NTM - New Tribes Mission | Planting Tribal Churches

For obvious reasons I’ve recently been thinking a lot about the theme of thankfulness. There are so many things for which we are thankful: family, friends, health, our faith, our God, to name a few.

As I write this, you are especially on our minds. We are so thankful for your partnership in our ministry with New Tribes Bible Institute.

Without your prayers and your encouragement, I am convinced that we would not have the largest enrollment in the school’s history. Without your partnership we would not be sending more than 50% of our graduates to NTM’s Missionary Training Center (MTC) to prepare for ministries in tribal evangelism and church planting.

The truth is, without your involvement, there would be far fewer stories to tell like that of Stephen & Carolyn Crockett and Kendaya, one of the first believers in the Moi tribe in Indonesia.

The Crocketts took Kendaya out of his isolated tribal village to a town. While there, Kendaya experienced eating at a restaurant for the first time in his life. Before they ate, he was asked to give thanks for the meal.

It was a lengthy prayer, one that might cause you and me to shift in our seats and wonder if the food would still be warm when the prayer ended. (We all like our burger and fries warm, don’t we?) What do you think Kendaya said to God?

He told God how he had been away from his village for almost a month without knowing who had died, or what had happened; if their gardens were growing well, or what else could have happened in his absence.

Then he prayed that even though he is concerned, he is thankful that God sees, and He knows, and He has been watching over it all while Kendaya is gone. Therefore, he doesn’t have to worry.

One more thing that I’m most thankful for this Christmas season is that I can read of these events and know that we, and you, have had a part in making them happen. What a wonder that we all can be partners with God in taking the Good News to people who have never heard it. And it’s all because God gave Himself to us.

Cheryl and I thank you for your partnership and pray God’s richest blessings for you this Christmas season!

By the way, this will be Kendaya’s first Christmas. I wonder how he and his Moi brothers will celebrate

Derik and Sarah Grant (NTBI 2000 graduates) are in the thick of ministry. They and their partners, Scott & Jennie Phillips, have been teaching the Dao people of Indonesia for a number of months and in mid-August presented the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus."

It’s true! This is a true talk!" shouted Todopui, a Dao leader.

Others chimed in. "Jesus has done a very big thing for us," exclaimed Bedenadus.

"This really is a big and true talk!" said Wadamena.

Almost the entire group of Dao people who attended the lesson expressed faith. Some did it by jumping up and exclaiming, but most simply grinned ear-to-ear and listened to their brothers and sisters witness.

A number of weeks ago, Scott’s mother had to undergo a serious operation here in the States. They told the Daos attending the teaching that they had decided to stay in the tribe until they had finished the lessons because their message is the most important message the Daos will ever hear.

A few days later, a very important woman in the tribe died. Rather than take the customary 3-4 days to mourn her death, the Daos decided to continue with the teaching.

Voicing the sentiments of the group, one of the men said, “Was it not three days ago that Degapiyaa (Scott’s Dao name) told us of his mothers sickness ? Did they not tell us that this message was important enough that even if his own mothered died he would not leave us? Are he and his wife not still here at this very moment sitting among us and keeping their word to finish telling us the Creator’s talk ? We need to stay! We need to put God’s talk first. If it is a big enough message for Degapiyaa to stay it will also become a big message for us!”

On August 19th New Tribes Bible Institute began its fall semester. 98 freshmen have decided that the Word of God is important enough to give 2 years of their lives in an exhaustive study of its truths. Another 124 students (juniors and seniors) will complete their studies this year.

These young people are sacrificing a lot by putting God’s Word first: separation from family, delayed career goals, the financial cost of their education, just to name a few. Like the Dao people, their actions show that they have placed a high premium on understanding and following “God’s Talk”.

Pray for all of our Bible students, including those studying in our sister schools in Jackson, MI, England, Brazil, Mexico, Indonesia, Venezuela, Colombia, and Bolivia. Pray that they will persevere in their studies. Pray that they will understand God’s Word and incorporate its truths into their lives.

Pray for the first Dao believers; that they will continue to hunger for a deeper understanding of the scriptures. Pray that more of them will learn to read so they can grow in their faith.

Thank you for your part in the ministry of NTBI through your prayers and giving. We count it a privilege to partner with you. Together we are impacting the lives of the students and those whose lives they touch!

Yours for the Harvest

Bible and Missions Are One”.

Recently we received exciting news from 2 of our NTBI alumni. Another people group has been reached with the Gospel. The Tobo tribe of Papua New Guinea now has a small group of people who have placed their trust in Christ!

Chad and Janeene Mankins teamed up with Jason and Kellie Knapp in August of 2002 to begin language and culture study among the Tobo people. After more than 2 years of hard work they were ready to begin preparing Bible lessons.

All their hard work paid off a few weeks ago when the first phase of their teaching culminated with the story of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection.

In Their Own Words

How did the Tobo people respond to the Gospel? Here are a couple of quotes:

"I am so happy!" Welsen told Chad one morning. "Jesus spilled His blood for me. I believe and now I am going to heaven. I have eternal life!"

When Jason asked Alis why he had said, “Thank you Jesus.” His reply was, “Because Jesus died for me, and I believe, and now I’m not going to hell anymore.”

Chad asked Agabus what he was thinking after the lesson on Jesus’ resurrection. “I believe Jesus died for me, spilled His blood and saved me from the penalty for my sin,” he said. “I still have lots more questions, and I really want to talk more about these things.”

Building On A Firm Foundation

I wonder if the Mankins and the Knapps ever envisioned themselves giving birth to a church in a tribe that had never before heard the Good News of Jesus. They began the journey simply in 1987 and in 1996 respectively when they enrolled in New Tribes Bible Institute, here in Waukesha.

