Where Are We Now?
Currently our family serves in the Asia-Pacific region in one of the most populous countries in the world. There are 17,000 islands and over 700 unique languages spoken here. We have learned the main trade language known as Bahasa and now we are working on getting access into one of those 700 language groups to begin church planting and Bible translation ministry.
Gaining access into these areas has proven challenging so we continue to trust the Lord for open doors and opportunities. We have made dozens of survey trips in hopes of working with one of the people groups in our area. Many of these have looked promising but every time something came up in the process that closed the door. We are praying through the options of whether to keep at it in our area or move somewhere else that would be more open. For a better idea of the process we are in, read below. Currently we are in step 3.
The Process of Church Planting
The process to work with one of these groups in Asia-Pacific includes…
- 2 years of learning the national language and culture to be able to function well within the country and have a bridge language between us and the tribal people who often speak some of it.
- Move to one of the 3 regions of the country that Ethnos360 works in.
- Assess the needs and opportunities for Ethnos360 ministry and figure out permission to serve there.
- Several levels of permissions and invitations are necessary to be able to move in.
- Move in to the tribal location and learn their unique language and culture.
- Usually includes building a house and possibly an airstrip for air access.
- Takes 3-5 years to learn the language and culture to proficiency.
- Church Planting and Discipleship.
- Teach literacy so the people can read and write their own language (especially the Bible).
- Teach God’s Word.
- Translate the Bible into their language.
- Live life together as the Body of Christ and grow together.
- The Goal: To leave a self-sustaining and maturing church.
Some Background
Allegra and I met at a Bible School in Wisconsin where we studied God’s Word and then were married after graduation. We were both raised in South America, in missionary families. Through that experience we saw first-hand the incredible spiritual darkness that kept those people blinded. It wasn’t until believers went to them and learned their language and culture that they were able to be taught the truth from God’s Word.
Now as adults we know that of the 6,500 language groups in the world today, there are still approximately 2,500 who have no access to God’s Word in their heart language. That means that those people will live and die without ever being able to read God’s Word. Because we believe God has a heart to reach these people, we desire to be a part of one of those groups hearing and receiving God’s Word in their own language.
In light of that, we invested 3.5 years into training with Ethnos360. We studied the Bible and cross-cultural missions, learning from experienced missionaries along the way. The process of learning unique languages and cultures, building relationships, planting churches, making disciples, and translating God’s Word is a long term commitment but totally worth it.
Romans 10:14-15 says “And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent?”
The task of reaching every last people group with the Gospel may be daunting but God has promised to be with us and empower His church to accomplish it. God loves to use the weak to accomplish great things which is why we’re willing to go even though we feel inadequate. We have God with us, and we aren’t in this alone as the body of Christ supports us and sends us out.