This story is the result of God working through the lives of some of our training graduates…fellow co-workers in our ministry with NTM!

The third semester class is 100% engaged in our course called, “Culture and Language Acquisition Practicum.” However, we all call this class “Dobu.”   One thing that a tribal missionary must do before he can ever hope to teach the Bible is to learn the culture and the language of the people.   In order to learn a language the students take courses such as Phonetics and Grammar so they can learn how to make different sounds that they are unfamiliar with, and also arrange words in grammatical ways they may not be used to. For culture, they have practiced techniques and also researched kinds of cultures so they can think outside of their American culture and hopefully correctly access the tribal culture.

“Dobu” is the class where they try to pull everything together that they have learned at the training center.  The “Dobu” instructors, about 10 in all, have been dressing up in complete tribal “disguises” and act out the “Dobu” tribal culture.  They speak some English, which is the trade language, but they mostly speak their tribal language where they served. Students are engaged in sessions where they are trying to learn language and culture using the tools they have been given throughout the training.

Pray for us as we continue to train the next generation of church planters.  Pray for these wonderful students as they prepare for one of the most difficult ministries in the world!

Our 3!

Kevin just completed his first month of teaching at Basis Charter Schools in Scottsdale, AZ this past week and is still loving it!  Brian is now into his second month of his second year at Shepherds College in WI and loving life, his new roommate Brett and all the new students on campus.  Megan finished work and band camp for the summer and just began her first week as a Sophomore at Camdenton High School.  Whew…where did the summer go?

Carolyn and I have been very busy planning for the fall and developing curriculum for the 2 courses we begin teaching this fall.  She is excited about her new “child protection” class and I am thankful to have new staff here to help me teach the new partnership development class.

Opening of new semester...

The new students have arrived and are settling into their apartments.  We had a good kickoff with the theme this year, “Be the Voice” taken from Rom. 10:14.  With around 160 students, 130 staff and families…our Missionary Training Center campus is buzzing.  Summer is coming to a close…but the challenge of training the next generation of tribal church planters is always invigorating!  Thanks for your part as we work together in transforming cultures around the world with the Gospel.

Watch the latest NTM video:

1. Kevin graduated May 9th from Hillsdale college…traveling in Europe for the summer….moving to Scottsdale, AZ July 12 to begin his fall teaching job.

2. Brian completed his first year at Shepherds College and home for the month of July.  Still needs another $9200.00 to pay off his bill.  Check out his unique special college at: www.shepherdsministries.org

3. Megan completed her first year of high school…driving a car this summer and working her first job at a local Baptist conference center.

4. Carolyn teaching her high school girls SS class and running the Camdenton high school band camp that Megan plays in in July along with her ministry with the NTM MK Care and Education center.

5. Dave was very involved in our NTM Enrichment conference in June – around 500 attended.  Traveling to AZ with Kevin to relocate him in July.  Partnership meetings in IL in Aug.

6. Thanks for your faithful prayers and financial support – as we are trusting God to replace $1500.00 monthly support that we have lost over the past months.  Pray for God’s provision of new supporting churches and individual partners.  Let us know if you are interested in hearing about our ministry with NTM.  Thank you!

Wow…is how Carolyn and I feel after a great week together with so many friends in ministry at our annual NTM Enrichment conference here at the Lake.

Pastor Bill and Jan Oudemolen from Foothills Bible Church in Littleton, CO spoke for the entire week from the book of Colossians.  We were all blessed by the "WORD" deeply enriching our lives. 

Greg Speck was our Youth and Family communicator for the week.  Unusual humor with a spiritual twist was enjoyed by all and the youth fell in love with Greg quickly.

Jack Eggar from AWANA enlightened us on current N.A. culture and church trends.

Monday started with a jolt of thunder and lighting with local tornado warnings as we kicked the conference off….and we ended with a dramatic childrens presentation, the Lord’s supper and the closing video of the entire week.

We are spiritually "high" from a great week together, a bit exhausted physically, but encouraged and enriched as we begin a nice summer with family and friends.  We have a renewed focus on the Gospel going to unreached people groups around the world. 

It is always a bit of a bummer to see everyone leave….so see you next year as E’10 should rock…baby!  (:

Kevin has graduated from Hillsdale College!

We are so proud of Kevin as he finished up his college career graduating with highest honors – Summa Cum Laude.  He leaves for a 6 week trip to Europe the end of May and will be gone until July.  After he returns we will drive to Scottsdale, AZ where he has taken a teaching job at a top charter school in the country!  Kevin – we love you and are so proud.

Yet, as Kevin takes this huge step into manhood, it is interesting how many other cultures celebrate boys becoming men.  Read below how one people group celebrate this right of passage…

Pai Tavy Tera boys became men this month.

Early this month 20 boys had their lips pierced as a sign that they are true Pais. The four- to five-week event concluded this past weekend, and the huge social event drew Pais from several communities in Paraguay.

