dead ancestors that come back as fireflies and crickets. If we don’t treat them right, they curse us at night and that’s why we die. Others are bush spirits that try to trick or kill us when we travel. And this creator spirit of the air needs to be appeased the right way or He will hurt us too. We must listen carefully to know what to do. But even muddled confusion couldn’t lessen the impact of the Creation story. The Tobo people sat in awe as pictures of tigers, lions, elephants and other animals were passed around for them to look at. Even the beauty and intricacy of their own jungle ferns and flowers surprised them. We didn’t know Sovereign One was this powerful! We never even thought about these things before! “And the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground …” Yes, that’s how He made white people. They come from Adam and his son, Abel. We come from Cain. Abel offered a good sacrifice and got the riches, but Cain, our stupid ancestor, offered a bad sacrifice and that’s why we don’t have the riches.
But the Tobo people were surprised again when they learned that the Sovereign One lovingly placed the man and his wife in a beautiful garden and provided everything they needed not only for their survival, but also for their enjoyment. And even more amazing, that He wanted to have a relationship with them and came to the garden to walk and talk with them in the evenings. Do the white men have two Gods? This is not the same angry, punitive God our forefathers heard about. He has many, many rules that are needed to appease Him or else you go to the place of fire. But this God sounds kind and loving. Does He have the secret of the riches? “… took of its fruit and ate ...” What? The first sin was not that they took the forbidden “ fruit” and slept together? They disobeyed God and ate real fruit? “The Lord God sent him out of the garden …” The tribal people could relate to this painful reality. Just like Adam and Eve now had to work hard for their food, the Tobo people did too. And they didn’t have the benefit of electrical, digital or climate-controlled conveniences to help insulate them from the effects of the curse. They experienced its full impact every day. That’s why we need to learn the secret of the white men’s treasures! This work is killing us! But other Tobos cried as they realized they were sinners too and that there was no way to get back to the tree of life.
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photo by Jason Williamson
“There has to be another way,” they said to the missionaries, “or we will all die and go to the lake of fire.” And there was a way. Story after story throughout the rest of the Old Testament, the Tobo people learned how the Sovereign One always provided a way — for those who would choose it. Others went their own way and suffered for it. With Cain and Abel, God provided a standard for offering sacrifices. Cain chose differently. With Noah, God provided a boat for escaping the flood. Only a few got in. With the Tower of Babel, God provided a plan for repopulating. Not everyone agreed. With Sodom and Gomorrah, God provided a warning of pending destruction. Only Lot’s family listened. This particular lesson struck an unexpected chord with the Tobo people. Sodom sounds just like us. Our men don’t sleep with men, but we sleep with women that aren’t ours. And we do much more than that. We do whatever we want. What will happen to us? The unsettling pattern was clear. The all-knowing, all-powerful, everpresent, kind, loving and just Creator of the universe asked something of His creation. Come to Him on His terms — or be willing to take the consequences. And it was about to get much worse — with Moses. Silence followed the lesson on the giving of the Law. Even the pigs, dogs, chickens and babies seemed to forget to make noise. This was a topic that
Daisa, a Tobo believer
photo by Chad Mankins
photo by Chad Mankins
had always haunted the Tobo people. They looked down, ashamed, scared. Some cried. We’ve been told our whole lives to keep the Law or be doomed to Hell. And we have tried over and over to follow it. But we keep failing! What can we do? We have to please this God of yours so He’ll give us the riches too! Again, the answer was clear — God’s way. The Tobos learned that the Law was doing exactly the work in their hearts that the Sovereign One intended — it was showing them their sin and their complete inability to follow it. However, God had even provided for this problem too. He instituted animal sacrifices to provide a temporary covering for the Israelites’ sin — promising someday to send a future Deliverer to solve the problem permanently. This must be the secret! The Deliverer will solve all our problems! He will
