For obvious reasons I’ve recently been thinking a lot about the theme of thankfulness. There are so many things for which we are thankful: family, friends, health, our faith, our God, to name a few.
As I write this, you are especially on our minds. We are so thankful for your partnership in our ministry with New Tribes Bible Institute.
Without your prayers and your encouragement, I am convinced that we would not have the largest enrollment in the school’s history. Without your partnership we would not be sending more than 50% of our graduates to NTM’s Missionary Training Center (MTC) to prepare for ministries in tribal evangelism and church planting.
The truth is, without your involvement, there would be far fewer stories to tell like that of Stephen & Carolyn Crockett and Kendaya, one of the first believers in the Moi tribe in Indonesia.
The Crocketts took Kendaya out of his isolated tribal village to a town. While there, Kendaya experienced eating at a restaurant for the first time in his life. Before they ate, he was asked to give thanks for the meal.
It was a lengthy prayer, one that might cause you and me to shift in our seats and wonder if the food would still be warm when the prayer ended. (We all like our burger and fries warm, don’t we?) What do you think Kendaya said to God?
He told God how he had been away from his village for almost a month without knowing who had died, or what had happened; if their gardens were growing well, or what else could have happened in his absence.
Then he prayed that even though he is concerned, he is thankful that God sees, and He knows, and He has been watching over it all while Kendaya is gone. Therefore, he doesn’t have to worry.
One more thing that I’m most thankful for this Christmas season is that I can read of these events and know that we, and you, have had a part in making them happen. What a wonder that we all can be partners with God in taking the Good News to people who have never heard it. And it’s all because God gave Himself to us.
Cheryl and I thank you for your partnership and pray God’s richest blessings for you this Christmas season!
By the way, this will be Kendaya’s first Christmas. I wonder how he and his Moi brothers will celebrate
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