But some Pai Tavy Teras chose not to participate, despite intense pressure. They have placed their faith in Christ, and wanted nothing to do with ceremonies that honor spirits they no longer worship and involve the boys in what they now see as immorality.

Not all of the believers kept their children away, however. A few felt they would be turning their backs on who they are if they stayed away.

Perhaps it would have been easier for all involved if the missionaries had simply said the ceremony was wrong.

People had asked if they should take part. But the missionaries simply turned the question back to the Pai believers. "What do you think?" they asked. "You have God’s Word in your language, and you have the Holy Spirit to guide you. What do you think?"

Despite what missionaries may feel or think about a culture, it’s really up to the believers who are part of that culture to make decisions about what is right and wrong. And since all of us naturally come from the viewpoint that our culture is "right," that’s a difficult lesson.

So where do you learn that kind of thing? In NTM’s specialized training.

This week, both New Tribes Bible Institute campuses will be holding graduations. Many of the graduates plan to continue training with New Tribes Mission and join the church planting team. Pray that wherever each graduate goes, they will continue to grow strong in the Lord and to reflect His desire that all people groups are reached. Learn more about the Bible institutes >>

The NTM Missionary Training Center is holding a graduation ceremony next week for 12 missionaries who plan to serve in support roles. They have completed the one-year track for support personnel; their classmates have another semester of training for church planting roles. Pray that the 12 new graduates are able to quickly assemble strong and supportive teams, so they can soon be in their new ministries. Find out more about missionary training >>

This month, another student apartment building was put under roof. It is expected to be completed in time for new students to move in this fall. And the final drawings are complete for the future Fleming Center — the centerpiece of the new campus, with classrooms, staff offices and student center. Find out more about the project, or give online >>

We appreciate your encouragement, prayers and financial support as we continue to train the next generation of tribal church planting missionaries.  Thank you.

1. Kevin graduating May 9th from Hillsdale college…traveling in Europe for the summer….moving to Scottsdale, AZ in July to begin his fall teaching job.

2. Brian completing his first year at Shepherds College and home for the month of July.

3. Megan completing her first year of high school…driving a car this summer and working her first job at a local conference center.

4.  Carolyn traveling in May and June for her ministry with the MK Care and Education center.

5. Dave teaching the month of May and both of us traveling in May for our ministry in development.  We both are involved in our NTM Enrichment conference in June – around 500 attending.

6. Thanks for your faithful prayers and financial support!

YOU are invited to our 13th annual NTM Missionary Training Center golf event on May 3rd to benefit our student scholarship fund! 

Time: 1:00 pm

Location: Dogwood Hills Golf Club, Osage Beach, MO

What has really made this tourney special in the past was the opportunity to have a truly entertaining golf experience with men (and women!) who know and love the Lord Jesus Christ with a focus on training the next generation of tribal church planting missionaries around the world!

The competition has always been sharp. Yet, the spirit in which the event has been carried out is very positive and God honoring.

Some great golf was played last year with the winning team posting a score of 61!  Our goal in having this golf benefit is to raise awareness and scholarship funds for students at the Missionary Training Center.

2009 goal is to raise $10,000.00.

Our entire Development Team is grateful for so many in our community who continue to support a cause that will truly "Expand the Reach of the Gospel!"

We anticipate having more golfers and more lady golfers especially for our upcoming May 3 event. 

Please confirm with patricia_brown@ntm.org or call 573.317.8685 to secure your team.  See you there!

Spring is coming…our family is busy but blessed.

1. Kevin is now in the thick of his last year at Hillsdale College with his student teaching at Northwest High School in Jackson, MI.

5. Dave began the year with a very busy schedule of ministry travel and coordination in our USA training and the development ministry. Students on all 3 campuses are studying hard. 

We are so thankful for the privilege to serve the Lord together as a family with wonderful co-workers. Dave will be in MI and AZ this spring for many new initiatives for NTM.

The canoe slipped through the black water threading its way toward the distant river island. Huge trees and dense vegetation lined the banks dwarfing the tiny vessel.

The only sound was an occasional splash as two men dipped their paddles in the murky water. Anticipation hung in the air as the missionaries headed for unknown territory.

As they neared the island, their strokes increased in intensity and they quickly arrived and pulled the canoe onto the white sandy beach. The men got out, flexing stiff muscles, and gazed at their surroundings. Adobe huts dotted the area; the embers of a cooking fire waned, but there were no visible signs of life. Yet the two missionaries sensed that hidden eyes were observing every move.

Suddenly several nearly naked men came toward them, speaking in a language the missionaries did not know. As the two groups stepped forward to greet each other, one of the missionaries chuckled ruefully and wondered aloud, "What in the world are we doing here?"

Read the rest of the story, view video clips, listen to the music>>>www.ntm.org/magazine

Pray for our family and ministry>>>www.ntm.org/dave_meyers/pray

Subscribe to our updates>>>www.ntm.org/dave_meyers/subscribe

Give to our ministry>>>www.ntm.org/dave_meyers/give