Leaders learning to be servants
Yembiyembi men in Papua New Guinea are learning to be servants.
Listening to lessons on 1 Timothy 3:8-15 has helped them realize what it means to be a deacon in the church.
"Some have been waiting eagerly for this message, wrote missionary Tim Shontere. "Some don’t read well and don’t talk much but they love to help and work."
One of the men, a gifted carpenter in his 50s, said, "This is something that I want to be involved in. This is good, really good that we are hearing about God’s measurement for servant men. Now we can ask God’s Spirit to make these measurement characteristics come up true in our lives."
Several Yembiyembi women have demonstrated their Christian love by helping others in their fields. One of the men came and worked with the women in someone’s garden. After the women left, he stayed and finished up. He then told one of his co-workers, "We need to be the example, if no one sees the action of us leaders how will they follow. They need to see one of us make the change, then they will follow!" The next week two more men came and worked along with that teacher and more than 20 women joined them.
Recently at a men’s meeting he shared his thoughts on serving God in this way.
"We need to be the example for deacon work. See these women? They are putting us to shame. We should be the ones leading the way and working for our widows and those that need help. What are we going to do about this?" He then encouraged others to speak up.
One of the deacon trainees responded, "True. When I came back from town, I was surprised to hear my wife tell me that she was going to work in someone’s garden with the [believers]. Then I thought, ’this is the action of Christ.’ We must show Christ’s character.
Pray for these Yembiyembi believers as they learn to serve as deacons in the church. Praise God also for the women in the village who are already demonstrating Christ’s character in their walk.
Listening to lessons on 1 Timothy 3:8-15 has helped them realize what it means to be a deacon in the church.
"Some have been waiting eagerly for this message, wrote missionary Tim Shontere. "Some don’t read well and don’t talk much but they love to help and work."
One of the men, a gifted carpenter in his 50s, said, "This is something that I want to be involved in. This is good, really good that we are hearing about God’s measurement for servant men. Now we can ask God’s Spirit to make these measurement characteristics come up true in our lives."
Several Yembiyembi women have demonstrated their Christian love by helping others in their fields. One of the men came and worked with the women in someone’s garden. After the women left, he stayed and finished up. He then told one of his co-workers, "We need to be the example, if no one sees the action of us leaders how will they follow. They need to see one of us make the change, then they will follow!" The next week two more men came and worked along with that teacher and more than 20 women joined them.
Recently at a men’s meeting he shared his thoughts on serving God in this way.
"We need to be the example for deacon work. See these women? They are putting us to shame. We should be the ones leading the way and working for our widows and those that need help. What are we going to do about this?" He then encouraged others to speak up.
One of the deacon trainees responded, "True. When I came back from town, I was surprised to hear my wife tell me that she was going to work in someone’s garden with the [believers]. Then I thought, ’this is the action of Christ.’ We must show Christ’s character.
Pray for these Yembiyembi believers as they learn to serve as deacons in the church. Praise God also for the women in the village who are already demonstrating Christ’s character in their walk.