NTM - New Tribes Mission | Planting Tribal Churches

“Come out of the jungle and eat with us. We will cook you good food. Drink with us; we will give you good water.” Dao believer, Metokui, yelled out toward the tree line the words he learned from that morning’s Bible Class.

Missionary, Scott Phillips shouted alongside the believers, “Yes, come and sit and talk with us, because we have some good words we want to tell you! Let’s leave behind the spirit of anger and just sit and eat and talk together….you must be tired and hungry, aren’t you?”

This was the third time Scott and the Christian villagers spotted the tracks of hostile clan members looking to entice the believers out to fight with them. They saw the bushes move and knew some were sneaking close in hopes of shooting their arrows accurately.  One morning during the daily Bible Class, the hostile tribesmen crept within a few feet of those gathered at the schoolhouse and tauntingly banged their bows and arrows, then darted back into the jungle. The loud clanging startled those gathered to study God’s Word, causing them to rush into the corners of the building, away from the windows and possible flying arrows.

No one seemed to know what to do.

Scott walked to the side of the building and called out to the antagonists on behalf of his students and fellow believers, “We are gathered to listen to the Creator’s book, not to fight! You also should stop your fighting and join us in listening to God’s Book. It tells us not to harm each other but instead to love. Stop your warring and join us, or leave! Because we will not act against the words of the Creator and war with you!”

After a few moments of silence to see if there would be a reaction from those outside, Scott quietly finished the day’s lesson on Romans, which included the words; “For the commandments – are all summed up in this one commandment: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ For love does no wrong to anyone, so love satisfies all of God’s requirements.” - Romans 13:8-10

That day,  the hostile clans were more interested in letting them know they had been victorious in a village farther up the valley. But when word came of the three who died in battle, the Dao believers grieved those who had not yet had a chance to hear God’s message of love and redemption.

“So far, no attacks have taken place in any of the believing villages.” Scott added.  “The words of the Creator’s book and specifically the words written by Paul in Romans are being used by God not only to work for the preservation of the Dao souls but also the preservation of their bodies against the physical attacks of the hostile clans. It seems that up until now hate has been diffused by love.”

Pray for Scott and Jeanie Phillips as they work among the Dao people, for safety and wisdom. Pray that God will use the recent events to bring more Dao to salvation through the knowledge of Christ.