Death spurring new life
The death of Lawrence, an Yembiyembi believer in Papua New Guinea, continues to influence other believers.
A tribal brother of missionary Tim Shontere left the village a year ago to attend a school in town. For this past year the missionaries have been praying for him and wondering how his faith was doing. He arrived back in the village last week and gave this testimony of his journey.
"Brother, I have a lot to tell you. God has brought me on a cool journey this year. It all started with Lawrence dying. I tell you the truth, I have never seen anybody die that way before, I can tell you, he really was a child of God.
"Before, in this village, anyone who has died has been scared, really scared. You can see it in their eyes, then they shake with fear, yell and scream with terror. But not Lawrence, it was amazing to see.
"My older sister and I were by his side every day until he died, and he would close his eyes and talk about how he looked forward to seeing Jesus and not having pain anymore. He looked so happy and it changed my walk on this earth forever.
"He told me, ’You must leave this old fashion of yours of standing in two canoes, and that rubbish stuff you once did. It is only through the Bridge Man that all of us are made clean. I want to see you lead others to the Bridge Man. Do it! Don’t think I am joking.
’Many more people need to hear this talk, I am going now, but you carry it on, don’t waste your life anymore being scared of what others think. Hear me now and fill your core thinking with what I am saying!’
"I told my mom that I am going to be with the crossers now (believers) and that’s it. I am living with my sister, now and taking care of her family and reading God’s Talk Book throughout the week. But brother, I have never seen anybody die like that before, and my stomach turned inside and I knew this bridge talk is really true."
Pray that the team of missionaries ministering to the Yembiyembis will help the believers to grow in their walk with the Lord.