Jack, “You have waited too long”
In the early years as our mission worked up and down the river flowing out of the mountains of Papua New Guinea into the Sepik basin other tribes began to see a difference in the attitude of the Bisorio people. They had been saved hearing the gospel message in their own language. When a man or woman comes from darkness to light there is a difference and you might even say there is a, “twinkle in their eyes.”
Living and working on the airstrip cut in the middle of the jungle drew people from other language groups nearby. The people came to see the tractor, airplanes and the missionaries that had left it all to come and live among the Bisorio people. They saw the planes landing, they saw the missionaries but most of all they saw a difference in the lives of the Bisorio people.
“Could we get a missionary to come live with us?” How many times have I heard those words and yet had no one to send them? A man, not a vision but a real living man just over a small mountain range from our home came two different times with this question. The third time he came after a few years, he floored me with these words. “Do not worry about getting us a missionary, Jack, you waited too long, our people are dying away.”
But I do worry and will worry until at last we hear Jesus say, “It is finished the last people group, language and nation has been reached with the gospel message.” Today, to that end I write, not to plead but to invite all to lift their eyes and look on the fields that are white to harvest. Let this mind be in you that was also in Jesus when He said, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His Work.” As a reminder, Jesus did say. “As the Father has sent Me so send I you.”
“To finish His work”, today, I am happy to say there is a great witness in the lower Sepik area. It still throws memories my way of working with some of the best church planters in Papua New Guinea, young men and women giving it all to get the job done. Pray for our local pastors as they take the churches into 2020 and beyond. Your part is vital, and we all say thanks
