It's been a long time since missionaries were in the Fore tribe of Papua New Guinea. The believers have asked frequently for another missionary, but NTM has not been able to send one.
Last week missionary Lyle Van Klompenberg had an unexpected visit from Kapu, the main teacher of the small Fore church. Kapu's primary purpose in coming was to ask for prayer and let the missionaries know what had been occurring in the tribe. He explained that he had just returned from a conference with about 1,400 other believers.
Believers from all over Papua New Guinea joined together to listen to good teaching and encourage each other. He said the conference has given him the encouragement and strength to press on despite extreme opposition among the Fore people.
Kapu explained that recently pigs from an opposing clan had wandered into his family's gardens. His mother was trying to run the pigs off and in an attempt to scare them away had thrown a shovel at the pigs. The shovel grazed the edge of a pig's leg.
The opposing clan that owned the pig was furious about the cut on the pig's leg and came to confront Kapu and his family. They had "marked" Kapu to be killed, and his entire coffee garden, which is his only real source of income, was cut down.
The opposing clan cut his father in several places, and ultimately Kapu had a gun put to his head. Kapu said he prayed and God delivered him. Even with a gun held to his head he had a real peace and smiled at the man.
Another believer who has been struggling greatly with asthma had his coffee grinder stolen by another clan. Both of these incidents would normally be grounds for violent retaliation. All the non-believers were ready to fight, but the church has held strong and kept praying.
Even with the loss of livelihood and in the face of beatings and death threats, the believers are standing firm.
Pray for the Fore believers to stand strong and recover financially. Pray for God to provide missionaries who can return to the Fore tribe and complete the Bible translation.
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