{"id":1255,"date":"2021-09-19T03:15:23","date_gmt":"2021-09-19T07:15:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/benjamin-hatton\/?p=1255"},"modified":"2021-09-19T03:15:26","modified_gmt":"2021-09-19T07:15:26","slug":"we-had-it-wrong","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/benjamin-hatton\/2021\/09\/19\/we-had-it-wrong\/","title":{"rendered":"“We had it wrong!”"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A new era for the Amdu Hattons.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Thank you to all of you who sent gifts and kind words to Judah in response to our last ministry update that was focused on his perspective on growing up in Amdu and what his future plans are.\u00a0 If you didn’t get a chance to see that video you can\u00a0follow this link<\/a>\u00a0and watch it.\u00a0 In July our whole family went up to our main support center here in PNG and helped Judah get settled in to where he is going to live and work for the next ten months or so.\u00a0 He really loves the work he gets to do and we’re so thankful that he’s doing well.\u00a0 We returned to Amdu very aware that a new era has begun.\u00a0 A new reality, with new roles and new challenges.\u00a0 Thank you for praying for us as we adjust and grow together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Preparing spiritual children to thrive.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Our role in the lives of the Amdu believers is still very much like that of parents of toddlers.  The goal is the same, though, with our spiritual children as it is with our physical kids.  We want to do our best to prepare the Amdu believers to be able to thrive on their own.  Our study through the book of Acts has provided an excellent foundation for this. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the past few weeks we have been slowly making application of the truths we have discovered in this great story.  The truth that only those people united with Jesus by faith are the true church of God has created a lot of excitement with the Amdu believers.  “We have had it all wrong!”<\/em><\/strong> they said.  This truth has helped them to look back on years of empty religious practice and see that it was meaningless.  “We built a building and even appointed leaders but none of us were united with Jesus.  We were like broken off branches achieving nothing!”<\/em><\/strong>  Pray that this truth settles in and becomes an immovable conviction so that your Amdu brothers and sisters in Christ can thrive when it’s time for them to be on their own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another truth that has caused lots of excitement has been the discussion about why it is important for believers to gather together.  We gather because we ALREADY<\/strong> are the Body of Christ by the work of the Holy Spirit.  We gather together in order to grow from babies in Jesus to mature Christ-like adults who can do the work God has purposed for us to do.  To say that this has delighted the believers is an understatement.  It’s like a weight has been lifted.  “I used to be a prominent woman in the religious group I was part of before.  But I was far from God then!  But now I am God’s infant, and I’m not going to stop eating His good food you are teaching us!” <\/em><\/strong> Pray that this perspective becomes widespread and that each member of the Body of Christ in Amdu recognizes this as their new reality!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The next truth we’re going to spend time applying is the idea that God’s church, gathering and growing together, are on this earth for the purpose of reaching out with the message of reconciliation to those who are far from God.  The Amdu believers have no issue with this idea!  “We need to be going to each of our family members who haven’t heard this yet and teach them,”<\/em><\/strong> was what one man said just last week in one of our meetings.  Pray for us as we help to equip these enthusiastic believers without dampening their spirit.  They need more time and experience in order to be clear speaking effective evangelists. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pray for us as we unpack these vital truths and lay the foundation for our future teaching through the Epistles.\u00a0 We need wisdom so that we teach at the right pace.\u00a0 Some of the believers are ready for teaching from the book of Romans.\u00a0 That is what we have planned for the not too distant future.\u00a0 But others need more time to digest the truths we’re unpacking from Acts a bit more.\u00a0 And still others need more time in the Creation to Christ story.\u00a0 Pray that we’ll know how to meet these different needs and prepare God’s kids here to be the thriving church of God in Amdu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Literacy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We continue to teach three literacy classes and in each one the students are making progress.\u00a0 Pray that they will continue to find the motivation to practice what they are learning.\u00a0 The believers who are enrolled have been the most motivated of the students.\u00a0 In our study through Acts they heard the story of the Bereans who took God’s word and scrutinized Paul’s message and discovered he was teaching the truth.\u00a0 This story has given them focus and drive.\u00a0 Keep praying for them.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n