Luke and Tina Griffin connecting you to tribal missions Old Shoes
Francisco, a believer in Paraguay, recently shared his testimony of God’s wonderful supply of his needs. And his story focused on shoes.
“I was born into a family of ten children. We were not believers and we were very poor. I walked six kilometers (about 3.5 miles) to school. To save money, I would cut my paper into four pieces and copy everything the teacher wrote on the blackboard in letters as small as an ant might write. I used each pencil until it was so small that I could not hold it anymore. I would study by firelight at night,” Francisco began.
He shared that then he became a believer. He left the family farm to continue his studies. He wanted to be a teacher.
“I was also growing in the Lord and the brothers would help me,” Francisco continues. Local believers would allow him to sleep in the chapel. He would sleep on a pew and wrap himself in curtains to stay warm, carefully putting the curtains back in their proper place in the morning.
One day, these believers asked him to share a message with them from God’s Word. Francisco wanted very much to do this. But he felt there was one big obstacle: his shoes.
“I wanted so badly to share from the Word of God, but then I looked down at my shoes and I felt I could not. I only had one pair and I had sewed and glued them many times … my toes were poking way out of the front of the shoes.”
Francisco knew of only one thing to do. He prayed. “Lord, You know how I want to preach for You,” he cried. “But how could I dishonor You by wearing these shoes?”
All night Francisco prayed and asked God to give him shoes. He reminded God that he hardly had money for food and that he truly had none for shoes.
That very week God answered dramatically. “A friend I had lent money to a long time before sent me a pair of shoes from halfway across the country!” And, Francisco says, God went beyond what he had asked. He also gave him two additional pairs from other sources.
“When I stood up in front of everyone that Sunday, I said, ‘Brothers and sisters, we have a good God Who gives good things to His people. Make sure you are asking for what you need, and asking in faith!’”
Since that time, God has continued to bless and use Francisco. He is now a teacher in a Christian school, teaching science and the Gospel to a student body that is made up of mostly unbelievers. Missionary Elijah Hall shares, “Francisco is active in the local church, and he and his sweet wife are expecting their first child. We are blessed to call them family in the Lord.”
Pray for Francisco and his wife as they long to shine brightly for Christ. Pray that God will continue to bless them and provide for them and that the power of their testimony will touch many hearts
10,000 teens hear the Hollywood Exposed message
Sharing the Hollywood Exposed presentation at Young Christians' Weekend in Branson, MO.
I had an excellent time speaking @ the Young Christians’ Weekend @ Silver Dollar City in Branson, MO. this past weekend. So many teens wanting to grow in their relationship with the Lord and ride roller coasters of course! The Museum opened all three main stage events followed by a 40 minute media/pop-culture presentation and then Chris August performed right after I closed. It was so surreal. So many teens came up to me afterwards to pour their heart out as to the struggles they are dealing with in life…some life-threatening. Luke and I are calling three teens in particular this week to share God’s truth and listen…
Teens loved grabbing a SELF CONTROL shirt on our new T-shirt line.
I’ve have this dream of speaking to 100,000 teens at once in some large stadium and this was such a neat glimpse of what’s to come. I have so much hope for our future generation and I’m so happy God gave me the ministry I’m in…I LOVE teaching TRUTH!
Challenging teens to consider becoming missionaries
Luke sharing his passion for missions with teens
Luke and I had an excellent time sharing how God is using us and our crazy backgrounds/experience with teens who visited the Missionary Training Center last week. Our goal was to inform teens that no matter what passion or talents they possess, God can use those gifts through expanding the Gospel throughout the world. We never thought we’d fit in with the New Tribes Family, but boy were we wrong!
Everyone is a missionary no matter what they are doing in today’s society. We all have a calling to share Christ to the lost. We had such a great time sharing our lives and how we got to where we are today. The teens that visited from New Mexico were challenged to consider serving God through NTM and using their gifts to make a difference in our world. An eternal difference.
