Jan and Doortje working in West Africa with the purpose of planting churches amongst still unreached or least reached tribes. Often this means with ethnic groups whose language has not been written down yet and which we have to learn in the first years while working with that group. Why? Because by far the best way to plant a church which will also grow to maturity, is by doing this in the heart language of the people.
After having learned the language to a level sufficient enough, we start developing literacy materials to teach the tribal people to read and write in their own language. Of course they speak their own language as no other, but they have never learned to read nor write it.
Then we start translating the New Testament and th0se parts of the Old Testament that we need to explain God’s Word in a chronological way. We develop this Chronological Bible teaching in their language, so that the believers eventually will be able to use that to reach their own tribal people.
When a church develops, comprised of tribal believers, we teach them God’s Word, in which we use Acts and the Letters following. Basically teaching the whole of the New Testament, geared to believers, so that they will be build up in their faith and they themselves become disciples of the Lord Jesus, and to teach those same things in turn to others. It’s our purpose that, as we disciple them through this teaching and example, they would learn to stand on their own. No longer with missionaries around, but being guided by the Holy Spirit and walking with the Lord with the goal to share the gospel with those who haven’t heard yet.
Where are we at at the moment?
- There is a small group of Komono believers, who we disciple. They are meeting together every Sunday morning.
- We’re working on Bible Translation. The portions needed for the Chronological teaching are translated, also Luke and Acts, Ruth and Johah have been translated.
- We’re still working on Romans and Genesis. Furthermore there are provisional translation of Marc, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and 1 and 2 Thessalonians.
- Part of the chronological teaching is developed; Phase 1 – Evangelism phase of the O.T. and the Gospels, Phase 2 – Believers phase of the O.T. and the Gospels, Phase – Acts 3 and partially Phase 4 – working on Romans.
- The literacy material has been developed with several post literacy booklets. Some 20 Komono have learned to read an write and 8 of them have been taught to teach their own people to read and write.
Would you pray with us:
- for God to build his church amongst the Komonos.
- for the Bible translation going on.
- for the discipleship of the believers.
- for more Komono to read and write through the teaching of the Komono teachers.
Thanks for your help in this. Jan and Doortje Groenveld