Recently we received exciting news from 2 of our NTBI alumni. Another people group has been reached with the Gospel. The Tobo tribe of Papua New Guinea now has a small group of people who have placed their trust in Christ!
Chad and Janeene Mankins teamed up with Jason and Kellie Knapp in August of 2002 to begin language and culture study among the Tobo people. After more than 2 years of hard work they were ready to begin preparing Bible lessons.
All their hard work paid off a few weeks ago when the first phase of their teaching culminated with the story of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection.
In Their Own Words
How did the Tobo people respond to the Gospel? Here are a couple of quotes:
"I am so happy!" Welsen told Chad one morning. "Jesus spilled His blood for me. I believe and now I am going to heaven. I have eternal life!"
When Jason asked Alis why he had said, “Thank you Jesus.” His reply was, “Because Jesus died for me, and I believe, and now I’m not going to hell anymore.”
Chad asked Agabus what he was thinking after the lesson on Jesus’ resurrection. “I believe Jesus died for me, spilled His blood and saved me from the penalty for my sin,” he said. “I still have lots more questions, and I really want to talk more about these things.”
Building On A Firm Foundation
I wonder if the Mankins and the Knapps ever envisioned themselves giving birth to a church in a tribe that had never before heard the Good News of Jesus. They began the journey simply in 1987 and in 1996 respectively when they enrolled in New Tribes Bible Institute, here in Waukesha.
Click on photos to enlarge
As Cheryl and I walk the halls of the Bible Institute, as we share meals with our students, or join them in their social events, we sense below the surface of their fun-loving spirits, a seriousness to follow God’s leading – regardless of the hardships. In just a few short years many of these young people will be risking their lives in remote corners of the world sharing the “Bread of Life” with people who know nothing of Jesus.
What a privilege it is for us to be involved in preparing a new generation to take the Gospel to the "ends of the earth". What a joy it is for us to partner with you as you pray and give to our ministry! We sincerely thank you for standing with us.
Please continue to pray for the Mankins, the Knapps, and the Tobo believers. The work has just begun. These infant Christians have a lot to learn yet and the neighboring villages and tribes around them also need to hear the Good News.
Pray for our current students as well. They have a sincere desire to obey the Lord. They are earnestly seeking to know His will for their lives. The decisions they make here will have eternal consequences. There are still many churches waiting to be born!
To read more about the Tobo tribe, go to www.ntm.org/news/4583. There you will also find a number of related articles.
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