Rex and Shirley Schaffner

Back in the States but not the same!

Posted in Ministry on Feb 7th, 2009 | Discuss This Post

Wow! What a whirlwind trip…20,000 miles or so in a variety of ways. From the largest of airplanes (400+ seats) to the smallest (6); up and down a mountain road (if you can call it that) many times in a covered cantor (truck with bench seats for 20 in the back); hours in a little skiff boat with hundreds of kilograms of supplies; hours and hours of hiking in the bush to get to a remote village in West New Britain PNG; and then do it all again in reverse to get home to the US. Praise the Lord, the team touched down in L.A. Sunday at 1PM. Most should be home by now with their families. I arrived in Detroit to Shirley’s open arms at 6AM Monday, after a great time in LA with Megan and AJ watching the Super Bowl.

It always seems surrealistic, these trips…what contrast…to go from the least important (in the world’s eyes…tribal people and their hearing the message of life)…to the greatest (in the world’s eyes…the SUPER BOWL!) in a matter of hours. Millions and multiple 10’s of millions of $$$ spent on advertising and entertainment, while in 1,000’s of villages around the world, people are waiting to hear the message of the Gospel; waiting until someone who is willing to go has enough financial support to get there. Just seems strange doesn’t it?

If the church could get as excited about missions (it’s real reason for being on this planet) as the world does about entertainment, people night just get to hear the message that will keep them from hell a bit quicker. We were so reminded of this wherever we went this past month…so many people without the Gospel in their language. John 3.16 in their language looks like this… “ “.

Some of the students on the team seem convinced now after all they saw and heard, that they want to be a part of taking God’s Word to those without it. Please pray that they would continue to trust God for all they need in their lives as some of them step out in faith, and begin training for missions. They are all back now, but they are not the same ones I met in L.A. on December 31. God has done amazing things in their (and my) lives. I can only begin to tell you how encouraging this trip has been to my heart too. Prayer and praise have filled my days as I heard the students respond to the teaching and express their hearts in so many ways. What an incredible privilege to invest in them like this. Thank You Lord! And thanks to those of you who wrote and encouraged me with comments about the emails. Thank you for praying for Shirley and me and for the team! You have had an important part in this trip and these lives too! Thanks so much for taking us before the throne of grace!

Oh yea…there is a new name for a creek near one village…here is a picture of it and the reason for it…the shorts were khaki before the jump…the small puddle in the lower left part of the picture is where I sat after a standing long jump; I should have made it, but my feet sunk about a foot and then I could only go one direction…backward…and sat down…Daniel tried twice to pull me out, but the mud sucked me back in…third time was a charm. The village now refers to this body of water as Rex Creek…what a time of laughter we had!
Well, thank you again for your time and interest in what God is doing around the world and in Jackson…we have 21 freshman at NTBI who are just beginning to discover what NTM is about. We appreciate your prayers…Shirley has several meetings with the women throughout the week. She is scheduled to be part of a women’s retreat in April here in Jackson. We are scheduled to be in FL for a missions conference later this month. Lots going on and we are thankful for the opportunities the Lord brings our way. Please let us know if we can be of service in your church/area, and please let us know how we can pray for you as well.

Yours for the tribes,
Rex and Shirley

Isaiah 26.3,4

Back in PNG – challenged again!

Posted in Ministry, News Article on Jan 13th, 2009 | Discuss This Post

Oh no! Don;t tell me I missed the 12 inches of snow last Sunday in Jackson. Instead, I have to be in the 80 degree, sunny weather of Papua New Guinea…for the entire month of January. Wow! Thank you Lord. Well, it could be better. Shirley could be here with me. She is busy with the new and returning students at NTBI. Couldn’t get away this time. I am assisting the Interface program (a college level missions exposure course) in the highlands of PNG. We were here for the summer of 2004.

It is good to be back, and even see some old friends in the Bena tribe next door. Some are even now believers. The Gospel has been taught and there are a number of believers. How neat to see them in this context now. They are learning about the early church now going through Acts. Please be praying for them as they get rooted and grounded in the Scriptures. Thank you.

I will be returning to Jackson Feb 2. After recovering, I will jump into the semester and continue in the role of Director of Community Relations. My Epistles of John class is later in the semester, so I have plenty of time to get ready.

Thank you for praying for Shirley and me as we continue to serve students and staff at NTBI. We count it an incredible privilege to minister like we do, preparing disciples to take the Gospel of the grace in Christ Jesus to a lost and dieing world.

Isa 26.3,4

Headed for New Guinea once again!

Posted in Ministry, News Article on Dec 10th, 2008 | Discuss This Post

It came up very quickly…"Interface needs a teacher." After some discussion, Shirley and I decided we would be glad to go if things could be worked out. After praying and talking with our co-workers, we decided that Shirley’s schedule in the Deans department requires her to be here for the start of the new semester. She has some new RA’s and new students are coming. I can get away for the month without too much trouble, so January 1 I will head to Los Angeles to meet the team of about 20 and we will head over to Papua New Guinea until Feb 1.

