Cursed yet blessed
Mengen believers in Papua New Guinea are standing strong in the face of persecution and God is blessing.
Recently a young pregnant woman was cursed by some Mengen unbelievers. One told her she would have a terribly long and painful birth;another said her children would die. The believers are face similar threats and curses daily.
The day she gave birth her labor was short and easy and the baby was fine and healthy. The tiny baby was a victory for Jesus, showing that God is stronger than the evil ones. Persevering through persecution is paying off.
Another Mengen believer, Kariang, reported on how God blessed her in the midst of persecution. A shaman told her if she continued to follow the path of Jesus her children would be cursed and die. This is very frightening to the Mengens because they have lived in fear of the spirits for many years.
But Kariang and her family decided they would not give up their new-found faith, but would continue coming to the teaching. Then she also chose to follow the Lord in believer’s baptism. The family stood up to the threats and God protected them.
The believers have been learning about showing mercy to those who hate them. So when a dentist and doctor came to minister in the village for a short time, they invited the man who had cursed Kariang to come.
"He then came and got some great help from both the dentist and doctor," wrote missionary Lourens Laureti. "It seems that God’s mercy touched his heart and he returned to this lady and apologized for cursing her. He then also asked her to share more of the teaching with him."
Pray that the believers will persevere under persecution and continue to stand strong for the Lord and reap the blessings of His protection.
Recently a young pregnant woman was cursed by some Mengen unbelievers. One told her she would have a terribly long and painful birth;another said her children would die. The believers are face similar threats and curses daily.
The day she gave birth her labor was short and easy and the baby was fine and healthy. The tiny baby was a victory for Jesus, showing that God is stronger than the evil ones. Persevering through persecution is paying off.
Another Mengen believer, Kariang, reported on how God blessed her in the midst of persecution. A shaman told her if she continued to follow the path of Jesus her children would be cursed and die. This is very frightening to the Mengens because they have lived in fear of the spirits for many years.
But Kariang and her family decided they would not give up their new-found faith, but would continue coming to the teaching. Then she also chose to follow the Lord in believer’s baptism. The family stood up to the threats and God protected them.
The believers have been learning about showing mercy to those who hate them. So when a dentist and doctor came to minister in the village for a short time, they invited the man who had cursed Kariang to come.
"He then came and got some great help from both the dentist and doctor," wrote missionary Lourens Laureti. "It seems that God’s mercy touched his heart and he returned to this lady and apologized for cursing her. He then also asked her to share more of the teaching with him."
Pray that the believers will persevere under persecution and continue to stand strong for the Lord and reap the blessings of His protection.