Siar carefully weighing what Lane is saying.

There are days when we wonder “What in the world is going on that really matters?” Find yourself there recently? Well today…could we be so bold as to suggest something that God is completely thrilled with? If He was only able to be in one place at a time (and we know that is not true), He would have been in a small village in Papua New Guinea. There, for the first time in their history, the Siar people heard about the resurrection of God’s Son, Jesus Christ and the forgiveness of sins that God offers as a result of their faith in Christ. We spoke with Lane this morning by phone in our chapel time. Our students were eagerly awaiting his report of how the Gospel presentation went. You see we have been praying for the team all week…in fact ever since the teaching began July 4. Lane and Kari, Chris and Erin and Jonathan and Melissa have been preparing for this day for years, learning the Siar language and culture. We know their hearts have soared heavenward with praise as a result of what God has now done in their midst. The Siar church has been born. Lane reported that already, about 20 Siar have given clear testimony of their individual faith in Christ in just the few hours since the teaching. There are many more to talk with in the coming days. 

How we praise the Lord for our new Siar brothers and sisters in the Lord. We know there are multitudes of angels watching, wondering and amazed at what has gone on in the jungle of PNG this week. As well there are multitudes of saints giving God glory! Last night in prison, our “flock” was praying and thanking God already for what He would do. What an amazing God we serve! Thank you for your prayers for us as we train more believers to go to the remaining 2,500 tribes. We thank God at every remembrance of you.

“Great are the works of the Lord; they are studied by all who delight in them.” Psalm 111.2

VanderDeckers sharing about PNG

Last Friday night we were blessed to host about 35 people who came to visit with the Peter VanderDecker family from Papua New Guinea. They have been working with the Kaulong people for several years and finally taught them the Gospel in 2005. What a joy to hear their story and see so many of our students interested in what God has done in that people group. Kaulong believers are now shepherding the church while Peter and Pam are home reporting on the work. One of the VanderDecker’s biggest prayer requests is that God will use them and their 5 children to raise up more missionaries as they travel throughout the US. They are in Jackson for their oldest son Josiah’s graduation from NTBI. It will be sad to see him go, yet his brother Jotham is beginning in August. What an encouragement to see God moving in the hearts of their children to continue in His work of making God known. Please join us in praying for the entire VanderDecker family. And if you would, please pray for a good enrollment for NTBI in August. Applications are coming in…we have room for many more. Thanks!

Start well...finish well!

After giving out a few prizes, the grand prize being a whole semester’s worth of textbooks, Rex Gutwein welcomed the entire student body back tonight at the semester kickoff. He challenged them to take be taking their time at NTBI seriously. It is a common comment by upper classmen and women, that the time really flies by and they should have been more focused on the important while here at NTBI.

Dan Falls followed Rex with an admonition to start well and finish well, quoting no other than the Apostle Paul several times.  Tomorrow is the first day of class…the freshmen will be adjusting for the next few days. The returning students will get back in the swing of things rather easily and are quite excited to be able to study the Word full time again. Your prayers for both groups and for us the staff are very much appreciated! Thank you for praying.

Here’s a short clip of one of the highlights from yesterday’s Graduation at NTBI Jackson. It was another uplifting ceremony focused on what the Lord has done in the lives of those who study His Word for two years.

Merry Christmas to all and Congratulations Seniors!