at the helm
introducing the leadership team of NTM Canada The Executive Leadership Team of New Tribes Mission of Canada was appointed in April 2010 to give guidance and vision to various departments facilitating the ministries of 216 Canadian NTM missionaries worldwide. They focus their ministry around five core goals: Care for missionaries, Connect with churches, Recruit relevant candidates, Retain cohesion with NTM entities worldwide, and Grow in relationships with other mission agencies. “As an organization we have stayed true to our objectives. I pray that we will stay true to our purpose, and that we will look for creative ways to expand that,” Peter Baker, Co-Director, 60, said. “The focus of our lives needs to be getting the gospel to those who have yet to hear.” “What drives me is a clear sense of God’s call in my life,” said Tim Whatley, Executive Director, 42, “and a conviction that it’s God’s heart to reach the world, and knowing that we have people that we need to stand behind
Tim gathers vocabulary from a Moi man to learn the language in 2000.
that are out in tribal locations, giving their lives.” Tim grew up in Indonesia from age 5 to 18, where his parents, Bonard and May, served as NTM missionaries in the Lauje tribe. “To see a people group come to know the Lord that had never had exposure to the gospel — that’s what challenged me into missions to begin with, seeing the change in their lives,” Tim said. Tim and his wife, Kathy, with young children, Brandt and Tyler, helped establish NTM in the Indonesian province of Papua. In 2000 the Whatleys, with their third child, Alyssa, moved into the Moi tribe as church planters. “Seeing their complete lostness, and the change the gospel makes, it takes them from total fear to a hope and peace. To see the transformation — that has given me a passion for what we are doing,” Tim said. The Whatleys left the tribe in 2004 due to health issues. In the town of Sentani, Tim was able to fill a need in the field leadership team and in 2008 was appointed Field Co-Chairman. “Being involved in leadership in Indonesia has given me a better understanding of working with missionaries, as well as working with the politics of a developing country,” Tim said. The Whatleys traveled to Canada in 2009 for home assignment and were asked to stay and join the Leadership Team. “I am most encouraged when anybody gets really excited about tribal evangelism,” Tim said. Edwin Esau, Director of Personnel, 53, feels the same way. He began training students at NTMC with his wife, Annette, in 1984. For twenty years, Edwin facilitated the students’ afternoon work program and headed up the campus maintenance department. He mentored and taught many students along the way. “Whether it’s practical or spiritual, to be able to help the missionary candidates is a real highlight for me,” Edwin said. In 2005 the Esaus moved to Steinbach, Manitoba to focus on a new area of ministry with NTM. They served missionaries on home assignment, and spoke about tribal church planting work at Bible schools, missions conferences and churches.
Edwin visiting missionary Donavan Epp in the Agta tribe, Philippines, in 2010.
During the next five years, Edwin also taught at his home church, Christian Fellowship Church, and served on the missions committee and the Elder Board. His home-front experience is crucial to the team’s long-term goal to get churches involved in a more meaningful way. “To interact with believers on a church level, to experience a different style of leadership, to work with a totally different group of guys, that just broadened my whole perspective of leadership. That last five years probably was as much a part of preparing me as the first 20,” Edwin said. Edwin moved back to Durham in April of 2010 to join the leadership team and head up the personnel department. The Esaus have two grown children. Eric and wife, Jessica, with their daughter, will soon be joining the Property Maintenance Team for the Durham campus. Stephanie, with husband Brad Wolfe, hope to someday go through the missions training program. “It’s every day, that dependence on the Lord, the encouragement from the Word … that’s what drives me and that’s what encourages me. To spend that time with Him and look to Him for what He has, being able to commit things to Him,” Edwin said. Peter agrees that God is the reason he is still in ministry. “My life purpose is to know God and to help others know him. That keeps me going,” he said. Peter and his wife Kathy in 1978 joined Paul and Oreta Burnham in the Ibaloi tribe in the Philippines where they taught and ministered for 11 years. Today, there are 15 full-time Ibaloi church workers. “We feel so incredibly blessed to actually have been able to go out there and affect a people group,” Peter said. “Watching God change lives has deeply, profoundly affected me, and I will never be the same. That’s a privilege.” Peter also served six years as Philippines Field Chairman. He recalls visiting some missionaries to iron out a communication
and trust problem. “Coming to them and asking them for input in the decisionmaking, asking them for help in rightly communicating, I think that taught me something out there that also will apply here,” Peter said. “That leadership is not just directing-- there is some of that at times -- but it’s listening and it’s genuinely caring. I believe that’s the heart of a leader.” In addition to leadership responsibilities, Peter also teaches NTMC missionary candidates on subjects such as Animism and Cross-Cultural Communication. “The students really want to know and hear from those who have been out there and have had some experience,” Peter said. “It’s been very rewarding to bring that experience into the classroom.” The Bakers have three grown children who are all believers, Sarah married to Jeff Boettger, with daughter Ava and a son on the way; Shane and wife, Chantale; and David and wife, Lindsey. The team asks for prayer for wisdom. “Pray that we would be wise servant leaders, that people would know that we care for them, and that we would be a leadership team that aggressively pursues God’s wisdom and be open to God opening up new doors and leading us forward,” Peter said. “And come visit us,” Tim added. “With chocolates.” by Elaine Yoon, missionary in training
Peter with Ibaloi people in 1987, using the Firm Foundations chronological approach.
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