bring back the riches that our foolish ancestors lost for us! Treasures will spew from the mountain and we won’t have to work anymore! When will He come? As the journey through the Bible progressed and now transitioned to the New Testament, the answer was coming. But it wouldn’t be a welcome one. Over the course of the teaching, the missionaries had told the Tobo people over and over that they had not come to help them find the “secret riches” that they were always waiting for. They had explained that the promised Deliverer’s mission to the world was to deliver people from sin and Satan’s power, not from a life of hard, physical labour. They had stressed that eternal life did not equal material wealth here on earth. And that message was about to be highlighted even more — with the
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same results as in Jesus’ day. With the feeding of the 5,000, the Tobo people saw that the ultimate purpose in Jesus coming to earth was not to feed people’s bellies or to give them any other material thing. In fact, as with the Rich Young Ruler, He often asked for quite the opposite. What Jesus was offering was the riches of Himself. He was offering the answer to the sin problem and the only “bread” they would ever need. Would the Tobo people receive His spiritual provision or keep trying to find their own? For some Tobos, this particular lesson clarified their decision to keep coming to the teaching. Somehow, they knew that more was at stake here than just physical comfort. For others,
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photos by Chad Mankins
Janeene Mankins, centre
From the beginning of Creation, the message had been clear. The Sovereign One always provided a way. Now, the Tobo people learned of His ultimate provision to the world: Jesus Christ hearing this unwelcome news once more greatly angered them and they stopped coming altogether. Still others wanted to “ride the fence,” hoping to believe both ways — just in case. They would come to the Bible teaching and then leave immediately afterward to change into their traditional bark loin cloths and grass skirts (necessary for the “magic” to work) and then participate in the rituals and traditions so the riches would come. They had spent their whole lives constantly preparing and waiting and hoping for all the secret, wonderful, magical treasures of the white man to suddenly burst upon them and give them the life of ease they so desperately longed for. Riches were the god they craved. Riches were the god they
served. It was too hard to give up the possibility that it might be true. But then the day came when everyone did have to choose. Seventy-five pairs of mud-encrusted feet — many more than expected — showed up in the clearing for the conclusion of the story. “For God so loved the world …” From the beginning of Creation, the message had been clear. The Sovereign One always provided a way. Now, the Tobo people learned of His ultimate provision to the world: Jesus Christ, the One who had healed the sick, raised the dead, and calmed the sea, became the substitute Lamb when He died on the cross. He was the promised Deliverer. But unlike the animal sacrifices, which could
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cover sin only temporarily, His blood cleansed mankind once and for all. The death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, took care of the sin problem forever. Now the question was: Would the Tobo people accept their Deliverer or continue their own way? After the lesson, a cluster of excited people surrounded the missionaries, pelting them with questions. After talking with the people and answering questions, it was evident that several understood and believed that Jesus, the promised Deliverer, had paid for their sins with His blood. The three-month chronological journey through the Bible had accomplished its purpose — and cleared the path to belief. A muddy little band of Tobo people were now white as snow. And they were grateful. “Thank you, Yesu!” the people cried.
That was five years ago. And while the celebrating was very real for some, it was not for others. When the newness wore off and the riches never came, when fears escalated that the spirits were angry and would never send the treasures, when immense social pressure mounted to return to the old ancestral ways, when threatened with eviction from their homes, families and marriages if they didn’t return, and when jeers, insults and persecution from both inside and outside the village became too demoralizing, the little band shrank even more. Tribal church planting is messy. It’s messy for tribal people whose
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centuries-old culture is structured on the concept that the group is right and the individual is wrong. So to believe or act independently is not only considered extremely disloyal and the worst kind of pride and presumption, it also leaves the entire culture, its history and leadership open to doubt. So the group acts quickly to stamp out differences at all costs.