Blood Clot Scare – need prayer for healing
For those of you that haven’t heard, I (Tina) had a major scare last week Tuesday when I woke up at 5 am and was unable to move my left leg let alone walk on it. I had a vericose vein treatment done a week prior and throughout the healing process my leg kept getting more sore to the touch. Long story short, it was to the point where my pants touching my leg gave me unbearable pain. I knew something was wrong and I had many symptoms pointing to a major blood clot in my thigh. Luke took me to the ER and after much confusion on the doctors at the hospital it went from me having a life threatening blood clot and being admitted to the hospital to getting a shot in the stomach along with drugs that wouldn’t allow me to continue nursing my 5 week old daughter Eden, to finding out I had phlebitis. It was a pretty close second as to the pain of natural child birth. Please pray that my leg will continue to heal. I can finally walk on it again after 4 days of limping throughout the house. Thank you!
Trusts for Surviving Spouse
During the last year I have been studying about wills and trusts and though those of you that are married could benefit from some of this information. If you would like to read more or want to look for other topics in this arena please go HERE.
We also have a cutting edge online will planner that will walk you through the process step by step. This is a free service that we are happy to offer.
There are three different basic types of trusts for a surviving spouse: a qualified terminable interest property trust (QTIP), a qualified domestic trust (QDOT) or a charitable remainder trust (CRT). All three of these trusts may qualify for the marital deduction. However, there are many specific reasons for choosing one of these three trust types.
QTIP Trust
The QTIP trust is the most common marital deduction trust.
There are four basic rules for the QTIP trust:
- All income must be paid to the surviving spouse.
- The surviving spouse may require the trustee to invest in assets that produce income.
- The principal may be invaded only for the benefit of the surviving spouse.
- The trust remainder will be distributed to the beneficiaries designated under the will of the first to pass away.
A QTIP trust is excellent for protecting the children of a first marriage. The trust can benefit the surviving spouse and then will be transferred to those children.
Example – Jane Lost Everything But Betty Was Protected
Joe and Jane were married and had two children. On Saturday evenings, they often went to dinner with their friends Bill and Betty.
Joe passed away first and had a simple will. He left his estate outright to Jane. It qualified for the estate marital deduction so there was no estate tax.
Subsequently, Jane married John Speculator. John was involved in a Brazilian gold mining adventure. The entire estate of Jane was soon invested far south of the border, never to return. Jane and her children lost everything.
Bill and Betty decided to protect their estate. Bill created a QTIP trust for his half of the estate. When Bill passed away, Betty was the beneficiary of the QTIP trust. After a few years, she married Sam Speculator. While Sam was involved in the Brazilian gold mining adventure, the QTIP created by Bill provided income and protection for Betty for her lifetime. In addition, the QTIP principal was protected.
QTIP Powers and Election
There are several powers that are permitted for a QTIP. First, the required provisions are that the income be paid to the surviving spouse and principal can be invaded only for the surviving spouse. However, the trustee may choose to transfer the greater of 5% of trust assets or $5,000 each year to the surviving spouse. In addition, it is permitted to allow the surviving spouse to appoint the remainder. If the surviving spouse holds the power to appoint, he or she can direct the trust to children from the first marriage, but also could give trust assets to other persons.
A QTIP must be elected on the Form 706 Federal Estate Tax Return. It is also possible to make a partial QTIP election and to create a transfer of the balance that is taxable in the first estate. The benefit of this plan is that this amount will be tax free to family in the second estate.
QDOT Trusts
If a spouse is not a U.S. citizen, then a transfer will not qualify for the federal marital deduction. In this case it is possible to create a qualified domestic trust (QDOT).
With a QDOT, the surviving spouse will receive all income. There must be at least one trustee that is a U.S. citizen or corporation. If the surviving spouse receives distributions of principal, those will be subject to estate tax, with one exception. There is a “hardship” exception that may allow tax-free principal distributions for emergency medical care or other extraordinary circumstances.
