It’s almost midnight in Papua New Guinea, the sun is hours away from rising but when it does, it will shine on gardens that are newly planted. And while the people that plant those gardens, hope that the sun will nourish the seeds planted, those people know that it takes time for a seed to germinate and then sprout and then grow to maturity. It might be Sweet Potato, Taro root or Sago but it will take time for that plant to grow and be ready for use.
Just minutes ago, our student and staff body at New Tribes Bible Institute, were able to talk with Church Planter, Lane Sanford. It was the end of a long and exhilarating day among the Siar people in Papua New Guinea. It was a day that held the culmination of years of language learning and relationship building. Days and days of study and translating God’s word and preparing teaching material. Weeks of twice daily times of teaching the Siar from God’s word in their own language. And at the end of that, God’s word has been understood and accepted as truth. It has replaced old ways of thinking about life and death.
And that’s just the beginning.
Like the garden that was freshly planted, the 20 or so brand new followers of Christ that live in Siar land are newly planted seeds that will require morning after new morning of the sunlight of God’s word shining on them as they grow. And the team of church planters that live with and love these people are now church fertilizers. Planting seeds is always only the beginning and usually the easiest work of gardening. The hard work lies ahead but, with the joy of seeing new believers and the joy that comes from obedience, this team will work to see the Siar baby believers grow to spiritual maturity!