Why? Because Jesus said to make disciples of all nations!
The Great Commission given in Matthew 28:19-20 says to “make disciples of all nations.” The word “nations” (ethnē in the Greek) refers not only to geographical borders, but to people groups. A people group is a collection of individuals sharing a variety of defining factors including culture, language, ethnicity, and geography. The term unreached refers to those who don’t have access to God’s Word, the church, or believers who understand their culture and language. Of the worlds 6,500* ethno-linguistic people groups, 2,500* are still considered unreached! (*These numbers vary between missions agencies depending on how we look at the data.)
Revelation 5:9 “you (Jesus) are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.“
How? By mobilizing, training, and sending missionaries to the field.
In Matthew 9:37-38 Jesus said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” The same is true today! In fact, NTM has hundreds of ministry positions waiting to be filled in 18 countries around the world!!! NTM exists to assist the ministry of the local church through the mobilizing, equipping, and coordinating of missionaries to evangelize unreached people groups, translate the Scriptures, and see indigenous New Testament churches established that truly glorify God.
Our family has been asked to help NTM accomplish their objectives through serving in a mobilization role here in the USA. As mobilizers, we exhort the body of Christ to take the gospel where it has never been. Mobilization involves informing, challenging, training, and encouraging believers to play a part in reaching these un-reached people groups. This is a big responsibility, but with God’s helps, we will communicate the vision, present the needs, teach the biblical basis, call people to action, and encourage them along the way!
What? Traveling teams, classes, mission trips, and more!
- Go Team – This team travels to churches, schools, and camps, challenging and encouraging the next generation to do their part in fulfilling the great commission through church planting, Bible translation, and discipleship among the worlds least-reached people groups. We will lead all aspects of these teams.
- Wayumi – Explore what the Bible says about reaching all peoples. Experience what it’s like to learn a tribal language. Connect with veteran church planters. Understand what it takes to make disciples of every people group. We will be part of a team from NTBI that takes students on this life-changing adventure every spring break!
- Perspectives – This 15-week course helps believers from all walks of life see how they can get threaded into God’s story of redeeming people from every tribe, tongue, and nation to Himself. From Genesis to Revelation you will see how God has been moving, how the global Church has responded, and what the greatest needs in world evangelization are today. We will be coordinating this annual course which is attended by NTBI students and 30 local churches.
- Missionary Training Center – You’ll be equipped to serve in career ministry with New Tribes Mission as a cross-cultural church planter or in a role supporting church planting. The instructors are experienced missionaries who are passionate about teaching you field-proven methods that are constantly updated to remain effective and relevant. We will be part of a team who takes potential missionary candidates on weekend-long tours of the training center.
- Mission Trips – For NTBI students considering missions or wondering where they fit in, it’s strongly encouraged that they experience a cross-cultural missions trip. They will see firsthand what they are being taught in the classroom and how it is applied overseas, and will earn two to four credits towards their degree. We hope to lead several such mission trips during the summer when classes at NTBI aren’t in session.
- Missions Emphasis Days – Many Christian students have never been exposed to the realities of unreached people groups and what it takes to reach them. We will get to plan events that allow local High School students to see the NTBI campus, interact with college students who are training for missions, and be challenged to consider dedicating their lives to full-time missionary service.
- Chapel Worship Teams – A time of worship through music gives students an opportunity to express their hearts to God and reflect on all He is teaching them through His Word in the classroom. Mike will oversee all the worship teams for chapel 5 days a week.
- Office and Childcare – If homeschooling the kids and helping Mike with his responsibilities were not enough, Kristi will work in the education office and serve in childcare so that moms who are training for missions can attend classes with their husbands.
A mobilization testimony from a friend and classmate of ours at the Missionary Training Center.
“I was playing professional baseball, which I had dreamed of doing my whole life, and a mobilization team presented what God’s Word says from Genesis to Revelation about His Desire to be made known among all the nations. In that moment my dreams seemed so small compared to what God had been doing since the beginning of time. I knew that if my life were going to count, I would have to be a part of what God was doing somehow. Thanks to that team, I have been through the training program with NTM and hope to move to Papua New Guinea in 2014 and plant churches.” ~Jeremy Hambrice
Where? New Tribes Bible Institute in Waukesha, Wisconsin.
Our ministry hub will be at New Tribes Bible Institute in Waukesha, Wisconsin. This is a strategic location for mobilization because our Bible Institutes provide over 75% of NTM’s missionary candidates. From here we can present God’s heart for the nations to NTBI students who have not yet caught that vision, utilize current NTBI students who already have a heart for unreached people groups to be a part of our mobilization teams, and connect students to a variety of opportunities that will help them along as they consider being career missionaries with NTM.
Would you like to partner with us?
We desire to start serving full-time with New Tribes Mission in July of 2014. In order to reach this goal, we must raise up a team of ministry partners who will support us through prayer and monthly financial contributions. If you would like to consider supporting our ministry, you may click on our family’s ministry page and either contact us through email at the bottom of the page, or click give now at the right of the page.