In the context of culture
Missionaries Ben and Nikki Buckner are studying culture and language in Papua New Guinea so they can present the Gospel to the Nakanai people.
"No matter how well we know God's Word, and no matter how good we are at communicating it in our own language," wrote Ben, "if we can not communicate with these people in the language that they understand, the language of their hearts, what good is it?"
The couple is concentrating on understanding the culture of the Nakanais so that the words that they say will be understood in the context of the culture.
The words used to indicate repentance are tainim bel, which literally means to change your heart, but the Nakanais were taught by a local religious group that it means to change your lifestyle so you will be acceptable to God. This led to a belief in a works-oriented religion.
Ben and Nikki are carefully studying the culture so that they can correctly teach evangelistic Bible lessons to the people.
Another of their strategic ministry goals is to build relationships with the people so that they desire to hear what Ben and Nikki have to say. As they model Christ to the people, they create a hunger to know the Christ of the Bible.
"The other main way of creating a hunger to hear is through modeling," wrote Ben. "Modeling, simply put, means we are living out now what it will mean to the Nakanai believers in the future to be a Nakanai Christian: a light shining in the Nakanai darkness."
Pray for Ben and Nikki to quickly learn the culture and language of the Nakanai people and to model Christianity in a way that will help the Nakanais to desire to know more about Christ.
"No matter how well we know God's Word, and no matter how good we are at communicating it in our own language," wrote Ben, "if we can not communicate with these people in the language that they understand, the language of their hearts, what good is it?"
The couple is concentrating on understanding the culture of the Nakanais so that the words that they say will be understood in the context of the culture.
The words used to indicate repentance are tainim bel, which literally means to change your heart, but the Nakanais were taught by a local religious group that it means to change your lifestyle so you will be acceptable to God. This led to a belief in a works-oriented religion.
Ben and Nikki are carefully studying the culture so that they can correctly teach evangelistic Bible lessons to the people.
Another of their strategic ministry goals is to build relationships with the people so that they desire to hear what Ben and Nikki have to say. As they model Christ to the people, they create a hunger to know the Christ of the Bible.
"The other main way of creating a hunger to hear is through modeling," wrote Ben. "Modeling, simply put, means we are living out now what it will mean to the Nakanai believers in the future to be a Nakanai Christian: a light shining in the Nakanai darkness."
Pray for Ben and Nikki to quickly learn the culture and language of the Nakanai people and to model Christianity in a way that will help the Nakanais to desire to know more about Christ.