“And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses, entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.” 2.Tim.2:2
It has always been one of our goals as we work amongst the Dinangat to teach and disciple the believers, so that they would someday be able to pastor and lead their own church independently in accordance to the Word of God and the work of the Holy Spirit. For many years this goal seemed so far away, but especially since this year we have been witnessing how God is giving wisdom and knowledge and a passion to some of the Bible teachers and church workers for doing the work more independently. It has been such a joy for us to watch them grow and develop into beautiful and enthusiastic men and women of God.
Every Monday the Bible teachers, church helpers and Sunday school teachers meet with Gary, Jeremiah and Ralf to discuss and organize things of the church. Today we want to give you a glimpse into such a meeting and show you what topics are discussed and how the church workers are becoming more and more independent of our help.
In each Monday meeting we go over a list to check whether the wanted details for the Sunday church service were accomplished. Did we start on time? Did the certain people for their jobs show up? Did we collect the offering? Did the talks after the sermon go well? Every time they learn more about it and become more aware of the areas which still need more work, like “what can we do to motivate the people to come more regularly and to sit more in the front (because several people still like to sit in the far away bushes).”
Some of the Bible teachers came to the meeting and suggested, “We thought that it would be more effective if we Bible teachers would meet by ourselves on Saturday morning to prepare for the Monday meetings. That way we can take care of some things ourselves and prepare the things which we need to talk to you missionaries about.” We were very happy with this idea and encouraged them to do that. For a few weeks now they have been meeting on Saturdays to discuss matters of the church. People with bigger problems even feel comfortable to go to those meetings and bring their struggles before them. Mesari, one of our very faithful translation helpers, went one Saturday to ask the Bible teachers for help because her husband is against her involvement in the church and gives her a hard time. The Bible teachers talked and prayed about it and decided to have Lukas and Felix go and and talk to Mesari’s husband about it.
One of the Bible teachers brought up the name of one of our translation helpers. Apparently he is still involved in some old occult practices and even spreads the rumor the we missionaries are involved with that as well. The Bible teachers know that this has to stop and that they need to protect the church from somebody doing things like that. They decided to go and talk with him to see what needs to be done.
15 people of the church expressed a desire to get baptized a few weeks ago. Felix, one of our most faithful helpers ever since we started the work here, literally organized everything starting with making a new pond, meeting with the people who wanted to get baptized, the program and the music. It was a beautiful sunny Sunday. 15 people got baptized, young and old, by the Bible teachers who took turns baptizing. It was a great worship to our great Father!
Now they are talking about doing more baptisms in the neighbor village T. That will also be completely done by the Bible teachers from here and the neighbor village.
We are so encouraged to see God’s work in and through them. God’s church here in Dinangat is blooming and growing more and more, not without problems or difficulties, but with the steady help of our wonderful God. He is good and we feel so privileged to be part of His doings here.
Thank you for your continued prayers for the Dinangat church. Please also pray for the huge task of translating the Bible into Dinangat language. There is still a lot to do for that!
Serving Him together with you all, the Schlegels.