If the surviving spouse desires to qualify for the regular marital deduction, he or she may become a U.S. citizen prior to the date for filing the federal Form 706 Estate Tax Return.
Charitable Remainder Trust (CRT)
The third option for a qualified marital deduction trust is a charitable remainder trust. The trust may be created as a two-life agreement during the joint lifetimes of the spouses or it could be created in a will or living trust to benefit the surviving spouse.
There are two different payout options for this CRT. A standard CRT pays 5% or more each year to the surviving spouse. This payout is made from income and, if necessary, from trust principal. An attractive benefit of a CRT is that it may grow tax free during the life of the surviving spouse.
Part of the CRT payments may be distributed at the lower capital gain rates. Finally, because the assets are stepped up to fair market value in the estate, the potential exists to invest in municipal bonds and pay out tax-free income to the spouse.
A second payout method is a net-income-plus-makeup unitrust.
This trust method can enable the principal to be invested for growth rather than income. Because the growth inside the trust is tax free, the surviving spouse may dramatically lower income taxes if he or she does not need the income. Rather than taking the full CRT payout and paying income tax, the spouse permits the trustee to invest for growth for his or her lifetime. If income is needed at a higher level later in life, the trustee may reinvest for income and pay the regular income plus make up the prior shortfall.
With a CRT, after the surviving spouse passes away the remainder is distributed to qualified exempt charities. The charities may be designated by the first spouse to pass away, or a power can be given to the surviving spouse to designate the charities.
IS THE WALL CROOKED OR IS THE LINE BROKEN?
This week, with no formal Bible teaching sessions, the Mwinika people have had time to think about and talk about the choice that Bible teaching has presented for them.
Taking time to think about what they've seen and heard.
“Since the beginning they have been telling us (both major religious groups) that what we are teaching is just the same as what they believe,” wrote Phil and Elin Henderson, “but now they cannot avoid realizing that there are some serious differences.
“We have been telling them all along that God’s Word is like a plumb line with which we measure all other things. Everyone has been saying that their religion’s wall was built using the plumb line of God’s Word and now we have taken the plumb line, held it against the wall and the disparity is clear for all to see.
“Now they are left with a choice. They can either say ‘Hey, my wall is crooked’ or ‘Hey, this plumb line must be broken.’”
Some have decided that they will trust God’s Word. Others have yet to make a choice. As a result, Phil and Elin have been having numerous conversations with people about the Bible teaching. And people are using media players to catch up with lessons they missed.
Soon, however, Phil and Elin will put away the old lessons. Some people who never came to the “live” teaching have been listening to older lessons because the teaching has become “the talk of the town” and they want to know what they missed.
“Those who want to hear will have to ask those who understand the message already or will have to wait for the next time we do the teaching,” Phil and Elin wrote. “We keep saying that God gives the job of telling others the Good News to people and not to media players. … Now there are people who know the Good News in the community so if people want to learn about the teaching they should go and ask those who know about it.”
After a five-week break from Bible teaching, teaching will resume one day a week.
Pray for steadfastness and boldness for those who have believed. Pray that those who have not yet believed will place their faith in Christ.
To Grip God’s Word
Not many tribal people have the Old Testament translated in their own language, but the Kuna people of Panama are about to join the fortunate few.
The Kuna Old Testament translation is nearing completion, scheduled to be delivered in 2013. The Bible translators are a team of mother-tongue Kuna believers with Keith and Wilma Forster, Wycliffe missionaries overseeing the work.
NTM missionaries Jerry and Joyce McDaniels, serving among the Kunas, are excited to see the goal in sight.
God's Word in the Kuna Language
“Just think of it!” they wrote. “Soon our Kuna friends will be able to read the Psalms and all those wonderful Old Testament books in their own language for the first time!”
