Third John, along with its companion Second John, is the shortest letter written in the New Testament. John, the disciple that was said to be loved by Jesus as he leaned on the bosom of our Lord that night in the upper room, opens his heart to us with these few words.

John tells them he has many things to write but would talk face to face with them later as he traveled through. However, he thought it would be good to write to them in a letter about how they were to treat missionaries coming through the church. Verse eight says, “We therefore ought to receive such that we may become fellow workers for the truth.”

At times we missionaries might get the idea we are the only ones doing anything in reaching the world with the gospel, but that is far from the truth that John wants us to see in this letter. John says, “We are follow workers”, and my thirty four years as a missionary supported by the Body of Christ gives testimony to those words.

What joy and delight it has been as we watch the family of God help us on our way to the regions beyond. Missionaries, let us never forget the churches and the men and women God has used in our lives as we step out into the unknown. Fellow workers of New Tribes Mission we thank you for the sacrifice you have made in this great work.

As John prayed for the faithful Gaius I pray for you. “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” My fellow workers I salute you and do look forward to the time we can sit down face to face and enjoy fellowship one on one. Jack Housley, MTC New Tribes Mission.

I saw the man from well down river late that afternoon as the sun was laying down to rest among the mountains that stood tall along the beautiful river. We had heard of this tribe living near by; it had been said they still made beds for some of their dead and let them rot in the open air. “No nose” as he would be later called by me was waving an old white shirt, shouting above the roar of the outboard engine.

Knowing a stop this late in my trip would put me running the river in the dark caused tension, but my curiosity won out. I needed to know what was on his mind. “We need a missionary to come live with us”, he said before I could shut down the engine. “Look at us we are walking about in the jungle just like wild pigs.”

Telling him that we did not have a missionary to send to his tribe began a dialog that would last for several years. Finding missionaries that would be willing to live among this primitive group of people would take time, but I encouraged him that we would try. That was in the 1980s and little did I know what it would cost to reach this tribe with the gospel message.

It was late 1988 when I hiked over the mountain range from a near by river with my young son Bill where we started a building project for the three new families that would begin the work among this tribe. The excitement I felt then still reminds with me after all these years; this will be one that is finished.

Today 2009, after seven missionaries living and working in this tribe we have one family left to finish the work. Happy to say, “No Nose” believed the gospel as well as many more in the tribe. Thanks to all that have labored among this tribe; thanks to each of you as well that has prayed for the people of this tribe. We are almost there but the young church will need much more prayer to mature in the faith in the coming years.

What does it cost to reach a tribe with the gospel? We need people, prayer, and finances.
Most of all we need the Holy Spirit working in the hearts of these primitive men and women. Please pray for the Lord of the harvest to send more labors to the fields that will have a heart to stick it out until the job is done, Matt. 9:37.

It was September the 8th 1983, I will never forget because it was our 16th wedding adversary. Janie, the four boys, and I had just flown out of the tribe the day before and were looking forward to a few days to relax with the boys before they flew back to school.

Bob Kennel’s voice came on the mission radio with these words. “Cowboy, I have some sad news, your house has burned to the ground and all is lost.” I must admit if you had hit me with a ball bat it would have had the same affect, my breathe was gone. The Devil meant it for harm, but God had some wonderful truths to teach me, He meant it for good.

Now like most I had danced around Romans 8:28, but not to the point where it had any affect on my life at that time even though I had been a missionary on the field several years. I do not want to make light of the hard time I had, but sometimes it takes the bad times for me to see the good that our God has already in place.

As the small mission plane circled the airstrip taking me back to see the damage I made up my mind there would be no tears from my eyes this day, I had it all in control. As I opened the plane door and stepped out it all broke loose, too much work had gone into that house and what little we had was smoking in the ashes gone forever. Like some of you that are facing the loss of many things I was over come with grief, how could this happen to me a missionary miles from my home?

God used you, His people, to rebuild my house and replenish what was needed. He used Bob Kennel and George Walker to plant a thriving church in Bisorio and He used Romans 8:28 to build a faith in me to keep me looking to Him 25 years later. My friends we need not fear the hard times, but we must fear the good times that can draw us away from God. May God bless each of you and keep you strong in the coming days.

Big Ears

I have many heroes in the bible, but the one I want to follow most is the donkey that carried the mother of our Lord Jesus Christ to Bethlehem so many years ago.Another one of his kin carried the Lord Jesus into Jerusalem when He presented Himself as the King of the Jews.

What I adore more about the donkey than anything else is his humility and obedience. The donkey did not have much to offer other than big ears to hear and a heart to serve. God give me ears to hear and a heart to serve you with humility and love.

I know the donkey was not mentioned in the story of the birth of Christ, but in his humility he would have not thought a thing about it. He was just being what he is, a servant. More than likely a donkey was used on that eighty mile trip, and I think he was rewarded by watching our Savoir Jesus Christ be born and laid in a manger that night in Bethlehem.

