Death causes new traditions to be born
Lawrence, the first Yembiyembi believer to be baptized, died of tuberculosis earlier this month in Papua New Guinea. He was a very outspoken witness for the Gospel and his testimony never faltered during his illness.
It is very fitting that his funeral gave evidence of God working in the believers’ hearts. The traditional Inanbimali burial customs add a tremendous amount of work and responsibility for the family. They also call for retribution and appeasing the spirits.
The believers met together and with the help of Gloria, Lawrence’s wife, they came up with an entirely new way to hold a burial ceremony. They decided to use the opportunity as a teaching tool for unbelievers and for the children. They discussed the origins of death, who can escape death and the reality of life after death.
Another believer, Edward, spoke from a passage in Romans which he had memorized in its entirety, to the amazement of the unbelievers in the crowd.
Then he said, "You Yembiyembi ones, we are mixed sitting here [believers and unbelievers], but I will not go easy with the talk I am going to say. I know that Lawrence is sitting with God. He heard, understood and thought to be true the talk of Jesus, the Bridge-man. I used to be unaware of what happened after death, that is why I was afraid of [death], but now there is no reason for me to be afraid. I have no fear that Lawrence’s spirit is coming after me. No, he is with God. That is what I read and see in Paul’s paper to the Romans. That is what I believe. My eyes are open now."
Praise God with us for the evident spiritual growth in the lives of Yembiyembis. Pray for Gloria as she deals with her loss and grief.