We will be in the highlands, where the students will learn about tribal missions first hand. Shirley and I spent the summer of 2004 there with 50 students, several who came to NTBI since then, and are about to go to the missions field. I will be teaching several classes during the first 3 weeks, and then the final week we will travel to second tribal location where a church has been planted. Please join us in praying that some of these students will also decide to give their lives to reach the un-reached.

Please pray that the Lord will prepare my heart and give wisdom as I prepare lessons and share what the Lord has done and is doing through NTM. Please pray for safety as we travel and for unity for our team. Pray that we bond quickly in LA and can encourage one another throughout the long travel time.
We look forward to updating you from PNG. If you would like to have a part in this trip financially, please click here
Thank you for your time. May God thrill your heart again today with the riches that are yours in Christ Jesus!

Graduation right around the corner

Posted in Ministry on Oct 27th, 2008 | Discuss This Post

Our 26 Seniors will be walking the stage on December 13 and into the next phase of life, wherever that may take them. Most of them intend to go to NTM’s MTC for additional training for tribal church planting. PTL!

Many will be going home for a while to get plugged into their home churches. Some will be looking for work. Others will be attending college. Whatever they do, our hearts are so grateful for the time they have been here. We know they leave very different than when they arrived two years ago. How we pray they will continue to look to the Lord for direction and will live their lives sold out to making Him known.

Thank you for praying for us and for them. God has done great things and they are marvelous in our sight.

Rex and Shirley

Back in Jackson catching up

Posted in Ministry on Oct 8th, 2008 | Discuss This Post

Praise the Lord with us, we had a good trip to the MTC in MO. It was a great time with co-workers and former students, some who have just started the MTC program, others who about finished and ready to get to the field.

Please pray for Tom and Beth, Ric and Sharon and Dave and Darlene who are all headed to Cambodia. Lord willing they could be there within a year or two.

We would appreciate your prayers for us – Shirley for strength and wisdom as she meets with many ladies and the other deans throughout the week. Having been gone for three our of the last four weeks means quite a bit of catching up. Thanks for praying.

I have started in a new position (Director of Community Relations) in a new department at NTBI. My new responsibilities include being the contact for Pastors and churches, and coordinating youth group/church/college group meetings…all with the goal of increasing enrollment. Thank you for praying for wisdom and direction as we develop this new position.

548 in training!

Posted in Uncategorized on Oct 2nd, 2008 | Discuss This Post

Between our Bible Institutes and the Missionary Training Center, NTM has 548 students. What a joy to see that many folks open to missions, and the work of taking the Gospel to the un-reached. PTL!

Currently NTM is working in 269 tribal goups around the world, having planted over 900 indigenous churches. Our field leadership teams have indicated that if we had the personnel, we could begin work in 106 new tribes in the next five years.

Please pray for our Bible School students to catch the vision for tribal church planting and be willing to go on in the NTM training when they graduate. Please pray for the graduates of the MTC to be able to get the support they need in order to get to their field of choice asap. 1000’s of tribal people die each week without knowing Christ. There is a sense of urgency in our task. Please pray! Thanks.

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 2Pet 3.9

Back in Missouri

Posted in Ministry on Oct 2nd, 2008 | Discuss This Post

October 1-4 finds us in Roach, MO at the NTM Missionary Training Center (MTC). We are here representing NTBI and learning about Development, and how the MTC expansion project is coming along. NTM is expanding the facilities in order to train more missionaries each year.

God has done an amazing thing here so far. In the past 3 years, 10 four-plexes have been built and a completely new sewer system has been added to our property of 300 acres. Over $3 million has been provided through God’s people. AMAZING!

As we enter phase two of the expansion, plans have been unveiled for a very needed 40,000 SF academic and administration building. Approximately $1 million has been donated so far toward the project. If you would like more information, please click here .

Your prayers for NTM and for Shirley and me are greatly appreciated. We travel back to MI Oct 5 and get back into our ministries. Thank you for your interest and prayers.

For the tribes,

Rex and Shirley Isa 26.3,4

…56 more being prepared!

Posted in Uncategorized on Jun 10th, 2008 | Discuss This Post

How we thank the Lord for these 56 graduates who have spent the last two years studying and growing in the grace and knowledge of our great Savior! Everyone of them has been an encouragement to our staff and other students during their time here. Some will be going into youth ministry, some will be going into camp ministry, some will be going on into missions, but all leave with a deeper understanding of the relationship available with God and the resulting life offered to one who walks with God in honesty and dependence (faith) each day.