This Christmas it is alright if you do not mention the donkey, he will not mind, but please make sure all know who the Babe in the manger is and that there is no salvation in any other name. God has made Him Lord and the Savior of all those that believe in Him. May the peace of God warm your hearts this Christmas season as you put your trust in Jesus.

As I sit around a warm fire and contemplate on our second Christmas in PNG emotions run wild as I unpack my memories of the best Christmas of all. I think we as a family; Janie, the four boys and I can say this was the best Christmas of all even though we had nothing. We learned Christmas is much more than gifts and plenty of fine food.

Due to financial problems moving into a jungle post in the upper Sepik Valley we knew this would be a Christmas without much, but lots of love for the family and the Lord Jesus Christ. Our mission folk in town had let us know there would be no planes coming our way until after the first of the year, and besides that we had no money to rent the plane.

Janie gathered the boys around and I let them know we would not be getting anything from town even though our supporters and family had sent boxes of gifts from the States for them to enjoy at Christmas. As we talked the boys made plans to make a few things to wrap up and put around the little makeshift tree. Our boys learned early that they along with Mom and Dad were missionaries as well. They learned to trust and do their part.

We learned it is the act of giving not the gift that blesses the one that receives. I can shut my eyes and still see the stick with the six nails that our oldest son Jack Jr. made for his mother with pride and called it a towel rack. The other little ones came up with gifts for each other as well. My gift was the four boys that God allowed me to call sons and a wife that held us all together with love.

Our old single side band radio with the worn out battery was not much and we did not use it unless we had to. After finding out there would be no plane for awhile we shut it down. God had a plan to show us as a family how He cared for us even in things like boxes of goodies at Christmas time.

To my surprise the day before Christmas a plane appeared over our small airstrip, circled and landed at the upper end of the field. Knowing it was not our plane we did not even go check it out. Then, after the plane departed, I saw tribal men coming with thirteen small boxes, a turkey and a note from our supply man saying, “Merry Christmas, Some how God worked it out for a plane to come and they asked if you had anything that needed to come that way. The turkey is a gift from my wife and me”. Now, tell me God is not good all the time.

Thanks to God and to you our supporters. We have learned that with God all things are possible and we love you all, those He uses in our life. We wish all of you a Merry Christmas and that you will remember the Lord Jesus us as we celebrate His birth this Christmas season. With Love, Jack and Janie

As leaders we must not be afraid to put the blame on our front door if in deed that is where the trouble lays. I think we need to get our house in order up front and then we will have liberty to instruct those in our charge. We can educate and lay out instructions for our members but they will be no better than the examples they see in us their leaders here and aboard.

Writing to the seven churches in the book of Revelation chapter 2:4, while dealing with the attrition rate in those days, Jesus started with the leaders and worked down. I am not saying the problem is with us but it is always a good idea to check our own hearts and make sure we have not fallen away from our “first love’ in our busy days of leadership in the church and on the mission field.

With the attrition rate growing with each passing year I feel we might be in trouble and if it stays on this course we will somewhere come to a time when we will be no more. Missions will die from lack of people being on the field. I like the advice God gave to the church of Sardis, “Wake up! Strengthen what remains.” “Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it and repent.”

Let’s pray that God will do a work in our hearts and even like David open the door of our hearts to God for a check up and then let this feed down to those under our charge in the church and on the mission field. Let us strengthen what remains of this great work of winning souls here and in the regions beyond.

Jack Housley, just a servant of Jesus Christ our Lord.

First, we need an example of a shepherd working in the church and I think the apostle Paul is the man of the hour for us today to follow. In fact he has spoken of us following his example in the Bible. Philippians 3:17 says it so well. “Brothers join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.” With that as a guideline let’s look at his matter of shepherding God’s people.

Paul spent a lot of his time in follow up in areas he had proclaimed the gospel. Acts 15:36, after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the Word of the Lord, and see how they are.” A good shepherd needs to know how the brothers are doing; one needs to be on the move with heart, ears and eyes wide open.

Acts 18:22 tells us that a shepherd needs to be strengthening the disciples as he goes. “When he landed at Caesarea, he went up to Antioch. After spending some time there, he departed and went from one place to the next through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.”

Next we need to look at Paul’s ministry style and for that we turn to I Thessalonians 2:11-12. “For you know how like a father with his children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.” Look at how he worked one on one taking time just as a father takes time with his children.

God was a very good example in how he wanted Israel shepherded as we find in Ezekiel 34:1-6. Here we find God calling the shepherds of that day to task for what they did not do: {1} they feed themselves not the sheep, {2} they did not strengthen the weak or heal the sick, {3} they had not bound the wounds of the injured, {4} and they had not sought the lost, {5} they had not been gentle in leadership, and {6} they had ruled with force and harshness. The sheep where scattered and no one looked for them. The wild beast came down on them. God was not pleased.

