Papua New Guinea: God’s Word Is Already Transforming Kuyu Hearts

Michael and Morgan LeBlanc minister among the Kuyu people of Papua New Guinea. Pray for them and their teammates as they do a final review of the 61 chronological Bible lessons before teaching begins November 30. “One of the most encouraging parts of these past few weeks has been hearing how God’s Word is already impacting the Kuyu men helping us review the lessons.” One of these men, Augustine, shared some profound truths that he learned from studying God’s Word. “As we prepare to begin teaching the broader Kuyu community, we’re praying that these same truths will take root in hearts, exposing generations of deeply held lies and replacing them with the truth of God’s Word.”

““I used to see it like this — God made everything and He is the big one, but I didn’t know who He was going to save. So, I would look at all my bad things and just try my best so that God chooses me. But now all these lessons have taught me that there is nothing that I can do.
Only Jesus can do it.”

”God’s Word is like a fire that is burning around the garden. And there are things that are trying to put out the fire, but God’s Word is still finding a way to burn. And now, today, the fire has found a giant heap of brush and is roaring like a wildfire.”
”

— Augustine of the Kuyu people

Asia Pacific: Hungry Hearts Await Gospel Teaching

Payton and Grace Downing minister among the Taliabo people of Asia Pacific. Recently, their friends, a believing couple named Matius and Milka, went back to Matius’ home village. While they were there, they met with local leaders to discuss the idea of doing an outreach in the village. The people in this village “have been wanting to hear the Creation to Christ teaching for a while now. … This is a wide-open door — although probably not without adversaries! Pray for a team of people here who are willing to devote time and energy to go.” Right now, there is only Matius and Milka, so they would need two other families to join them in this ministry. “Pray for the people’s hearts to remain hungry and not lose this desire.”

Papua New Guinea: Pray for More Missionaries

Pray for more missionaries to serve in Papua New Guinea (PNG). While PNG is our biggest field in terms of number of personnel and number of church planting works, the harvest is great, and there is still a need for many more workers. In support roles, there are positions in business/office management, education, IT, tech services and medicine that need to be filled. There are also several new and existing church planting works in need of more missionaries. Pray that God will direct people to these roles. Praise God that believers in PNG are serving in support roles and church planting roles to reach other people groups in PNG, and God’s Church is growing.

Papua New Guinea: Praise God for Internet Access that Enables Bible Translation

Chad and Janeene Mankins minister itinerantly to the Tobo people of Papua New Guinea. Praise God that Chad’s computer issues that we prayed about have been resolved. Chad and the IT team are working on the logistics to set up internet connection via satellite in Toboland. This will allow Chad to have more frequent face-to-face connection with the Tobo Bible teachers and other friends. Pray for the funds to buy and ship the equipment, funds for the monthly subscription and funds for Chad to fly to Toboland and get it set up in October. And pray for wisdom for Chad and his Tobo co-workers during this time in October as they “will be getting the rest of the Old Testament portions ready for the final consultant check in February, Lord willing!”

Papua New Guinea: World Cup Outreach Draws 150 to Bible Teaching

Will and Kelly Tallman minister itinerantly to the Kuman people of Papua New Guinea. The church had a unique outreach opportunity this summer: for several weeks, Will showed highlights from the World Cup on a projector outdoors, and during “halftime,” he and the Bible teachers taught the 150+ attendees Bible lessons from Creation to Christ. “Every night we taught, the crowd became more convinced of their need for a Redeemer. … Village leaders, who were previously hostile to our sharing God's Word, proclaimed this to be the true talk and that everyone needed to come and hear!” During the outreach, over 200 Bibles and Bible comics were sold.* This outreach was a big encouragement to the Kuman church. Will had to return to Ethnos360 Training Center where he teaches, and the Bible teachers are continuing the outreach in Kuman. Pray for wisdom and unity as they teach. Pray that God’s Word will be clear to the listeners and that they will put their trust in the Lord.

*Thanks to donors to the Kuman ministry, these Bibles and Bible comics (containing Bible stories and illustrations), along with evangelism books, are sold at a price affordable to the Kuman people.

