Unlikely Hope

Mesi men came with us to explore how we can bring the gospel to the Kuyu people. 6 days of hiking, 24,000+ vertical feet climbed, 27 meals shared, and 8 village invitations for gospel teaching received.

Further

When we came to New Guinea, a little more than 13 years ago, we had dreams of being a part of bringing the transforming truth of the Gospel of Christ to a single people group among the many who are unreached here. Amazingly, God has allowed us to spend most of the intervening years developing relationships and seeing Him raise up a dynamic group of believers among the Mesi people. Let me just stress again here that we see the Mesi church as God's handiwork - more a story of what God can do in spite of human frailty and fault than the result of some excellence on the part of our church planting team.

"I just had to come up this Sunday to see you guys, the message that you brought us is so sweet. I want you to know how happy I am for the Gospel." - Amun, a Mesi woman who hiked up from a distant garden when she heard that we would be there for Sunday

You all know that last year, the Mesi church began teaching through the Bible in one of the 6 remaining unreached villages. Next year (2021) we have planned, along with our Bible Teachers, to begin a literacy school in another Mesi village with the hopes of beginning Bible teacher there and presenting the Gospel to them in 2022.

Not only that, the maturing Mesi believers are beginning to think about reaching out beyond their own people.  They have spent time with us helping to evaluate the needs of the Kovol people and to launch a missionary team into that language group. Recently 3 Mesi Bible teachers also came along with us on a survey of the Kuyu people group - their neighbors to the North and West. They spent those 6 days helping us to be clear communicators and helping the Kuyu people know what exactly it is the we do as church planters and translators. We are so proud of these men who humbly and openly shared their desire for the Kuyu people to hear the message that they have believed.

• Please pray for the Kuyu people, that missionaries will be able to come and work among them.
• Please pray for the Mesi church, that they will grow in seeing those around them as their responsibility - and join with us in reaching them.

One of our Mesi Bible Teachers and Nate, enjoying a break in the hike through Kuyu.

Deeper

The Mesi church is not only growing outward - they are growing deeper and stronger. Right now, the Mesi church is finding itself in a transition of dependence - from depending on us missionaries to let them know what God's Word says to depending on God's very Word to directly illuminate their lives. With this transition comes great risk. Some, who have placed their trust in us missionaries will undoubtedly become disillusioned and wander away from the church. Others will battle misunderstanding and confusion. But many seem to be reaching out directly to their heavenly Father, and those are finding in Him peace that they never imagined.

... that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18may have power, together with all the Lord's holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ...  -Ephesians 3:17-18

In a little over a week, we will be heading into Mesi-land once again. This time, we will be teaching a course to the church leaders on Bible interpretation and application. We will also be supporting the church leaders as they begin to listen to testimonies from the outreach village - with the intent to begin baptizing those who have clearly put their faith in Jesus.

• Please pray for the Mesi church - that they would cast themselves on the Lord and that they would find him truly the source of their peace and joy.
• Please pray for strength and wisdom for the Mesi church leaders as they listen to testimonies. It is very very hard for them to say no to other Mesi men and women. (they are concerned about jealousy and gossip.)

Thanks so much for praying for and standing with us!

Nate for us 5