Fifty-four North Wahgi people heard missionary Andrew Wilson declare that the next day he had a strong message for them that everyone needed to attend.

Missionary Robyn Lenz commented on the final Firm Foundations Bible lesson: “Last Tuesday’s lesson ended with the arrest and beating of Jesus and His appearing before Pilate with the crowd jeering and requesting that the murderer be released and Jesus be crucified.”

Wednesday morning many of them came early and began dropping piles of garden produce as a thank you to the missionaries for bringing them an important message.

“That was a sweet gesture as it shows a cultural thankfulness by all who have been coming,” wrote Robyn.

Seventy-seven people came to hear the Gospel message Wednesday morning. The missionaries had made a cross with a T-shirt and cloth draped over hiding balloons filled with red food coloring to represent the shedding of Jesus blood as an illustration. The North Wahgis listened and watched intently as the message was presented.

“Gabriel first [accepted Christ as his savior], now Janet, Elise, Susan, Elise, Marta, Pinpin, and Magdelena, these are only eight that we have been able to hear clear professions of faith thus far,” wrote Robyn.

The others are still thinking and considering. Years of betrayal, years of doing things for God that you thought was getting you made right in his eyes, payments of money to get loved ones out of hell, anger, hurt, confusion – these are all areas that these individuals are facing right now and many are struggling with what to do with the Truth they have received. The message of God’s grace that they have received resonates in their mind but past difficulties hold them back.

Pray for those North Wahgis who are one step away from trusting Christ.

Janet spoke out immediately sharing that her sin is no longer hers but it was paid for in full by Jesus Christ who died on the cross in her place and now her sin is gone.

Magdelina then professed a clear faith and understanding in the finished work of Jesus on her behalf.

Pinpin, an elderly North Wahgi man, summed it all up with, “All you have to do is believe! That’s it, just believe.”

Please pray for these new believers and pray for the missionaries who are now beginning to disciple and teach the believers.

Lourens Laureti and his Mengen Bible translation team have been learning principles to help them translate God’s Word into the Mengen language.

They are learning about source language and receptor language as well as learning to be sure that the progression in text should show cohesion which provides unity.

While they are learning all sorts of needed information and techniques about translation, what excites the  Bible teachers is that they have translated verses in Ruth and Luke for the first time in Mengen history.

“We actually had our helpers getting all emotional and overwhelmed by the fact that they have helped us translate verses in Ruth and Luke,” wrote Lourens. “And that for the rest of the ages these words will be making a difference in people’s lives.”

Pray for Lourens and his team as they continue to learn translation principles and begin translating God’s Word into the Mengen language.

The Siar church is turning a corner and beginning a new phase of growth.

Missionaries Chris Lujan and Lane Sanford will begin teaching from the book of Acts. This will be the first time the church gets a glimpse of what God did in the early days after Christ ascended to Heaven.

This will provide the framework for understanding the letters to believers from God.

“We are really excited about this opportunity and are praying that the believers here will come and want to grow in Christ,” wrote Chris.

One of the things that the missionaries are learning is that only God can grow His church.

“Of course that does not take us off the hook of teaching the Gospel and discipling men, women and children in grace,” Chris wrote. “However faith, spiritual growth, a desire to learn from the Lord, and obedience cannot be forced upon someone, it takes the will of man to submit itself to those things. God is the One who convicts, leads, teaches, illuminates, strengthens the inner man, that's His work.”

Pray for Chris and Lane as they teach, disciple and shepherd these new Christians. Pray for the Siar church as they learn and grow.   

Gabriel sat transfixed as missionary Andrew Wilson read the last two Firm Foundation Bible lessons so they could check them for accuracy and make sure the North Wahgi people would clearly understand the message.

When Andrew finished reading, Gabriel sat quietly and thought about how the sky went dark when Jesus died because all the sin of the world was placed upon Him. Gabriel clearly stated that he knew his sin was placed upon Jesus too. He said that he understood that all of his good works could not save him, but Jesus alone paid for his sins.

Later that day Gabriel returned and told Andrew, “I cannot cut myself open to show you how happy I am.” He rejoiced that Jesus took his place just as the ram took Isaac’s place on the alter.

The rest of the North Waghis are listening to the lessons being taught and the excitement is building as they come to the end of the story.

“Following Friday’s lesson three younger men gathered to talk more about what they are hearing. One of them, the recent widower who lost his wife during the first week of the Bible teaching, said, ‘This talk is not like any other I have ever heard. It is so strong that I feel it cutting into me, deep.’ Andrew replied by sharing with him that this is true because it is God’s talk and God’s talk has the power to give life. The three men just shook their heads as they are seemingly beginning to understand the importance of what they are hearing and Lord willing, beginning to understand,” wrote missionary Mike Mikolavich.

The North Wahgi people have a number of cultural beliefs that stand in the way of their accepting the free gift of the Savior. Next week the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus will be presented and the people will be faced with a critical, life-changing decision. Pray that they, like Gabriel, will understand what Jesus has done for them and will accept the free gift of salvation.