RAPHAEL IS HUNGRY
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| Adam Martin is getting to know the Akolet people. |
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February 5, 2008
by Ian Fallis
Raphael was serious.
The Akolet religious leader asked to talk with missionaries Adam Martin and Ryan Coleman at the same time -- a sign he had something important to discuss.
The three men got together and chatted. It wouldn't be the Akolet way for Raphael to just launch into what he wanted to discuss. First there was small talk. And more small talk. Followed by a bit of small talk. Finally Raphael came to the point.
"Last night I was thinking really hard about a lot of things," he said. "I was lying awake wondering how we have this religion here but there still seems to be so much missing from our lives.
"Then as I sat there thinking, the thought occurred to me that I should come see you guys because here you are to bring us God's talk so you must have some answers."
That, of course, is exactly why Adam and Ryan and their families came to live among the Akolet people of Papua New Guinea. Raphael's response is a sign that he has seen something in their lives that he wants, even though he may not know that something is a living, growing relationship with Jesus.
This is why NTM's specialized training includes spiritual preparation. Not only do you need to be able to sustain and even thrive in your walk with God in an isolated pressure cooker, you need to live your life in a way that draws others to Jesus before you can even say a sentence in their language.
Thank you for the role you play in helping equip men and women to live for Christ among the world's unreached tribal people.
Ministering among people such as Raphael and the Akolets also requires a solid biblical foundation. New Tribes Bible Institute provides Bible training for tribal church planters. At the two USA Bible institute campuses, 380 students are about three weeks into their winter semester. Pray that they will be diligent in their studies and encouraged to continue their missions training and become part of the church planting team.
Brad Buser, who helped plant a church among the Iteri people of Papua New Guinea, will speak at the Waukesha, Wisconsin, campus, next week, during the school's mission emphasis. Pray that Brad stirs students' hearts for the work God has set before them.
Planting a church among the Akolets and other unreached tribes will also require practical skills such as linguistics and literacy and translation and teaching. The Missionary Training Center addresses these areas. Pray for wisdom as teachers and the curriculum team adjust courses to provide optimum training for missionaries.
Thank God with us: Funds have come in for the groundbreaking for the new Educational Center Complex. This is the next step in expanding the Missionary Training Center so more men and women can prepare to join the church planting team, and give more tribes the opportunity the Akolets soon will have. Please pray that funds continue to come in so the education center can be completed.
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