I love fruit! From apples and grapes to dragonfruit and rambutan, fruit is a gift from God! The fruit of our work is even more tasty. Seeing those seeds sprout and produce more seed-bearing fruit is a marvelous thing.
Our friend and missionary co-worker Jonathan wrote from the Hewa tribe about two American men who had hiked through Hewa territory across the central mountain range in 1993. Aaron and Joel were nearly speared to death by a tribal man who feared they were evil spirits because of their pale skin. “After a few very tense moments a young Hewa man named Oliteh [aka Fato] agreed to safely guide the men through the Hewa mountains. Later, after returning to the States the two men began praying that somehow [Fato] and the Hewa would hear the message of the Bible in their language and would become believers in Jesus.”
Aaron and Joel have been praying all these years. In July Aaron discovered the video “Fato’s Story” on the New Tribes Mission web site. He contacted Jonathan and wrote, “[I] wept with joy as I saw the years of prayers ANSWERED!”
Jonathan wrote, “The story of how Fato came to Christ didn’t start when we entered the Hewa mountains in 2000. We were simply an answer to years of faithful prayers of a believer who had the dream of a group of tribal people finding freedom from their fear of spirits through a relationship with their Creator.”
As our support team, you have also had an important part in Fato’s story. Working with teams of other missionaries, Randy assisted the initial survey flights in the late 1990’s. He transported people, supplies and materials in support of helicopter shuttles as the team built houses in a Hewa village. He regularly flew missionaries and supplies for the Hewa church-planting team in 2004-2006 while Diana tracked flights. Hewa Christians are now reaching villages with the Gospel where missionaries have not taught. As you prayed for us and supported us we all had a vital part in serving the Lord, taking the Gospel to the Hewa tribe. Click here for >> “Fato’s Story” << (Video link at www.ntm.org)
Team-building is the focus of our current ministry of mobilization. The people least reached with the Gospel will not be reached until Christians send messengers who are able to tell them of God’s grace. The obstacles of language, culture, distance and logistics must be overcome. The glory of God and the eternal destiny of this generation of remote people demand that we take action. Christ’s love compels us. Presenting God’s word about these things, we are fishing for fishers of men and senders who will send them on heaven’s treasure layaway plan. (Matthew 4:19; 6:19-33) (Romans 10:13-17)
New Tribes Mission has excellent training to equip Christians specifically for tribal church planting. Local churches can send their missionaries to work with a network of experienced missionaries who can help them succeed. Part of our work is to find people to direct toward our Bible Schools and Missionary Training Center. There are people groups who have been asking for missionaries for a very long time.
Diana and I are working to bridge the gap between the least reached people and the Christians who are able to send the Good News of our glorious God to them. Each seed of faith planted has the potential of sprouting into a team for reaching an entire language group of people with the Gospel. Please pray for opportunities to communicate what God has put on our hearts.
Faith comes by hearing the word of God which is carried by messengers who are sent. Resources are needed to get the message out and to build teams of Christians who will respond by faith toward reaching the least reached. If you would like to take this opportunity to expand our reach, please follow the links above.
The Great Commission includes teaching people everything Jesus commanded. Teaching remote tribal people “all things” requires a long time on location. The fruit is people who are also able to proclaim God’s glory where He is not yet known.
Thank you for your prayer and gifts to make our ministry possible! We cannot do this without you!
For the glory of God among the least reached,
Randy & Diana Smyth
Mobilization Representatives
New Tribes Mission (Aviation, too!)
Westfield, MA 01085-3157
(413) 977-4983 – mobile
More >>Fruit of your ministry.<<
Reach your neighbor. >> Clear Gospel Architecture <<