The Gospel is winning over folk tales
“Don’t ever gather together when outsiders call you to!” the Brooke's Point Palawano forefathers warned. “They might burn you, too!”
It probably happened during the Spanish occupation, missionary Elise Long says. It’s about an old Palawano story that has been passed down from generation to generation.
Apparently, a group of Palawanos was lured into a big house with the promise of food and clothing. Promptly after they entered the place for this gathering, the house was set on fire. Tragically, this group of Palawano people were said to all have been burned alive.
So, the missionaries learned, there is a reason behind the reluctance of some of the Palawano people to gather to hear the Bible teaching recently started in Genesis.
But ten years have been invested in laying the foundation for Bible teaching with the Palawano people; ten years of being immersed in the culture, of relationship building, of language study and diligent literacy work.
And God is faithful to use this preparation and the power of His Word to change deeply ingrained ideas and dissolve old fears. Through translation work and literacy classes, God’s Word has already worked powerfully in some Palawano lives.
Elise says that Testito, one of the language helpers, recently declared joyfully, “You can burn me alive if you want to! I’ll still follow Empo (God). I’ll follow Him ‘til I die!”
Elise will be relocating soon to another village two hours’ walk downriver. Her co-workers, Dave and Julie Ward, will continue the Firm Foundations chronological Bible teaching recently begun. Elise will make the hike to return there once a week while she begins her new ministry in a new place.
The goal, Elise shares, is to “see a vibrant Palawano church of disciple-making believers, a transformed community equipped to reach out and share the Gospel.”
Elise says that “soaking up the truth of God’s Word” is the remedy for the fear and distrust that springs from traditions and stories passed down from the Palowano forefathers. “It’s wonderful to be sharing life with my Palowano friends, and more importantly, to be sharing the Word of Life with them!”
Pray for Elise Long and her ministry in the Philippines. Pray that God will protect her and continue to mightily use her for His glory in furthering the spread of the Gospel to the Palawano people.