Jesus or shamans? Mengens deciding
Missionaries Simon and Annika Flanagan in Papua New Guinea are studying the Mengen culture and language so that they can aid in the discipleship of believers.
Their co-workers, Lourens and Marie Laureti, will be leaving for home assignment soon and the Flanagans are eager to help disciple the Mengens.
The believers are currently being opposed by Mengens who follow the Maliaba spirit. They believe this spirit of a dead ancestor indwells certain shamans and can control life and death and magically heal the sick. The people fear this spirit and one of the shamans has threatened that one of the believers’ children will die if they do not turn from their faith in Christ. Another Maliaba predicted one of the believers would sicken and die but thus far nothing has happened.
As the believers grow in their understanding of God’s Word, many are boldly speaking against the Maliaba. This is causing conflict with unbelievers. Pray that they will speak the truth in love and that God will soften the hearts of the other Mengens to believe the Gospel message.
Pray for Simon and Annika as they study culture and language. Pray that they will encourage the Mengen believers to reach out to those who do not yet understand the message of grace.
Their co-workers, Lourens and Marie Laureti, will be leaving for home assignment soon and the Flanagans are eager to help disciple the Mengens.
The believers are currently being opposed by Mengens who follow the Maliaba spirit. They believe this spirit of a dead ancestor indwells certain shamans and can control life and death and magically heal the sick. The people fear this spirit and one of the shamans has threatened that one of the believers’ children will die if they do not turn from their faith in Christ. Another Maliaba predicted one of the believers would sicken and die but thus far nothing has happened.
As the believers grow in their understanding of God’s Word, many are boldly speaking against the Maliaba. This is causing conflict with unbelievers. Pray that they will speak the truth in love and that God will soften the hearts of the other Mengens to believe the Gospel message.
Pray for Simon and Annika as they study culture and language. Pray that they will encourage the Mengen believers to reach out to those who do not yet understand the message of grace.