A New Testament shepherd must handle God’s people today by feeding them from the Word thinking of others before self. He must strengthen the weak, heal those that are sick spiritually, find those that have been injured maybe by harsh and forceful leadership which has had a scattering affect on the believers and bind the wounds in a way that will bring them back to the fold and to a productive ministry for Christ. We have many that are in need of strength; yes we need God’s type of a shepherd in today’s world.

Serving Him who first served us, Jack and Janie Housley.

‘JUST A MAN’

Did you ever wonder who the man in Acts 16:9 might have been? You know the vision that came to Paul in the middle of the night. The man that said, “Come over and help us.” Me too, but try as I might there is just not much written about him. He is a man in a vision, just a man, with no name.

As our God works out of His plan to reach the world with the gospel He uses men just like you and I. Knowing God could have used angels to get the job done but chose us the body of Christ, gives heart and delight to my mission call today.

To Paul it was not a problem believing the vision was from God, because God had used another man in his life years before. In Acts 9:10 we find God using Ananias, a man from Damascus, a disciple, who was little known in his day. Yet this man was chosen by God to inform the great missionary Paul in what he would suffer as he preached the gospel message. Why did God not just come right out and tell Paul these directions Himself?

Why, God uses His whole body, not just an eye, hand or foot when He moves out with the gospel. Who are you and I to think we must have some great vision from above before we can step out into the ministry we have been called too? God still ‘directs” today but He still uses just plain, simple men to help us with directions just as he did for the apostle Paul, the man that said, “follow me.”

I trust we always will be men and women that have ears to hear what is being spoken today by the Holy Spirit and the body of Christ. Let us be listening for words from faithful, humble disciples, men that are well known as well as just simple men serving God out of the spot light. We need both in our lives to help direct us as we walk with the Lord.

After 30 years walking with the Lord in mission work I must confess knowing the will of the Lord is still very hard at times. I owe much of my perseverance to men and women that have been willing to help direct me in the right direction. Remember God uses faithful men and he can use you to direct others as well. Jack Housley, just a man, PNG.

Sometimes, I think you just have to be there to feel it, missionaries living in the bush know, that cold lonely feeling that wraps around you when you watch the small mission plane fly away. It is just you and your family doing the best you can to keep the work together.

If you have never lived in a tribe alone you might not pick up on my thoughts here so let me explain. We have several missionaries as I speak that are working in a tribe without the help of another family. It is not what we have planned, but for various reason we find our team mates no longer with us and there is just so much work to be done.

With all the excitement about reaching new tribes, ones’ heart is naturally drawn that way. I think we all understand that thought, but it doesn’t lessen the need for those in an older unfinished work needing help. Again, being there gives more understanding and meaning to what I say.

What can we do or say that would open your heart to see the need of moving into an unfinished work and helping them finish the job of discipleship, the very thing we told the people we would do for them? With all the lack of discipleship even in some of our churches in the USA one would wonder if Matt. 28: 19 means much to us today.

We can not and must not birth a church and then not disciple it to maturity, this is nothing less than spiritual abortion. God give us men and women that love You, Your Word and Your church enough to give their lives to see this great work completed in our generation.

Paul Fleming the founder of New Tribes mission had these words to say. “God does not want to make one man big with a lot of blessings, but wants to bless a lot of little men by using their lives.” We need men and women,” little “in their own eyes, to help us finish this work here in PNG. Could God entrust you with being a part of this great task? Thank you for giving it some thought.

Jack Housley, 
Member Care PNG.

Follow up to: “Old Folk “Go Ye”
Over the years I have talked to many people about going to the mission field. Janie and I have heard just about every excuse given for not going to the regions beyond. I have had many mothers talk to me about their children and reasons why I should not encourage them to go. These are my only grandchildren you know.

As you all well know I believe every one should be doing something with the great commission bar none young or old. Well, sometimes I am called to the table to explain to a husband or wife my reasons for thinking this way. Just picking up your cross and following Jesus just doesn’t seem right to some folk these days.

Several years ago I spoke in a small church in a near by town on missions. After the service this sweet looking 80 year old woman slipped by my side and gives me a big smile. “I am so excited about what you talked about in the service today and I am ready to go.” Now my friend that’s what I am looking for but…….

Monday morning I get a phone call from this ladies 84 year old husband and he desires to meet me at the little down town drugstore to talk about the Sunday morning’s sermon. It did not take him long to get to the point. “Something is just not right here he said, “It is just not normal for an 80 year old woman to want to pack up everything and go to the mission field. Jack, what were you thinking, getting an old woman excited that way?”

I feel an 80 year old person, man or woman needs to still be excited about God’s commandment to go into the world with the gospel. You know what? I do not feel it‘s normal when they do not want to go. Now to the question, what was I thinking, I not only think this lady needs to get excited but we all need to be more excited with this great work God has given us to do.