NTM

We just arrived back from a wonderful visit with my parents and sister down in Arkansas. We were able to visit our training center down at Lake of the Ozarks and speak in two separate churches along the way. It was a much needed rest after being surrounded by students all semester, but we are back now and back to business.

This summer we are involved in several ministry opportunities. Andrea and I each tutor a Korean student once a week as they work on their English skills before going on in the missions training. (This is a new program requirement for our missionaries coming from South Korea; please pray for wisdom for those developing it and patient understanding for the families and singles taking it.) I (Ken) have the privilege to teach the adult Sunday school class at the church we attend here in town; we are going through the books of James and Jude. There is also the prison ministry on Thursday nights. Please pray for us as we are involved in these different areas and also find time to be with our children during their school break.
The children are doing fine and are moving on to the next level in their schooling–James to 3rd grade and Christina to 1st grade. James received an academic excellence award, and Christina is reading. Sarah can say her ABC’s and little Samuel is healthy. We are praying for their understanding of the Gospel as I take them through another chronological Bible series. And we are working on good manners this summer (especially table manners).

We are looking forward to a big freshman class coming this fall–9 couples and the rest are singles. Thanks for praying for enrollment to increase. Remember that 70% of the missionaries for New Tribes Mission come from these Bible schools.

We love serving here and will continue to do so until the Lord opens the door to return to Papua New Guinea. Our hearts are still in the Sepik region, where friends we helped move into tribes are now seeing many coming to know the Lord as Savior. As you know the economy is in bad shape right now so please be in prayer for our finances and that we can continue to get more people to partner with us in this ministry. We thank you for your continued prayers and support and hope to see those of you on the west coast next summer as the Lord provides. We had some auto repairs and medical this summer that have depleted some of our savings; so pray that the Lord would help replenish that for us. We will have more on that later as we work out all the details

The God who works in our hearts and lives is still at work in Papua New Guinea too. 

In the highlands, the Benabena tribe (where Andrea originally took a short-term mission trip in 1999) have finally heard the Gospel in their own language.

In the Sepik region, two new couples are preparing to work with an island group. The Lord has provided a boat and good initial relationships. 

Missionaries have had to leave the Hewa people be-cause of the violence there from neighboring groups. However, the mission still tries to help the believers. For example, when witch-hunts caused the death of one believer, another target was airlifted to a different tribe. The church there has welcomed her; she is learning their language and has found a husband.

The infant Inanbimali church is standing strong against persecution as unbelievers are threatening to burn the Christians’ houses. (Ken helped build one of the missionaries’ houses back in 2004.)

Last month made history among the Bagwido people when a boy was buried without the traditional bamboo straw. (They believe this keeps a spirit happy by giving it free access back into the village.)  The boy and his parents had recently trusted Jesus to save them from their sin and made a public declaration that they believed his spirit would go directly to God.

Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!  We are starting our second year at New Tribes Bible Institute. It is nice to start this year able to recognize many of the returning faces. And we praise the Lord for the 70 new students enrolled this fall. One is a young men Ken knew from years ago at his home church in Perris, CA.  Another returning student reported that she had taken Ken’s advice to explain to her home church that her enrollment here was in preparation for missionary service overseas—and as a result they have begun partnering with her financially.  Although most are American or Canadian, a few of the new students are from England, Haiti, Belgium, or were raised as missionary kids in Venezuela and Guinea. The six Korean students are taking a special semester to improve their English skills before going on to the Missionary Training Center.

Seven couples and 42 single students graduated in May with an Associate’s Degree in Biblical Studies. Several intend to go as missionaries to Cambodia after completing the remaining New Tribes Missionary train-ing. We were all challenged by their senior class projects which raised over $5000 to buy books for the local prison ministry and for the newly-opened field of Cambodia. They chose as their motto a quote by John Keith Falconer, “I have but one candle to burn, and I would rather burn it out in a land filled with darkness than in a land flooded with light.”  

(FYI – Students must be debt-free to graduate. Single students pay a little under $4000 per semester for tuition, board and fees. A self-supported staff help to keep tuition down to get new missionaries overseas faster.)

Thank you for upholding us in prayer.

NTBI students – Pray for new students as they look for jobs in the area, choose a local church to be a part of, and adjust to dorm life in general.

Kids in School – James and Christina seem to be enjoying and learning from their classes (2nd and Kindergarten, respectively). Christina’s take-home work takes a lot of Mom’s effort getting her to focus on what her letters look like, and I would appreciate your prayers for patience and creative enthusiasm.

Adventure Club – This is the Sunday evening outreach to both churched and unchurched children that Andrea helps with. The Preschool branch has doubled from eight last year to 16 this year, ranging in age from just three to 6-yr-old Kindergarteners. Please pray that we would continue to provide a safe environment and meaningful instruction for both this class and the growing Sunday morning children’s classes.

Pregnancy – Yes, we are expecting our fourth child in April. I feel ok most of the time, but get less done thanks to needing more sleep. Pray I would make wise use of the time I do have.

Papua New Guinea – Pray for Tony and Tara Sutton as they rejoice in the gift of a pregnancy; they are taking an early furlough since her pregnancies are high-risk.  Several praises and testimonies from tribal believers are on the mission’s website, along with current prayer needs. You can check it out at www.ntm.org