"We are now new people so let's celebrate!" Nonjong told missionary Gary Smith this week.
Nonjong, one of the Dinangat literacy teachers, reminisced about the change God brought in his life.
"At the beginning of the teaching back in January [Nonjong] planted two of his favorite trees to commemorate the fact that [the Dinangats] were hearing God's word in the language for the first time," wrote Gary. "He was genuinely excited. But what he expected was for us to tell him how they needed to change their ways in order to be accepted by God.
"Before we taught the purpose of God's Law, he went around telling everyone that we needed to keep all of God's laws to be accepted by God."
Nonjong used to think his good works would get him to heaven, but now he understands that his works do not satisfy God's way of salvation. When the evangelistic teaching was finished in early May, Nonjong clearly understood the Gospel of grace. Now he believes that only Jesus can save him. He used to boast about his own efforts, but now he only boasts about Jesus.
Nonjong and the Dinangat believers expressed a desire to meet more than on Sunday morning and be taught more of God's Word. They now meet on Tuesday mornings for a Bible lesson and review the week's lesson in small groups around their fires on Thursday evenings.
Please pray that the believers will grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ and become missionaries to their own people and to neighboring tribes.
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