Dangers not hindering God
At the very beginning of New Tribes Mission in the 1940s, founder Paul Fleming emphasized the importance of teaching tribal people so they could lead their own churches.
The wisdom of that is even more clear in light of safety and security issues missionaries face today.
Matt and Starr Arnold, for instance, are currently unable to live in the Northern Tepehuan village in Mexico where they have ministered to the people for years. And on a recent visit, they saw promising signs that God’s work will not be hindered by the dangers there. Not because Matt and Starr would be able to return, but because Northern Tepehuan believers are taking responsibility.
"God has raised up Marcelo, Gregorio, Juan and Cleotilde as faithful followers of Jesus," Matt wrote. "The Lord led me … to prepare some materials and spend time … training, encouraging and exhorting them that God has a work for them to do."
Matt and Starr have made similar overtures in the past, and the Northern Tepehuan believers have responded with fear and doubt. But not this time.
"Marcelo praised God for the arrival of His Word and the missionaries, and asked God to empower them to step up to the plate now! Wow!" Matt wrote.
"Pray for them as they endeavor to work together to weekly teach the Tepehuans who are attending the church …. This is their first attempt at teaching the Word of God."