September 2022

Dear Praying friends and family,

Praise the Lord for answered prayer AGAIN! Yes, we wrote about some of that last month in our update, but we rejoice in even greater answers to prayer this month. We have been praying for some groups of tribal people who are studying through the foundational lessons called Creation to Christ. Now it’s time to celebrate and to continue to pray! We have new believers in two different tribal areas, on different islands of our “heart” country, new brothers and sisters in the body of Christ on the other side of the globe. In a small group of Punan tribal people who’ve been faithfully studying for the past year, 20 have given clear testimonies of faith in Jesus as their Saviour. And in a group of 200 studiers in the Keyayo valley in Sulawesi, several have put their faith in the only way of salvation, Jesus our Lamb who takes away the sin of the world. We pray as they continue to study the next phase of the lessons, that even more will become clear in their understanding and will take that step of faith to place their trust in Jesus. There are many more groups of studiers in other parts of Asia and the world, and we are so privileged to be part of the prayer team that is asking the Holy Spirit to bring light and understanding and conviction of sin and faith to believe into hearts as they connect with the Living Word of God.

Another answer to prayer is that one of our heroes/coworkers serving in a small tribal community was asked by the local school to teach literacy classes to the school children. We pray that their parents will also see the need to be able to read in order to fully comprehend God’s Word in their heart language. Pray for this team serving in the island region in the central part of our country, making foundational lessons and teaching literacy.

One of our co-workers is visiting the Taman tribal group of believers this month to encourage and build up and strengthen the church. They are also checking to see if the printed materials in the language are still available and being used. In addition to that, they are proof-checking some of the scripture portions that I’ve been formatting. Please pray that our co-workers will have meaningful connections with believers and unbelievers during this visit.

This month has been a busy one here in Sheridan! We are back into our “normal” routine of proof checking Bibles to be printed, going to medical appointments, cleaning our garage, finishing translating the 6^th chapter of our newly revised Literacy Manual, and giving what help I (Darcy) can to our teams from a distance.

A verse that has challenged and encouraged my heart this month is 1 Corinthians 15:58  ^“Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”

Praise & Prayer Requests:

• Pray for perseverance for our teams as they plug away at learning the language and develop relationships with tribal people.
• Pray for conviction and understanding and faith as people hear God’s Word in their heart language.
• Pray for our trust and reliance on the Lord for His strength and wisdom.
• Praise the Lord for the wonderful way that He is building His church around the world.

Thank you for your partnership in the Gospel,

Darcy, Ron, and Nita Berglund