He is
my rock
Jun-Li had enough! His mother suffered from dementia and he spent a lot of money buying sacrifices for the spirits and a long time away from home searching for a shaman who could heal – all to no avail. One day in a distant village a man pulled out a Christian songbook and showed it to Jun-Li, who decided immediately to ‘become a Christian’. He tore a page out of the songbook, took it home, and told his family they would no longer sacrifice to the spirits. Not knowing anything about God, Jesus Christ or salvation they called themselves ‘Christians’ and continued to sing their song. Needing money to provide a good education for his children, Jun-Li started selling opium but was caught and sent to jail – twice. His second sentence was 14 years. Life became very difficult for his wife and young children as they, without him, laboured in the fields to provide food. But God was watching. During those difficult years three NTM missionary families moved into the village, learned the language, and carefully taught God’s Word. Jun-Li’s family became believers, and a church was established. God was also at work in prison: Jun-Li met true Christians and was saved. In 2007, having served nine years, he returned to his family. ... continued on last page
W
hen Jesus Christ said “I will build my church” it was more promise than prediction. Through the centuries He has been faithful to “seek and save the lost” but He also seeks believers who will faithfully serve Him. In our story, Jun-Li was saved through the prison ministry of some non-NTM believers while God arranged for NTM missionaries to share the Gospel with his family. God is building His church, and you can be a part!
his thankfulness was evident as he emptied his heart out long and hard to his Lord.
Photo by Denise Herrick
Looking back on
His faithfullness
C
hange is not always easy, but God is always faithful! As these dear folks face changes in their ministries, they recall God’s faithfulness.
Ray and Carol Jones have served at NTMC’s Office and Missionary Training Centre for 32 years. They have experienced the Lord’s faithfulness in seeing Him meet every need as people walked by faith. Teaching New Testament church principles was an absolute delight for Ray, as well as serving on NTMC’s leadership committee, seeking the Lord’s wisdom in serving missionaries around the world. Despite her sickness, Carol has been a tremendous blessing and encouragement to many students.
grads of 2010
As Barry and Christine Challinor served the Lord with NTM in England, Papua New Guinea and Canada, God has proven Himself faithful time and time again. He graciously led them to each ministry and provided for them. They fondly recall their training in the U.S.A. and how exposure to American culture prepared them for serving overseas with families from many diverse cultures. One of the greatest highlights for both couples has been people: welcoming strangers into the training and then becoming firm friends. Barry and Christine feel as though they have adopted kids all around the world.
Having served at NTM’s Canadian Office and Training Centre for many years, Barry and Christine (back row) and Ray and Carol (front row) are moving on to new ministries.
Looking to the future, Ray and Carol will continue his teaching ministry in churches and at mission conferences, while Barry and Christine are headed to NTM’s Bible and Missionary Training Centre in England. They thank the Lord for His grace and faithfulness in allowing them to be a part of what He is doing in and through the lives of others. We thank you, Ray & Carol and Barry & Christine, for your faithfulness in ministry these many years. By DeAnna Musgrove
Photo by Carly Gardiner
GPS...find your place in missions
r u o Y s i t . a s e s r e G n l u f 3 h t i a f s 3:22-2 tion a t n e m La
Jungle Camp O p e n
H o u s e
Saturday, July 3rd, 9am-5pm Sunday, July 4th, 1pm-5pm To many visitors, Jungle Camp is survival training. In reality, Jungle Camp is about planning ahead. And while students are learning to survive without modern conveniences, many more aspects come into play. Jungle Camp is a 6-week class and part of the 2-year Missionary Training Course.
Come see for yourself!
Missing word Missing concept
W
ords have meaning within a culture; people talk of things that they have in their environment, or at least of things of which they are familiar. In Canada we have words for the many different kinds of apples that are grown here: Macintosh, Ida Red, Granny Smith, etc. But we only have one word for banana. In some tropical areas however they have different words for the different kinds of bananas that grow there. One store in Panama offered two different kinds of apples: “red” and “green”. If tribal cultures have words for things that exist in their immediate environment, how then do they describe abstract ideas? Faithfulness is not something one can lay hands on; it is a character trait. And if they have no word for that abstract thought how does a translator communicate that thought to them? The most common solution is to use a descriptive phrase: “God is faithful” can be translated “God does what He says” or “God is one whom you can lean upon”. The statement in Hebrews 3:2 that “Moses was faithful” can be translated, “Moses obeyed God’s command without wavering” or “Moses obeyed God and did not quit”.
l
faith·fu
uhl]
[feyth-f
perfore e v h i t t c n e i j gh r. –ad r thorou faithful worke o t c i r t :a 1. s , of duty e c romises n p a , m d r o w to one’s e u r t . 2 ction; . e c t ff e a , r s o w ce vo allegian ful friends. n i y d a ith 3. ste stant: fa believed. n o c ; l a loy sted, or u r t , e l b 4. relia dictionar
y.com
millions unreached...none unreachable
faithfully prepared God
got a hold of both our lives very early on. It was at the age of eight that the Lord challenged each of us into tribal missions. Growing up in Indonesia, I was blessed to see first hand how God transformed a remote tribal people, the Lauje, into a thriving church. My wife Kathy was challenged at a VBS and then again at a Word of Life Missions Conference before training as a nurse with a desire to serve God overseas. In January 1998, we moved to Indonesia and, along with a team, had the privilage of opening NTM’s first tribal work in Irian Jaya — the untouched Moi (who are featured in NTM’s new film Awayo www.ntm.org/video). At the end of our first three years in the jungle, Kathy became ill and spent most of the next year bed-ridden. We thought we were taking a temporary leave from tribal ministry, but when the field chairman unexpectedly died, my involvement with field leadership suddenly became full-time. God faithfully used the following seven years on field leadership, seeing the field grow and new areas opened, to prepare us for what was then unknown. Last summer we came back to Canada anticipating a normal home assignment. With the retirement of Ray Jones from leadership, the Board of Directors asked me to head up a new Leadership Team for New Tribes Mission of Canada. As the Lord has continued to call us from one leadership team to another, our heart has always been for tribal people, drawn to those who have no way of hearing of Jesus Christ apart from someone willing to go and tell them. We really appreciate your prayers for us through this time of transition, particularly for our kids. For Brant (14), Tyler (12), and Alyssa (10), Indonesia has always been home. Our heart is to see Canadian co-labourers raised up, and to always be alert — ready to obey and follow the Lord wherever He leads.
Photo by Amy Collins L-R: Brant, Kathy, Alyssa, Tim, Tyler
... continued from front page
But God Intervened Jun-Li and his family are now part of the more than 150 believers in the village who together sit under good Bible teaching every Sunday and have also begun Bible teaching in neighbouring villages. During a return visit to the village, a missionary heard Jun-Li close the Sunday meeting in prayer. It was no quick benediction, no hurry-up-so-we-can-eat-lunch prayer. Not for Jun-Li; his thankfulness was evident as he emptied his heart out long and hard to his Lord Jesus Christ, who had brought true healing to his family. By Barry Richards with Frank Vander Meulen
By Tim Whatley
New Tribes Mission of Canada PO Box 707 Durham, ON N0G 1R0 519.369.2622 To (un)subscribe to GPS, call our office or write to info@canada.ntm.org
GPS...find your place in missions