May your ways be known throughout the earth, your saving power among people everywhere. May the nations praise you, O God. Yes, may all the nations praise you. Ps. 67:2-3 (NLT)
One of the greatest joys of working with the Dinangat people is seeing them own this ministry themselves. As many of you know we’ve been trying to do an outreach to a larger village (village M) in the Dinangat tribe for several years. However because of many outside religious influences the people have rejected the offer for us to come and teach them the Bible in their own language. It has been an emotional roller coaster for us as different village leaders have said yes to us coming then within a couple weeks have completely change their minds. Meanwhile God has been working in the hearts of a small hamlet of people who recently told us that they would like to hear Gods Word in their village (village BA).
For us as missionaries it has been amazing to see the Dinangat Bible teachers from our home village (village S) and the other outreach village (village T) completely take ownership of this outreach. They are the ones who have been planning and working out the details of this outreach. We, as missionaries, have been there alongside them to help out when needed, but for the most part this outreach is being done solely by them. What a joy to see.
This morning (Saturday) two Dinangat hiked to BA to begin the 16 week intensive teaching course. These next week’s will take the men and women of BA from Creation to Christ, looking at many different stories in the Old Testament that show them who God is, who they are in relation to Him, and finally show them God’s provision through His son Jesus. Our hearts are thrilled as they take this message of Hope to a group of people who have never in history heard it in their own language.
- Please pray for Basa and Areke as they will begin the teaching this Sunday.
- Pray that God will stir the hearts of people in BA, that they would all come faithfully to hear all 73 lessons that will be taught over these next 16 weeks.
- Pray too that God would continue to stir the hearts of the People of village M, some of them have expressed a desire to hear God’s Word and have said that they would like to come to the meetings being held in BA. Pray that they would make the hour hike from their home to hear this good news.
- Pray for safety as BA is approximately a 4 hour hike for our home village over several mountains and a couple of rivers.
Thank you again for your prayers. We’re anxious to see what God will do over the next few months. Thank you for being a part of bringing His good news to those who’ve never had a chance before to hear it.