THE LION SLEEPS TONIGHT
Thursday, July 19, 2007
by Ian Fallis
Rustling noises in the bushes unsettled the villagers.
The next morning, a village woman went to draw water and saw the source of the noises: a lion.
The village was almost trembling with fear, and the chief called a meeting. He told them he would take care of it, and soon performed a ceremony. Everyone went back to life as normal.
Everyone but missionaries Anthony and Jennie Chee, that is. For the Chees, this was an opportunity to learn more about the people among whom they minister, the Yaos of Mozambique.
They soon learned that to the Yaos, the lion was not an animal that posed a physical danger, nor did this require a physical answer such as a hunter. The lion was the spirit of an ancestor who had come back to frighten the villagers. To them, this was a spiritual problem, requiring the correct ceremony.
Understanding the culture of the Yao people -- the way they think and interact with their world -- is crucial to clearly presenting God's Word to them. That's why New Tribes Mission's specialized training includes a study of God's Word and methods for translating and teaching it, as well as instruction on deciphering and dealing with culture.
Classes begin next month at NTM USA's two Bible schools, in Jackson, Michigan, and Waukesha, Wisconsin. Pray that everything will be in place for the students to spend two years learning God's Word and seeing God's grace and love modeled, so they are equipped to pass on to others the whole picture of being a follower of Christ.
At the Missionary Training Center in Missouri, 55 students are to return for their second year of missionary training, and 105 new students are expected to begin the two-year course. Please pray that nothing hinders any of these students from coming. Pray for the instructors and others responsible for curriculum. The first semester courses are being revised, and the third semester courses -- which will be taught for the first time -- are near completion.
Thank God with us that just enough housing has been completed for all these students. Thank Him for His provision for materials and His provision of volunteers to finish this work.
The biggest need now is for a new classroom facility. This education center will provide more space with larger classrooms and more modern wiring and design for today's technology. Please pray with us for the funds and preparations to begin work in Spring 2008.
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