I was awakened from sleep Monday night to hear the news that a Tang* man had died. Earlier in the day, I had heard that a Tang woman died from complications of childbirth (she never delivered the placenta). My stomach was heavy and my heart grieving for two more souls who have gone to eternity without hearing the Good News that Jesus is the Deliverer who died for our sins in our place so that those who believe will not experience the wrath of God but instead have a restored relationship with God.
This week, I was thinking on some verses I learned as a child in Awana. 1 Corinthians 15:3-5, “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.” I was reminded again of the urgency of the Gospel, the reality of eternity apart from God, and the need to share the Good News with those who have not yet had the opportunity to hear it. I was reminded of why I am here—because there are still many who have never heard the Good News that Jesus died in the place of sinners so that those who believe can have a restored relationship with God.
Please continue to pray for the Ina church as they teach the Creation to Christ Bible teaching in one of the Tang villages. Last week, they finished the Old Testament lessons, and this week, they will be starting into the New Testament and the introduction of Jesus as the promised Deliverer. Please be praying for the Tang people to hear, understand, and believe God’s Word that they are hearing. Please be praying for Tim, Tiffany, and I as we support the Ina church in their church-planting outreach. I am continuing to work on translating the book of Mark with some help from Tiffany, and it is now in the later steps of the process. Tim continues to assist the Ina Bible teachers with preparing the Tang Bible lessons. Thank you for praying for us! for praying for us!
*Names changed throughout this blog.