Click on photos to enlarge

As Cheryl and I walk the halls of the Bible Institute, as we share meals with our students, or join them in their social events, we sense below the surface of their fun-loving spirits, a seriousness to follow God’s leading – regardless of the hardships. In just a few short years  many of these young people will be risking their lives in remote corners of the world  sharing the “Bread of Life” with people who know nothing of Jesus.

What a privilege it is for us to be involved in preparing a new generation to take the Gospel to the "ends of the earth". What a joy it is for us to partner with you as you pray and give to our ministry! We sincerely thank you for standing with us.

Please continue to pray for the Mankins, the Knapps, and the Tobo believers. The work has just begun. These infant Christians have a lot to learn yet and the neighboring villages and tribes around them also need to hear the Good News.

Pray for our current students as well. They have a sincere desire to obey the Lord. They are earnestly seeking to know His will for their lives. The decisions they make here will have eternal consequences. There are still many churches waiting to be born!

To read more about the Tobo tribe, go to www.ntm.org/news/4583. There you will also find a number of related articles.

Have you ever wondered what we do when we’re not involved in ministry? Here’s a brief rundown of some of our activities over the past month:

We always enjoy visitors. During the first week of November 2 families visited us, one from a supporting church in Upper MI and another that lives in the area. It’s always nice to visit with friends.

We visited the Chiropractor several times, saw our family dentist for our semi-annual cleaning and our doctor for annual checkups. We’re so thankful to have good medical and dental care here.

On the second Sunday of every month we attend a support group meeting for those who serve our country. We have a pot-luck meal and then share what’s going on with our loved ones. We spend time praying for their needs and every few months put together and mail “care” packages to them.

Every other week we meet with a small group from our church. We study the scriptures, pray for one another and find mutual encouragement. This month we all volunteered as greeters for a church function.

There are always extra-curricular activities going on at the school. In the past couple months we had 2 evening coffee houses (we served at one). The staff squared off against the students in our annual “Turkey Bowl” football game. This year the students won by 3 points.

On December 2 we had our annual open house. The students decorate their dorms and the staff their homes.  Then we all visit one another, enjoying snacks and holiday drinks. A few days later, the school held a cookie bake. Our daughter-in-law, Carrie brought her daughter Seija. They had a great time.

Some dear friend of ours from West Bend, WI, gave us a gift of 2 season tickets to a local Christian theater group. We went to a performance of Little House on the Prairie a couple weeks ago. We took our 4 year-old granddaughter, Seija. She really enjoyed it.

We celebrated 3 birthdays this past month, our son-in-law and 2 grandchildren. Caleb and Carrie also celebrated their anniversary. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving celebration with Aimee’s and Caleb’s family. We sure missed Josh not being there. He should be able to be with us again next year.

Every 3rd year our church has Bethlehem Marketplace. The church’s gym is transformed into the streets of Bethlehem. This is the first year we have been here for the event. We took our grandkids on December 8th. Then on the 9th we dressed in costumes and acted the part of olive and nut vendors. On the 12th Cheryl was a greeter to the visitors as they finished their walk down the streets of Bethlehem. As many as 40,000 visitors are expected to experience Bethlehem Marketplace this year.

This will be the first year that we will volunteer as bell ringers for the well-known Christian aid organization. We are assigned to the “kettle” at the local Wal-Mart store. We’ll put on our long underwear and heavy coats and go for it. It should be fun!

On December 1 we had our first snow storm. We got 13 inches and the schools were closed. Our school didn’t close since all but a few of our students live on campus. It was a full 2 days before most of the roads were plowed. We’ve come to realize that the snow storms in Wisconsin are as much a nuisance as the hurricanes in Florida, but much lovelier.

In closing, we wish you a most blessed Christmas and pray that the coming year will draw you closer to our Savior. Thanks for your partnership in our ministry.

The fall semester ends 12/14.
STUDENTS:

• Pray that our students would persevere in their studies and assignments.
• Pray that they will stay focused in their classes
• Pray that they will continue to have a hunger for God’s Word.

STAFF:

• Pray for our teachers that they will be well prepared for their classes.
• Pray that they will communicate clearly.
• Pray that they will stay healthy.

It’s hard to believe that we are 11 weeks into the 15 week semester. The fall semester concludes on December 14. Here’s a list of  the course titles our students have already encountered since they began in August.

The freshmen have already completed Biblical Foundations, Hermeneutics 1, Bibliology, Pentateuch, Apologetics/Evangelism, and Job.

The sophomores finished Hermeneutics 2, Life of Christ, Theology, Anthropology/Hamartiology, Christology, Prophets, and Job.

The juniors finished courses in Song of Solomon/Ecclesiastes/Ruth, World Religions, Pneumatology, Soteriology, Angelology, Romans,
1 & 2 Peter, 2 Corinthians, and James/Jude.*

*(Note: We don’t have a senior class this semester since we only have a spring enrollment every other year.)

When we consider that most of our students also have jobs, we are amazed at how well they are doing.

However, it’s not all work! There have been a number of social activities this fall as well. Many went paintballing on a Saturday last month. There was a skate night the end of October. Our annual Carnival was held last Saturday. The proceeds are going to a missionary lady and her family in Mexico. Her husband was killed by a drunk driver a couple months ago.

Please pray that our students will finish the semester well. We can see that they are getting weary and are looking forward to the  holidays.

Pray that these courses will mean more to them than memorizing facts. Pray that God’s Word will change their lives and equip them for ministry.