In our last update we said that we would share with you some exciting
things about one of the lowland Manubu’ churches. It’s in a small
village, but we’ll call it the church at Big K because that’s easy to
remember. That church was one of the first Manubu’ churches – started
about 25 years ago when we lived and taught there in the lowlands for 5
years.
For a number of years they were quite active in teaching the
evangelistic phases of the teaching to the still unsaved in their
village. And the church leaders were also teaching their fellow
believers the OT and NT Bible lessons Gene wrote for that dialect. The
church was growing.
Then, one of the church leaders got filled with pride and tried to lord
it over his fellow church leaders and Bible teachers. It ended up with
he and his large extended family leaving the church. He even criticized
the church to the public in general. And he took on the pastorate of a
good-works for eternal salvation church in the same village. We don’t
know what he has been teaching there.
But, we do know that the Manubu’ church that he left has come back
strong. They have planted a church at a lakeside village a few miles
away. Believers in that church have been teaching the evangelistic
phases to those around them and the church is being taught by a teacher
the Lord has raised up from that group.
The church at Big K is also now reaching out to other places, some quite
some distance away.
All of that is great, but here is what is really exciting about the
Manubu’ church at Big K. They are very active in taking care of each
other and their Bible teachers both in the church and those reaching out
to other villages.
For example, as we mentioned in an earlier update, the believers gave
sacrificially so that a motorcycle could be bought for the Bible
teachers traveling to other villages to plant churches. They are very
poor people – much more poor than the people here in our area. Yet, we
were amazed at how much money they came up with. We added to what they
had so that a motorcycle could be bought and licensed and Dani, who
would be driving it, could get a driver license. He and those going
with him had been hiking for hours through the jungle in order to get to
where they are church planting.
But, what is just as exciting is what Pulding tells us about them. He
goes there every few days to check the comprehension of scripture
translation which he and Gene have done. Pulding says that the
believers at Big K are a great example for us to follow. Some of the
Bible teachers, such as Dani, are so busy teaching at outreaches that
they often don’t have time to properly attend their rice fields. So,
fellow believers pitch in and do it. If someone is sick and needs help,
including working their rice fields, the believers help. Pulding says
that they are a loving, giving, helping group of believers who are sold
out to the Lord.
And by the way, Dani and his wife and children live in a tiny little
house and are really poor. But, his wife says, “I’m content as long as
Dani is teaching God’s Word.”
We all know how Satan especially likes to stir things up among a group
like that. So please *PRAY* for the believers at Big K, including those
doing outreaches, that they will stay true to the Lord and continue to
be a shining light in this dark world.
As for Carol, she is about finished with her H Pylori treatment and is
back to what is normal for her since the first time she had H Pylori and
also chemo therapy 14 years ago which is small meals – sort of like
fueling a motorcycle versus a Cadillac. She is so happy and thankful
that she can drink coffee again! Thanks for praying for her.
Praising Him for all of you who partner with us through prayer and
giving as we translate the Scriptures and prepare other teaching
material for the Manubu’ believers.