Even from afar these days, I serve in supporting church planting through missionary kid education. The people group featured this month is served by families that have or are sending their children to the mission school where I serve. I might have a little closer connection to them than you, but I hope in the following (by Summer Zimmer in NTMPNG Communications) you can see a glimpse of the big picture work you support through your prayers, encouragement, and financial gifts.
The Beall family moved into the Tigak people group, located on the north-side of New Ireland, in 1999. This month, on July 13, 2022, they were able to celebrate the dedication of the Tigak New Testament along with their co-workers Noe and Lisa Martinez and former co-worker, Aimee Hedrick. The translation itself was completed in March of 2019, but with complications due to covid and typesetting and printing delays, the Tigak people were now finally able to have God’s Word in the Tigak language in their hands.
To celebrate the occasion, the Tigak Church invited church leaders from neighboring people groups along with Tigak people from surrounding villages who have not yet heard God’s Word taught in the Tigak language. They started the day with a celebration service, and church leaders, the Tigak missionaries, and New Tribes Mission leadership shared about the importance of studying God’s Word. Several Tigak believers shared their testimonies, and the Tigak Church sang together in worship. The service finished with a distribution of the printed Bibles and a shared traditional mumu of pig, sweet potato, and tapiok. The Tigak people then celebrated with song and dance.
In the days following the official celebration, 15 people, young and old, made the choice to display their trust in Jesus through baptism. On the Sunday following the dedication, many Tigak believers got up with their brand-new Bibles and shared favorite verses with the rest of the church. Praise the Lord with us that the Tigak people now have the Bible to read and study for themselves. Pray for their continued growth in maturity as they pursue what He has to say to them through His Word.