The people swayed with the music, lifting their hands in worship. Then the pastor began speaking on righteous living. There were cries of "amen" as he presented each new thought. 

After the service people filed out, content in the knowledge that they were doing the right things and living out their Christian principles. 

At first glance, this tribal group consisting of many villages in a faraway country seems to be totally evangelized, but when individuals are questioned, many explain that because they belong to the tribe they are all Christians. These people embraced a Christian form of living but never embraced Christ Himself as their Savior. The "Christian culture" has in many areas replaced their animistic way of life, but the underlying animistic world view is there -- glossed over by the Christian dogmas they adopted. 

They have a form of the Gospel with rules and customs but no understanding of the God of the Bible or Jesus Christ. They have never been taught through the Bible in a systematic, chronological manner so they do not understand that God’s plan for man’s salvation began before the foundation of the world and is completed by the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. 

Pastors are possibly the most confused because they have some of the right answers but have a total misunderstanding of God, the Bible and grace. They have a very legalistic concept of Christianity and have covered their animistic world view with a cloak of religion -- another set of rules to appease a supreme power.

New Tribes missionaries recently visited this tribe in what they nicknamed "the lost valleys" because of the remoteness and difficulty of getting there. They assessed the need for a church planting team and talked with some of the pastors. 

In one village a pastor who realized something was missing told them, "We really want you guys to come back and live with us. We’ve got this church building, but the truth is we are still living in darkness, still holding onto our old traditions."

With a clear invitation to come and teach Biblical foundations the missionaries are hoping to begin a church planting effort there soon. They intend to study not only the present "Christian culture" but also the deep-seated beliefs of the people’s original world view. When they thoroughly understand the culture and language of the people, they will begin teaching through the Bible from Creation to Christ, building principle on principle so that the people will understand salvation by grace. Then they will disciple the believers to help them understand the freedom they have in Christ. 

While this tribe seems to be a "poster child" of misunderstanding salvation by grace, there are many throughout the world embracing the same untruths. 

In another remote tribe, confusion reigns as the people try to deal with their sins. 

A pig stood quietly as a spear tore into it and blood began to flow. As it bled and died, the river turned pink and the crowd cried, "Wash, wash," urging the young single mother and her illegitimate daughter to wash away their sin and shame in the blood-tinged water.

The people, still trapped in their old beliefs and bound by the laws of the spirit world, thought the blood of a pig would wash away sin. The mixing of beliefs -- known as syncretism -- was painfully obvious as prayers to Jesus were offered alongside the witchdoctor’s incantations to the spirits.

Mixing Christianity with animistic beliefs results in a belief system of works and leaves people with no freedom and no hope. 

Another tribal group, this one in Mexico, has also mixed their world view with a type of Christianity. Jesus is an integral part of their culture. For 400 years the Tepehuans have known the name and story of Jesus -- but it isn’t the same Jesus recorded in the Bible. The one they know about never really died, so he never really rose either, which means the "Tepehuan Jesus" never paid in full the price to bring mankind back to God. New Tribes missionaries working among the Tepehuans know that teaching chronologically through the Bible with an emphasis on the death and resurrection is essential to the people’s understanding of salvation through grace alone. 

Apiyaawogi, a man from the Dao people group, told missionary Scott Phillips about his people’s beliefs concerning their creation story. "The great python -- that is the reason why we die." Apiyaawogi said, "If that snake had not eaten the blood of the brother after it had seeped down into the ground, then we would not die."

"A great snake to be blamed for a curse that causes physical death? That sounds strangely familiar doesn’t it?" Scott observed, as he discussed the conversation later with his wife, Jennie.

A tribal group in Papua New Guinea was delighted as they began to realize their salvation is based on trusting Christ alone. Many were searching for a list of "dos and don’ts" to assure them of salvation. They had been part of a religious group that taught that eternal security was based on a system of works. 

The missionary team ministering there is teaching through the book of Acts to show the people that salvation is by God’s grace alone. When missionaries began teaching chronologically through the Bible, they were able to dispel many false ideas, but their on-going discipleship is grounding the believers in their faith. 

Missionary Jeremiah Markley wrote, "It has been wonderful to watch them grow in their understanding of freedom from Law -- their relief is almost tangible. And their love for their Lord is blossoming."

And this is what the missionaries planning on ministering to those in the "lost valleys" hope to see.