A muddy little band of Tobo people were now white as snow.
photo by Chad Mankins
It’s also messy for missionaries who have given up everything to bring the light of the Gospel to tribal people, only to have them choose or be coerced to stay in their darkness. Imagine rushing out on the edge of the remotest quicksand, thrusting out your hand in urgency to offer the lifeline of truth, love and friendship — then watching in horror as a
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roasts sweet potatoes over the open fire. Little kids play soccer on the grass nearby. Dogs bark. Babies cry. When the sweet potatoes are done, they are peeled and sliced and passed around with some water. And together, eight Tobo believers in Papua New Guinea remember the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Was it worth all the time and effort when the end result was so small — and guarantees a huge messy job to raise it to maturity? Ask any parent cradling their newborn
photo by Aaron Jex
fearful, resistant people, clutching and clawing desperately at their old beliefs, ignore your hand, and are sucked down into a Christ-less eternity. Yes, it’s messy. Yet, the missionaries stay for as long as they can bear it. Because sometimes, a hand will shoot out of that cultural quicksand and reach back — and they want to be there to grab it. Eight Tobo hands reached back. Now the tiny church meets around a fire to sing songs and listen to teaching from Ephesians. One lady slowly
Welson teaching
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photo by Jason Williamson
Ambox teaching in the village of Dabiliu.
photo by Chad Mankins
And together, eight Tobo believers in Papua New Guinea remember the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
baby — or missionary sharing tribal communion around a flickering fire. They would do all the labour again in a heartbeat. Though slow and wobbly, the Tobo church is stepping its way toward maturity. Sometimes, the growth and progress comes from a totally unexpected direction. Last year, two believing men joined in an effort to extend a hand to others. Welsin and Ambox accompanied missionary Jason Williamson to help teach in a neighbouring village 30 minutes away. Jason’s good friend and language helper, Unex, asked that they come teach his family and
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Pray for the Eight!
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This time, he wanted to hear the whole thing from start to finish.
photo by Aaron Jex
Eight believers make up the core of the Tobo church. A larger group meets together on Sundays, but this smaller group is genuinely seeking to learn, grow and reach out to others. Please pray for them diligently as the missionaries disciple them separately through the book of Ephesians. Welsin is a gifted and charismatic teacher. He was a bit of an outcast before his salvation but has since shown godly wisdom and people have noticed the change in his life. Jenele is Welsin’s wife. We are praying that she will grasp Truth more and more and begin to apply it. Ambox is a quiet man but has shown discernment with the Scriptures and is able to clearly communicate with others on what they mean. He is an example of separating himselfThis fromtime, the other religious meetings in the area. he wanted to hear Nailen is Ambox’s wife. She is a soft-spoken the whole thing woman with the desire to support her husband and train their three children in astart godly to way. from finish. She has a sensitive heart and wants to follow the Lord. Daisa has made bold steps of faith to turn against her religious background and become an example that salvation is by faith alone. She is always speaking up about what God is teaching her and exhorting and encouraging others in the body. Rindum is a very knowledgeable woman who is clear in her understanding of the Scriptures and is thankful to have God’s Word in her language. Unex is a new believer who has taken a stand against the other religious practices because of his firm belief in being saved by grace through faith alone. He has shown discernment by seeing what is written in God’s Word and evaluating those around him and how they live. Eski is Unex’s wife. She is also a new believer who has given a clear testimony about her faith in Christ. She has stood on God’s strength when her garden hasn’t grown and when she has been short on necessities, trusting God to provide.
Unex
photo by Jason Williamson
Five of eight Tobo believers: Welson, Jenele, Daisa, Nailen, Ambox.
another family in their village. Unex had heard parts and pieces of the Bible message and was left confused. This time, he wanted to hear the whole thing from start to finish. But when Welsin’s wife became ill, Ambox had to do even more of the teaching. The quiet, unassuming man calmly took it in stride and proved himself a very capable teacher. His profound and insightful statements surprised everyone. After one of the lessons, while other people were asking questions, Unex said, “I don’t have any questions for you because this talk, for the first
time in my life, has become clear in my insides and I’m understanding it. Before, other religions and people would say this and that and I couldn’t understand it and didn’t know who to believe. But this teaching is clear and I’m happy to come and sit and be a learner of this big true talk.” Unex and his wife, Eski, reached out for the lifeline and left the mire of their old beliefs behind. The sweet echo of long ago can still be heard as the muddy little Tobo church marches on. “Thank you, Yesu!”
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