Dear Praying Friends,
This was an interesting week for our friends in the outreach village, as well as the home village. As we mentioned last week, the religious leaders for the area did indeed come through and perform their services, in both villages. We were very excited to hear that many of the people here in the home village refused to even attend; that they could resist the social pressure is no small thing! In the outreach village they received the same false teaching. Many people are beginning already to see that these ‘teachers’, although they bring their Bibles and say that what they’re teaching is from the Scripture, are not lining up with what they’ve been learning through their study from Creation to Christ. Praise the Lord with us! We cannot keep these outsiders with their works doctrines (and good intentions) from teaching among our friends. Nor can we keep the villagers from attending the meetings that have been a part of their culture for decades. But He has opened the door in these places for the Word to come in. And by the Power of His Word and the work of the Holy Spirit, He is giving them discernment to see through the lies.
- Please continue praying with us about this outside influence. It has been a trial for the Church here since day one. The Papua New Guinea Constitution states that its citizens do have the right of freedom of religion. But for several generations now this religious teaching has been the only “church” in this region, and in many ways it has succeeded in tying many villages together with their meetings, conferences, ‘evangelistic crusades’, etc. All of their public school teachers come in as representatives and teachers for this church as well. The government representatives that come through from time to time also do their work in the name of this church. Unlike in the States, there is not a Catholic church on one corner, a Methodist church on another, and a Baptist church on yet another, and all the towns people can choose where to attend with minimal pressure from any one source. No, here there has been one “church” for everyone, and completely unheard of that a person would not believe its teachings. It is beyond difficult to know how to help the believers break away from this dominating system which is entwined with every part of their culture. Culturally, how can they stop subjecting themselves and their children to this teaching when it is a part of their school system, their government relations, everything? We honestly don’t know the answer. But what do we know? We know that our God is the God of the impossible. We know that Christ has set them free, and He desires that they do not get tied up again in slavery to the law (Gal. 5:1). We know that God will judge those who are confusing His people with false teaching. What a horrible, regretful day that will be for them!
Meanwhile, the teaching of the Truth goes on! The Lord is answering your prayers and drawing people to Himself, and we marvel at the work His is doing in their hearts! Sawang has been intently following the lessons and says, “This talk is ‘shooting my stomach’ (really convicting me).” He heard what the outside teachers said he needed to do to take care of his sin, but he said he knew there was nothing in his own power he could do to get rid of his sin burden. Praise the Lord for the way His Word is really taking ROOT in hearts! It’s only about two weeks until the teaching of Calvary’s Cross, truly we are all chomping at the bit to get there, for the soil has been broken and turned, the Spirit has seen that the seeds have taken root, and we believe that harvest time is near! There are just a few crucial lessons left before we proclaim the truth of the FINISHED work of Christ!
We admittedly are tired, but it is a GOOD tired! We are blessed to be a part of what the Lord is doing here, we are blessed to have YOU as our faithful prayer partners in this adventure, and we are blessed to be thinking of and preparing for being home among family and supporters in just under two months! There is much to be done in that time, please pray for wisdom for us in planning, and that we would keep our relationship with the Lord FIRST, finding our rest and joy in Him!
In His Grip!
Jeremiah, April, Jordan, Judah and Alayna