NTM

The McIlwains served onsite with the Ata people group in Papua New Guinea for more than ten years. During that period of formal ministry with the Ata, they translated (along with Ata co-translator Kaikou) the entire New Testament and various Old Testament portions; established a solid literacy program; developed materials for systematic Bible teaching; and saw multiple churches planted and many leaders equipped among the Ata.

Now in leadership roles with NTM, the McIwains spend the majority of their time traveling to provide church planting consulting in the countries in which NTM ministers.

Even though they will not be living onsite in the Ata area with us, certainly Paul and Linda will have an itinerant ministry role as co-workers in the developing Ata Initiative in which we will participate in upcoming years. We value their experience and friendship very much, and would appreciate your including them in your prayers.

Praise the Lord that we received our visas and are leaving the US for PNG October 6

Please pray for our co-workers Paul and Linda McIlwain, as they travel around the world in leadership and consulting with NTM

Please pray for the Ata church elders with whom we will be working in PNG, as they faithfully face the challenges of church planting in their own cultural context, as well as cross-culturally

• From West Texas all the way to Virginia, we have so enjoyed sharing the excitement and privilege of ministry with believers from many different walks of life. In the course of those travels, we have been truly humbled with gratitude as the Lord has provided 85% of our PNG airplane ticket cost through special gifts from individuals and churches.

• Although we still have some distance to go, we are making good progress on the long paperwork checklist for acquiring our PNG visas. For example, Jesse and Ian “endured” their medical exams for PNG with noble resignation—okay, and some screaming at the sight of vaccination needles and blood testing vials. If they could have let this trial pass, they would have …

• Mike recently completed his oral thesis defense, the last formal step in finishing his Master’s Degree. We thank the Lord for the culmination of this very worthwhile study phase.