Missionaries Joey Tartaglia and Chris Walker are in the early stages of teaching about the life of Christ and already 23 Mibus have professed faith in Christ.
Friday, Feb. 17, Joey and his Mibu translation helper, David, were working on lessons about Christ's death on the cross. Joey asked David, "Since Jesus is God, couldn't He have forgiven us for our sins without dying?"
David wasn't sure how to answer, so Joey reminded him of what God told Adam in the garden. The penalty for sin is death. "How can God forgive us without that penalty being paid? It would be against God's character," Joey said.
"If God did that He would be a liar," David said.
"Couldn't Jesus have just declared our sins forgiven without dying?" Joey asked.
The look in David's eyes and the smile that jumped onto his face gave him away before he even said a word. Everything he has been learning in the past months became clear. He began telling Joey over and over again that it is true and he believes it!
"God said that if I believe His Word I will go to heaven and be with Him when I die! I am going to heaven when I die, and I am so, so happy. Thank you very much for telling me this," David said.
Upon hearing that David placed his faith in Christ, Sesi, Chris' translation helper, said, "I'm so happy for him. Soon I will understand and believe too".
Wednesday, Chris was working with Sesi doing more translation on the death of Christ. The long day of work produced another brother in Christ. Sesi was one of four individuals that day who gave clear testimony of their faith in Christ.
On Thursday the missionaries taught about Nicodemus. There were smiles on a few faces when the Mibus heard that God loved the world so much that He sent His only Son, so that whoever believes in him will not perish, but have eternal life.
When the teaching was done, an older woman sitting next to Angie Walker started rambling. Not being able to keep up with the woman's rapid fire utterances, Angie called her husband over. Chris chatted with the woman and asked a few pointed questions.
"Then I saw his eyes light up, and a smile leap to his face, and I knew … I now have a sister in Christ!" wrote Angie.
For the next two hours a dozen Mibus professed their faith in Christ.
"Thank you for telling me this. Jesus died in my place. Now I know I am going to heaven," said Royfo.
"Now I understand. It is finished. What is there to say?" Kivisi said.
"Just as people in the Old Testament offered animal sacrifices thinking, 'these animals are dying in my place,' so I look to Jesus who died in my place," Tima testified.
"We are overjoyed to tears at each new testimony shared with us, and expectantly watching many of the others on whom light is beginning to dawn," wrote Joey.
This coming week, Chris and Joey will be teaching. Pray that more eyes will be opened to the truth of God's Word.
And pray too for the spiritual growth of the Mibu church.
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