Family
Bart grew up as a missionary kid in Bangladesh. Emily grew up as a farm girl in Pennsylvania. Luke was born in Ohio, Titus in Michigan, Caleb in Pennsylvania and Micah in Australia. Together as a family we are excited about serving the Lord here in Papua New Guinea!
To learn more about our family, please click on the Family link.
Ministry
Our team (our family, along with our teammates Benjamin & Missy Hatton) ministers among the Amdu people located in the mountains of western Papua New Guinea. By God’s grace, we have learned their tribal language, taught many of the people to read and write in their own language, and are currently translating the Bible and teaching them what it says.
*** When our team moved into Amdu many years ago, it was clear that although “religion” had previously been introduced in various forms, no one understood what God’s Word said about sin, death, separation from God, and the need for a Savior. In 2020 after teaching chronologically in the Amdu language from Creation to Christ, we rejoiced when a group of our Amdu friends trusted in Christ alone for salvation.
Now, as we continue to teach and disciple the believers, we are also praying that more of our Amdu friends will be willing to listen the the truth of God’s Word. The opposition (to trusting in Christ alone for salvation) that our believers are experiencing is helping them to grow in their faith. We thank the Lord for the work He is doing in these remote mountains. ***
Completing formal language study was a huge task as this language had never been written down. As we learned the Amdu language, we at the same time delved deep into their culture and worldview so we could understand how the people think. Their customs and way of looking at life are very different from ours! But understanding their language and worldview are both key to us being able to clearly share God’s message with them.
We are excited that the Lord has given us the privilege to work among this previously unreached group of people. There is now a body of believers in the main village where we located!! We rejoice for the ones who have been saved, and we pray that in the coming years many more Amdu men, women and children will truly understand their need for a Savior and become fellow disciples of Christ.
Please pray for our family and our team as we work together continuing to share the Good News with the Amdu people!