NTM - New Tribes Mission | Planting Tribal Churches

Last week we were excited to have our coworkers, Butch and Tammy Kunzer, back in the tribe with us. They had been away for a while tending to other needs so it was great seeing them again. Unfortunately, one of their reasons for returning was to let the Patpatar people know that they will be leaving permanently. Because of several circumstances, they believe God is leading them to close the chapter on their work here in Papua New Guinea. We will miss them and their part in the ministry here. They will be missed by our Patpatar friends as well. We have enjoyed their friendship and partnership over the last 10 years.

Our other missionary coworker, Madonna Yates, has been faithfully plugging away at learning the Patpatar language and culture over the last 3 years. In that time she has built great relationships and helped us out in the ministry in so many ways. Last week, while the sad news of the Kunzers leaving was becoming reality, Madonna received some good news. After an extensive evaluation by myself and another missionary consultant, we are excited to say the Madonna has reached the necessary level of fluency to begin doing translation and assisting in other areas of the ministry.

The timing of all of this seems a bit ironic. In June our family will headed back to the States for a time for our long awaited home assignment. Because of our situation here in the tribe and with Kunzers gone and Madonna being a single gal, she will not be able to continue living here in the village by herself while we are away. She will continue to work, but will be based in a town several hours away and will try to get back into the tribe as often as possible for short stents of time. There are a few possibilities already for her to be able to get back into the tribe for visits, one being fellow missionaries and believers from neighboring tribes to come in for a few days at a time here and there to encourage and come alongside the Patpatar believers.

That brings us back around to our other coworkers, our Patpatar brothers and sisters in Christ. The young believers who have been growing and helping teach will continue to meet, teach, and now assist the brand new believers. I am grateful for them and truly value them as friends and coworkers in the work God has given us among the Patpatar. Last week the village meeting that I was summoned to in order to answer questions from some who are opposed to the work did not go so well. After some initial questions and answers, myself and some of the other believers endured being yelled at and threatened. Walking away from the meeting, one of the first men who got saved about 3 years ago and is now helping to teach others, walked alongside me and said, “I am so glad that we have this burden. If we were just trying to follow the thinking of the world they would not be angry with us. But we are standing in the truth and for that we will have trials.”

As he spoke, I couldn’t help but think about Acts 5:41, “The apostles left the council, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name [of Jesus].” My Patpatar coworker had encouraged me and I know that God can use him and others to do the same to others.

So as you think of the work that God is doing here in the Patpatar pray for:

· The Kunzer family as they finish up packing and move out of PNG and settle into life in America.

· Opportunities for Madonna in the coming year to get into the tribe often and for the work she is beginning in translation.

· The new believers and the young Patpatar Bible teachers who will be continuing to teach and disciple so that the church can grow in number and maturity.

We appreciate the Kunzers, Madonna, and our Patpatar coworkers, but we want to also express our appreciation to those of you who continue to pray, give, and encourage us in the work God is allowing us to be a part of with the Patpatar. You too, though in a different way, are our coworkers to the Patpatar.

ALL for Him, Aaron

Fact – We have been asked by a few people if another family will move into Patpatar to replace the Kunzers. The fact is that there are needs all over the country of Papua New Guinea, but we continue to hear the phrase, “lack of personnel.” Indeed the fields are white unto harvest but the laborers are few.

This last week we finished the evangelistic lessons with 3 groups of Patpatar people who have been studying through God’s Word. At the conclusion, several of the men and women shared of their new found understanding and belief. One of the men in the village that I call grandpa who had just sat quietly in the background during the months of teaching spoke up and summarized all the lessons in less than a minute.

He explained, “This teaching through God’s Talk has led me to praise. It has led me to God’s Son. God made Adam and Eve in the garden and restricted them from the fruit. When they sinned a new road was needed to get to God. A new road was needed and God promised it, but it wasn’t completed then. That road is this that we believe in the death and resurrection of Jesus. We believe and know that we are not good. I am not a righteous man. But if we know this and believe in Him, God will make us new again. That is enough and I will finish my talk at that.”

He had finished speaking, but the smile on his face remained. When we got together on Wednesday to eat together another older man stated his joy like this. “When you wake up in the morning, you can look out on the ocean and see dolphins jumping in the water. That is like the joy that I have. I have joy jumping up and down because of the teaching from God’s Word. It is clear to me and the truth has replaced what I used to believe.”

As Lori sat with one of the ladies who gave a clear testimony of her faith in Christ’s work on the cross, she couldn’t help but see the joy and excitement in the life of her new sister in Christ. The excitement was not limited to the Patpatar. I was overjoyed to see how the growth of young Christians who had gotten saved the first time we had taught and were now involved in helping me teach these 3 groups. As I wandered among all clusters of people, I overheard three of these men reiterating the Good News of the Gospel and explaining the truths of salvation.

Thank you so much for praying for the Patpatar and their salvation. Please continue to pray as some of them who have heard, but have not yet placed their trust in Christ. Also pray for those who have become Christians but their spouse and children have not yet heard and understood the truth. Pray also for situations that are occurring to hinder the work God is doing here. Last week one of the new believers was falsely accused of working poison on a lady in the village and was beat up for it. This coming week, I am being summoned to appear at a village meeting to answer questions by some who are opposed to the teaching and the work we are doing.

We praise the Lord for the new brothers and sisters in Christ and pray that more will be added. Pray for these new Christians and for their growth as we continue to teach them through God’s Word.

With joy, Aaron

Fact – Many of those who got saved had practiced a mix of traditional beliefs and religious beliefs. Now some are wanting to go let people know about the lies and deception from the sorcery, magic, and spirits. Others who had preached and led religious meetings are wanting to go apologize for misguiding and misinterpreting God’s Word.

“It’s not just about the story of the cross and how Jesus died on it, it is about belief,” one of the Patpatar men told me after hearing the Gospel presentation yesterday on Good Friday. I questioned him further, “Belief? Belief in what?” “Belief that Jesus’ died to make the payment for sin,” he replied. I again asked him, “Why though, why would he die to pay for sin?” My Patpatar friend shook his head took a deep breath and said, “He died in my place.”

Thank you to so many of you who have been praying for the evangelistic teaching that has been taking place in the 3 groups here among the Patpatar. Yesterday, on Good Friday, we woke up to blue skies and bright sun for the first time in nearly 2 weeks. We had good attendance for the lesson on Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection with only a few people unable to attend. Afterwards we were able to visit individually with 5 of those who had heard and all 5 of them gave clear testimony indicating their faith in Christ’s death on their behalf.

· Please continue to pray for us and the Bible teachers this coming week as we follow up with others and share with those who were unable to attend yesterday.

· Pray also for the other two groups who will be taught the good news of the Gospel this coming Wednesday and next Sunday.

· Praise the Lord with us for our new brothers and sisters in Christ and for their continued growth and understanding of God’s Word.

In hearing the testimony of the those who had been in the ‘clan of Satan’ but entered in the ‘clan of God’ through their faith in Christ on the day we mark as the day He died, I couldn’t help but think of the conversation that Jesus had with one of the two men that hung on a cross next to Him. Mark tells us that the two thieves mocked Jesus, but as some point on the cross, Luke lets us know that one of them realized that he was a sinner deserving of his punishment but that Jesus was sinless. He expressed his faith by reprimanding the other thief and asking Jesus to remember him. Jesus replied to him and said, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Because of His death and Resurrection, Aaron