Papua New Guinea: Pray for Anem Believers Teaching the Bible in Their Own Language

Josiah and Rachel Van Der Decker serve alongside the Mouk church, ministering to the Anem people of Papua New Guinea. “[T]he Anem Bible teachers-in-training have been teaching through [Genesis] on Sunday mornings, verse by verse, chapter by chapter. It’s the first time in their history as a people group that a portion of God’s Word has existed and been read aloud and taught, all in their own language. Now, they’re nearing the end of the book. Next up are some portions from Exodus … and other Old Testament passages that trace the redemption story.” Pray for the funds to print 150 hard copies of the Old Testament Scripture that has been translated so far “so that the Anem can hold in their hands every bit of Scripture that’s available in their language. … And while you’re at it, thank God for every bit of Scripture that you have available to you in your language!” 

Papua New Guinea: A New Brother, an Open Door, and a Hardened Heart

Adam and Julie Martin minister among the Akolet people of Papua New Guinea. Praise God for a new brother in Christ. A young man, after being taught Bible lessons every day for almost two months, put his trust in Jesus as his saviour. Praise God for Toni and Silio’s faithfulness to teach him. Pray for the young man to grow in his new relationship with the Lord. “Please pray for three others who are also hearing the evangelistic teaching right now!” Pray that they too would believe. And pray for “M,” a man who is likely nearing the end of his life. He has heard some of the Bible teaching but now has hardened his heart toward God and His Word.

Asia Pacific: First Chapters of Scripture Completed for the “B” People

Kathryn K ministers among the “B” people of Asia Pacific. Recently, the team had their first Bible translation check where a consultant helped check the “B” translation of the life of Joseph as told in Genesis 37-47 by asking the “B” translation helpers comprehension questions to determine whether the content has been translated in a way that they can clearly understand. “Praise the Lord, the check went well! And we now officially have the first chapters of Scripture in the ‘B’ language, consultant-checked and ready to format, print and give to our friends here! We are praising God for this milestone!”

Papua New Guinea: The Lamogai Receive God's Complete Word

Dave and Nancy Brunn minister among the Lamogai people of Papua New Guinea. “Last month the Lamogai people received the first copies of the complete Bible in their heart language, the Old and New Testaments in a single volume. It was a time of great celebration. … We had one celebration for the northern villages and another for the southern villages. Several hundred believers attended each celebration.” Praise God that He has given us His complete Word and that He enabled the translation team, over the course of many years, to translate all of Scripture into the Lamogai language. Pray that the Lamogai will treasure God’s Word, learn and grow from it. Also pray that they would take it to others who have not yet heard.

Papua New Guinea: Pray for the Next Generation of Church Leaders

Seth and Kaitlyn Sanford minister among the Konomala people of Papua New Guinea. Praise God for recent opportunities to record Bible teaching and share the gospel with both believers and unbelievers in the area. Pray that God’s Word would break through their confusion surrounding religion and speak to their hearts. Pray for the Sanfords and their Konomala brothers and sisters to avoid the temptation to live a “self-centered life apart from Jesus” and instead to grow together as they trust in the Lord each day. “Pray too for this season that we’re stepping into now. We have a chance to begin passing on the work of speaking truth and shepherding the church to Michael and Silas, the two faithful men in the church.”

Seventeen Maliyali Believers Publicly Declare Their Faith

Chad and Martha Earl, along with the Muellers and Trotts, minister among the Maliyali people of Papua New Guinea. We recently praised God for new Maliyali brothers and sisters in Christ. There is more good news. Praise God that 17 believers were baptized in June. The Earls share, “[T]he church made the 20 to 30-minute trek to our small, dug-out, muddy, creek-fed waterhole so that 17 new believers could publicly declare before the gathered church, the attending unbelievers and the unseen powers and authorities that they are on team Jesus! It was a sweet time as the current members welcomed them, and we all got to sit and thank God for making us one in Christ as we took communion together afterward.”