What a thrill to be a part of their lives in this way…walking with and rubbing shoulders with the next generation of those who will take the Gospel to the tribes. Thank you for praying for them and for us as we watch and see the goodness of God.

Have you ever been called evil?

Posted in Uncategorized on Aug 5th, 2007 | Discuss This Post

The flight was going well. We took off on time and the weather was beautiful as we headed off on the first of two legs back to Detroit. Shirley and I were able to get our preferred seating, me by the window and she by my side in the middle seat. A man sat down next to her and we exchanged the usual niceties and welcome. Little did we know then that the next hour would be one of the longest in our lives, and draw out emotions that we usually do not have to deal with.

What we discovered and experienced for the very first time in our lives was a person with a deep hatred and disdain for the Jewish people. Imagine this after having just visited the Holocaust Museum in Washington, DC. We could not believe our ears.
“The Jews are behind all the evil in the world…”
“The Jews control the finances of the world.”
“The Jews control the US Government.”
“The US President serves as a puppet of the Jews.”
“No one can be elected President unless the Jews say so.”

And two of the most shocking things he said…
“The Holocaust never happened, it was a ploy of the Jews to make people feel sorry for them.”
“September 11 was carried out by the Jews.”

We have heard about folks who believe these things, but we have never actually met someone, let alone try to have a discussion.

I should have listened to Shirley…I was praying as we were talking (Shirley was grabbing my arm :>)). “Lord, please give me wisdom to know how to answer.” I asked him why did he think the Jewish people were so much of a concern to nations throughout history?…hoping to be able to share with him truth from the Scriptures related to God’s choosing Israel to make Himself known throughout the world…whenever I would bring up anything about the Scripture, he would change the subject and ask a question about some conspiracy or why do I think this or that has happened, and then explaining how the Jews had caused this or that, or did this or that, in order to accomplish some evil in the world. Where did he get this information and kind of belief? From the internet…!!!

Throughout our conversation he continually asked me why I thought so fondly of the Jewish people. I mentioned God’’s love for them, his careful attention to them throughout history…His plan for them in the future. And after a while, he began to equate my support for them, my explanation about future things related to them and their literal kingdom on earth as an endorsement for everything evil he thought they were doing. “I have nothing against you personally,” he said, “but you seem to me as though you are a supporter of evil. You seem like a nice person but you come across as an evil person because you agree with the Jews.”

I am not usually shocked to the point of not knowing what to say…but I was speechless… Here I am, an ambassador for my dear Savior Jesus…a Jew, the deliverer of mankind…wanting so desperately for this man to hear about him and know him as personal savior…here I was being called evil for trying to share biblical truth. WOW! I could hardly believe it. The verse about evil being called good, and good being called evil raced through my mind.

Our flight was just about over at this point. It was a good thing. Shirley’s patience had run out…my ability to reason was just about gone… I realized that our worldviews were millions of miles apart. Any hope for common ground would take an absolute miracle and much more time that we had that day. So all we could do was challenge him to read the Bible for himself. That was met with scorning and an explanation that the Scriptures had been corrupted…(of course, I thought…what else could he say?) . Good-bye then.

Upon reflection and discussion afterward, Shirley and I came to the conclusion that the emotions we felt must have been a small hint of those felt by the Lord Jesus when he, the innocent one, was accused of doing all sorts of wrong. Here He was, the lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world…the perfect man…God in human form, having done nothing worthy of punishment, certainly not death, he was scorned and ridiculed, beaten and crucified for the world of mankind. Even this one we had spoken to…God please do a miracle in his life and bring him to a saving knowledge of Jesus our Lord. May he know the true Savior and be brought out from under the bondage of the evil one!

The First Dao Believers!

Posted in Uncategorized on May 22nd, 2007 | Discuss This Post

A report from the Phiilips, working with the Dao in Indonesia…their partners are Derek and Sarah Grant, 2 NTBI alumni. Just a few years ago Derek was one of my key Prison teachers.

"The first 2 Dao people to hear the Gospel have heard this week! And they believed! Praise the Lord! …it is an exciting time in Dao right now as these 2 baby believers are so excited to tell everyone about the wonderful news of the Gospel. They are so open to hear and accept the truth. No questions asked. They said, “If the Creator said it, than it must be true.” Wow! If only we could trust Him with the child like faith that they do. We are so excited to hear such great news!"

You can imagine the joy in our hearts as well as we see folks we know and love and have invested in be able to reach annother tribe with the Gospel. You too have a part, as you pray and invest financially in our ministry.

Please pray for the rest of the Dao to believe, as the Chronological teaching to the whole village begins June 11. Pray God would open their eyes to the truth of the Scripture.

Thank you so much for your continued prayers and support. We appreciate you very much!

Yours for the un-reached,

Rex and Shirley

Isaiah 26.3.4

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