Thank you for supporting us in the ministry of reaching unreached people until the last tribe is reached with the Gospel! Our focus at the moment is more laborers.
Diana and I drove to Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA. We enjoyed talking to many students during the Global Focus Week. Our primary topics were about people who have no access to God’s Word and no Christian witness. About a third of the world’s languages fit in those criteria. We presented opportunities to reach remote people groups with the Gospel and NTM’s training for effective cross-cultural ministry. We talked to students near our display, led devotions in several aviation classes, participated in a round table Q&A with missionary aviation students and even had the privilege of speaking in three classes of seminary students. Some of the students encouraged us with their depth of love for our Lord and their passion to serve Him where He leads.
Before the week was over several students told us of their intentions to get further training with New Tribes Mission toward reaching people least reached with the Good News about Jesus.
Please pray for opportunities to communicate and for hearts prepared to listen as we share about God’s plan for the world and about people in remote areas who have no access to God’s Word. Since faith comes by hearing the Word of God which is carried by messengers who are sent, we must find people who are willing to be the messengers. Faith for salvation and ministry both begin by hearing God’s Word.
We love promoting New Tribes Mission’s Wayumi events (held in Central Pennsylvania) because they are so good at communicating God’s heart for the world and for the unreached people groups. There are five different programs. We hope to see some Liberty University students at the Wayumi Course in March. (They call it “jungle camp”.) It will be a fun time of learning about God’s love and intervention for the most distant people.
At the Word of Life Bible Institute Missions Conference in January several students expressed a keen interest in serving the Lord through New Tribes Mission. Some are continuing to consider God’s direction for their lives. These young people face a lot of persuasive influences in their lives. We pray that even the good things will not become the opposition to God’s best for them. Pray for us as we continue to give information and impart the vision of declaring the glory of God in the remote places of the world.
Remote people groups are asking for missionaries to come tell them about God. We need people to train as missionaries who are willing and able to do the work of clearly communicating God’s message. Communicating a clear Christ-centered message demands an understanding of language and culture. Planting a maturing tribal church in a remote setting requires persevering faithful hard work. There is much work to be done to reach the unreached tribes and workers are few to help with the great harvest. Please pray for the Lord to raise up laborers.
People who have their faith built on something other than Christ really have nothing of eternal value. We all need Christ. He truly is our all in all. (Colossians 1:11-20) Christ is the only object of faith who has satisfied God’s wrath against sin and has provided a righteousness equal to God’s so that we can stand in His presence. NTM and GoodSeed International have some excellent tools for communicating a clear Christ-centered Gospel message in many languages. When we have the means, we pass these tools on to pastors and leaders who are interested in communicating a clear Christ-centered message.
Gary attended our “Stranger on the Road to Emmaus” class. He then used the book in a men’s Bible study and a pre-teen Sunday School class with encouraging results. We gave a book to Mark and he shared it with his young adult grandson who, after reading the book, is now on fire for the Lord. Mark was so encouraged with the faith of his grandson that he has been buying books by the case to give to people who want to know more about Christ. Our desire is that the church at large would grasp the Christ-centered message and carry it to the world; starting with building faith where they live now. Our hope is that understanding who Jesus is and adopting His values will motivate people to carry His message to people who will not otherwise hear of His love and grace.
Randy was asked to lead a team of volunteers to Papua New Guinea to assist fellow missionaries in the Hewa tribe and encourage the church there. We were trying to obtain the appropriate permissions, work out the logistics of travel, food, lodging and costs by the end of January but have been delayed in our planning due to the logistics of moving the project materials. Please pray for the Lord’s direction, timing and provision to accomplish the project. We will need to raise the necessary people and funds for travel to complete this trip.
Working together, the Christians of this generation could reach every last remote tribe with the Gospel. The ministry of finding laborers to send to the mission field is a vital part of the overall picture of fulfilling Christ’s command to teach people everywhere in the world. As a child Randy had the privilege of meeting many mobilizers of missionaries. They encouraged people to put faith in God’s Word and take action for the glory of God and for the souls of the people least reached with the Gospel. Most of those men have now been promoted to the presence of their Savior. It is our privilege to pass on what we have learned to faithful men who will also teach others. We need a team of prayer and financial supporters specifically to help us get the Word out. Thank you for the part you play on the team!
The Bible consistently reveals God as a missionary God reaching out to the nations. His grace extends to people living in the remote equatorial jungles as well as the smaller pockets of distinct language groups who have not heard of Him within the vast populations of the east. God’s glory will be declared in those very remote places on earth: even among the smallest language group of people. (Revelation 5:9)
Romans 10:17 tells us that faith comes by hearing the Word of God. God has chosen to deliver His great message of life by means of personal couriers. Special delivery! Faith comes by hearing God’s word. This is true for the faith of salvation as well as the faith for the obedience of sending messengers who carry the message of reconciliation. Just as someone told our family about the least reached people groups of the world and encouraged us to take steps of obedient faith, now we have the privilege of presenting truth to people who may also respond by faith to accomplish God’s purposes.
Thank you for praying for us and supporting us in ministry! We are deeply grateful to you and to the Lord for your partnership with us in fulfilling the Great Commission!
Randy & Diana Smyth
Mobilization Representative
(413) 977-4983
randy_smyth@ntm.org