NTM - New Tribes Mission | Planting Tribal Churches

Jesus was praying, Luke 9:18, on the road, Mark 8:27, in the region of Caesarea Philippi, Matthew 16:13, when his disciples joined Him and He asked this question. “Who do the crowds say that I am? So they answered and said, “John the Baptist, but some say Elijah; and others say that one of the old prophets has risen again.” Today we would hear some of the crowds singing the little song, “Jesus loves me this I know because the Bible tells me so,” for lack of anything else to say. Jesus was taking them deeper and more personal building a foundation to send them into all the world with the gospel so He asked, “But, who do you say that I am?” In John 14:9, Jesus asked this question of a disciple, “Have I been with you so long and yet you have not known me, Philip?” Jesus wants us to know who He is and what He is to all those that trust Him for salvation and dependence on Him. This question, “Who do men say that I am” comes in the context of Matthew 16 where Jesus is dealing with the Pharisees and Sadducees ideas about trusting God and not man. In verse 5 we see the disciples were worried about not having bread with them and in verse 6 we hear Jesus say, “Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” And the disciples reasoned among themselves, saying, “It is because we have taken no bread.” What in the world were they thinking? Then Jesus laid into His future missionaries with these words, “Oh you of little faith, why do you reason among yourselves because you have brought no bread? Do you not yet understand, or remember the five loaves of the five thousand and how many baskets you took up? Nor the seven loaves of the four thousand and how many baskets you took up? How is it you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread?” The Pharisees trust in works and doing all the right things man’s way, but Jesus wants them to understand the bread is no big deal with Him. If we can just remember as missionaries all the great things He has done in the past and keep our eyes on Him, He will supply the bread, wheat or the green stuff we call money to meet our needs. Question, who do you say Jesus is, could it be that we have been with Jesus so long and yet do not know who He is? As missionaries we need to remember and understand the loaves. When we do not understand the loaves we can become fearful in times of trouble, Mark 6:52 and begin to reason among ourselves and with ourselves things that are not true about Jesus and His word, Matthew 16:7.  Remembrance is the fuel that powers faith from the past to the heights of the future and things hoped for and not seen. Remember Jesus, the same yesterday, today and forever and the Savior of all those that believe the gospel message. Jack Housley

We asked you to pray for our Bena believers and God has heard your prayers, we had a great meeting today and encouraged them to get back to the business of the Lord. I am very happy with the out come knowing that these men are still just babes in Christ, needing the milk of the Word but also the tenderness of those that work with them. These seven men will be meeting together with Pete and me every two weeks for a time of fellowship, prayer and refreshment. They also will be having Sunday morning meetings and two or three teaching classes each week in different areas. Heti said, “They knew what was right but just had not been following what they had been taught”, sounds so much like a lot of us at times.

My soul burns with passion to see these believers grow into the body of Christ in ways that would glorify God on this mountain and in the valley below. Pete and I do not know the Bena language and Pigin is so limited in many ways. Knowing this, we take much comfort working hand in hand with the Holy Spirit who has no language limits even in this very difficult Bena talk place until our Bena missionary who knows the language returns. Keep praying, God can and will do mighty things for those who put their trust in Him who said, “Go ye, and I will be with you.”

Janie fed us rice and tin fish and we all left satisfied and excited about what God will do in the future. Over the years I have had many tribal men ask me to get them a missionary, one even wanted to buy a missionary from us. I realize one can not buy a missionary and the only ones that last are those that are sent from the hands of the Lord of the harvest into His harvest. What can God do with seven men? Jesus took twelve and turned the world up side down. His power has no limits known unto man, what He has done for others He will do for us that ask in Jesus’ name. PLEASE PRAY, what a tool in the hands of the Saints.

It was a sad day when Janie and the other missionary ladies decided we needed to send her out because the sickness had developed past our knowledge of what to do. As I picked her up in my arms she looked at me with fear of not knowing what lay ahead.

Walking her to the small plane, we laid her frail body behind the seat for the ride to the hospital. Could I ever forget those yellow eyes and the emotion of the moment that pulled deep with in my heart and made me feel so helpless?

We all wondered if things would go well with her and that question was answered a few weeks later when the plane carried her body back to be buried among the family she loved. This time it was not the warmness of a body I felt as we carried her but the cold lifeless black plastic bag of death.

These were the times that make me so pleased for all the hard work George and Bob had put into learning the language and planting a small church among these once wild people. Her husband would miss his wife and the children would miss their mother but this dear little lady would miss hell, she had believed the good news that had saved her soul.

May our God give each one of you the passion and heart to get the language that opens the door to preach the wonderful message of life to those God sends you to? How can they believe if they have not heard? How can they hear without a preacher? How can they preach if they are not sent? How can they hear if the preacher is not speaking their language?

Paul wraps it up so well, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things.” I am praying you will be that person with beautiful feet.

“If I could see I would help you,” he said as I went about working on the bush house we were building for the Ron Johnston family along a little wild river in PNG. That took place in 1977, many years ago but that voice and the vision of the young blind man still linger in my mind today. I think this is what keeps me motivated in this ministry of reaching out with the gospel. I can see and God has allowed me to see many things that feeds my soul and moves my heart to action.

At times, as I lay in bed late at night I feel like I am watching a movie as God brings memories from the past. A 12 year old boy I held in my arms plays before my mind often. Janie and I were living in a small village in the early days, just getting started in the work we dreamed about for years. The vision I have today seems so real, I can almost smell the drying skin burnt from the hot fever and feel the lifeless bones as his spirit leaves him for the unknown.

‘Leave him alone,” his family would say as he lay dying “he is already dead.” This is a bit different from what I heard at home before coming to the lonely jungle. “Leave them alone,” you would hear folk say. “They are happy the way they are.” Dying and dead, yes but not happy the way they are. If we could only see we would help more; pray that the Lord of the harvest would open our eyes to see God high and lifted up as Isaiah saw Him and let more of us say,” Here I am Lord, send me.”