But illiteracy threatens to keep the scriptures out of reach for many Kuna people. Even among those who can read, many cannot read well.
So, in partnership with the Kunas, the McDaniels developed a literacy program — a series of student books, writing practice, comprehension drills, flash cards, homework papers and teacher’s daily lesson guide.
It’s designed in the hope that the Kunas will grip God’s Word in their hearts and not just their hands.
The Lord is certainly preparing the way for His Word.
Trial copies of Scripture portions, given or sold at print cost, were quickly taken.
And as news of the Kuna literacy program spread, many people who were not interested in hearing Bible teaching expressed a desire for learning to read and write their own language.
No Ordinary Dao Marriage
The Dao people of Indonesia do not mark time as we here in the USA do. Most of them do not know how old they are or what time of day it is. Most do not have watches or other paraphernalia that we use to mark time.
Another difference that missionaries Scott and Jennie Phillips have noted is that their young girls are given in marriage at a very early age – though exactly what age that is no one can say.
Recently a young girl named Paipedeo was given to a man named Pisangkaba. There was something different about this ceremony. For the first time the men of the village stood and shouted spiritual challenges to the new husband.
“Paipadeo is no ordinary Dao girl,” Paatoma shouted. “And you must be careful how you treat her and what you say to her,” Paatoma spoke out in a strong voice as he looked Pisangkaba straight in the eyes. “She is one that has become a child of the Creator. She has learned how to read and write and she reads God’s book every day because she knows it is the food for her soul.”
Then her father Apiyaawogi spoke to the young groom. “Other young believing women from the village have been given away in recent times also and when they were taken to other villages, their new husbands after seeing them reading God’s book daily became angry because they haven’t yet had teaching in their village and don’t yet understand what exactly those books are. We heard that they took the books and threw them in the fire as they yelled, ‘What are you doing spending all your time starring at that book? Make me a new string bag! Cook me a sweet potato!’”
Another believer told Pisangkaba that he should listen to his wife as she read the Scriptures and sing with her when she worshipped the Lord.
After the charges by the believing men were finished, many believers gathered around the couple and prayed for them, committing their marriage to the Creator.
Paipadeo will very likely be the only believing woman in her village. Pray that she will continue to faithfully read God’s Word and that she will be an example of living faith to her husband and to the others in the village.
3,000 New Testaments reach the Yagaria tribe!
The last 2 weeks have been rather nuts with all of the travel and training – Kansas City to San Diego to Orlando to Kansas City. The thing that motivates and excites me is when I read and see stories like the following. All the hard work is definitely worth it!
Recently missionaries Carol and Chuck Kaptain traveled back to Papua New Guinea to attend the presentation ceremony for the revised Bible translation Carol worked so hard to complete. She was to be honored for her many years of service and work on the translation. They were celebrating the arrival of 3,000 copies of the newly revised New Testament in the Yagaria language. Believers from more than 70 churches……
Click here to read the rest of the story and watch their celebration ceremony.
Diagnosis: Spirits
“The diagnosis and prescription were not what you would have heard in most hospitals.” A Prai couple’s 9-month-old baby became seriously ill. He was listless and would not eat. So they took him to the hospital. There, the doctor examined him and could not find the cause of the baby’s illness. “It must be….
As I flipped through the New Tribes website, I am struck by how much I take the light we live in for granted. Let me explain. While there are some in our country that focus heavily on spirits and their control, the majority of us do not think or dwell on their affect on a daily bases. We go about our lives looking at events logically, some more so than others, not because we are smarter but because we have been blesses to live in a country that has progresses more rapidly than others. This is primarily due to the grip that evil and Satan has had on these people groups for such a long time. Not only does this grip affect their economic status but it affects their moment by moment outlook on life. Their life is griped by fear of the consequences if they do not obey the Spirits. In spite of this these people are still coming to faith in Christ. Lets commit to pray for these new believers as they wrestle with these new truths.
