Mengen people hungry for the truth
The Mengen church's roots are growing deeper and stronger, and spreading to new parts of the island.
The needs of this healthy growing Christian community are keeping Dave and Judy Wright, along with all the other missionaries working with the Mengen people, very busy. Nurturing the Mengen people takes all their energy, discernment and wisdom.
The missionaries often hike to strengthen the fledgling church plants on the north coast, and also in the home village in the middle of the island and the church plant to the south of them. Mengen missionaries there need mentoring, help establishing the new church and lots of support.
On the north coast, missionaries are teaching two evangelistic lessons per week. As well as teaching in Mengen, they also teach in Pidgin for non-Mengens. That's eight lessons a week. This group is “hungry for truth .... They are amazed that we will begin at Genesis and teach them to read the Bible so that they can see for themselves what is truth,” writes Dave. In the south, people are hearing three evangelistic lessons per week.
All the missionaries' efforts are bearing great fruits. Key Mengen families are internalizing God's Word and teaching it to their families and friends, and so the interest continues to grow.
At the central village, there is always a lot going on. Dave and Judy need to ensure that with all the busy evangelizing and church planting activity, the quality of teaching delivered is never compromised, and that all aspects of growth continue to be covered. This includes literacy, Bible teaching, teacher training and discipleship. This requires challenging the Mengen missionaries and Bible teachers to ensure these areas continue to be taught correctly.
All the doors that God has been opening require many new teachers, but God provides! He has inspired a new teaching technique streamlining Bible and literacy teaching, as well as teacher training into one unit so that new teachers can be raised up efficiently.
As well as working hard, missionaries also need to know when to pull back and let the Mengen people rise to meet new challenges. Dave and Judy will be doing this as they move their ministry to another location for a month, and let the Mengen people step up to their responsibilities.
In addition to all this spiritual work, the airstrip has been re-opened, and missionaries and Mengen people continue to hand-crush limestone to pave it. They are praying and believing for a compactor so they can finish the work.
Dave reflects on all the activity, and takes time to praise God. “It is an awesome privilege to see them in action and see a people prepared by God for the teaching of His Word.” Praise the Lord!
Are you also interested in helping build God's kingdom in a place it needs work from the ground up? Find opportunities in New Tribes Mission.