No walls around this church
A dilapidated building of sticks and iron serve as a place of worship in a Dinangat village in Papua New Guinea.
This building, however, is the foundation for works and good behavior, qualities some Dinangats believe are necessary in order to save themselves.
"Many tribes still await someone to come and teach the Good News to them so that they can have eternal life," missionary Mike Mikolavich wrote.
The Markley, Schlegel and Smith families have worked hard to build relationships with the Dinangats and to learn the culture and language so they can translate God's Word into their language.
"Many have trusted in Christ and are now growing in grace and in knowing Jesus Christ as the missionaries disciple them," Mike wrote.
"Mike and Joseph Colyn visited this village to start comprehension checks for the lessons translated for the book of Acts.
"Joseph ... and I were ... able to join the young Dinangat church for one of their regular Tuesday morning believers' meetings. It was a bit uncomfortable sitting on a rock for one-and-a-half hours on the grassy slope," Mike wrote.
In some countries it's too cold to meet without shelter, but for the Dinangats, gathering outside is a part of their life.
"It lets the church be light on its feet [and] able to focus its energies and resources on the life and needs of the body," Mike wrote.
While the missionaries are still teaching, they have also started to disciple some of the Dinangat believers. Iteringke is taking on more responsibilities during the believers' meetings. He takes prayer requests, asks for individual testimonies from the body and reviews Bible lessons.
"[These believers] will, by God's grace, become the future Bible teachers of the Dinangat church. Success in ministry is equipping others for the work of the ministry and to let Christ use them in His body," Mike wrote. "The church cannot hang on the ministry of the missionaries. It must grow to stand in the grace of God to let His Holy Spirit use them."
Please pray that God will reveal His Truth to the Dinangats who believe good works and decent behavior will save their souls.
This building, however, is the foundation for works and good behavior, qualities some Dinangats believe are necessary in order to save themselves.
"Many tribes still await someone to come and teach the Good News to them so that they can have eternal life," missionary Mike Mikolavich wrote.
The Markley, Schlegel and Smith families have worked hard to build relationships with the Dinangats and to learn the culture and language so they can translate God's Word into their language.
"Many have trusted in Christ and are now growing in grace and in knowing Jesus Christ as the missionaries disciple them," Mike wrote.
"Mike and Joseph Colyn visited this village to start comprehension checks for the lessons translated for the book of Acts.
"Joseph ... and I were ... able to join the young Dinangat church for one of their regular Tuesday morning believers' meetings. It was a bit uncomfortable sitting on a rock for one-and-a-half hours on the grassy slope," Mike wrote.
In some countries it's too cold to meet without shelter, but for the Dinangats, gathering outside is a part of their life.
"It lets the church be light on its feet [and] able to focus its energies and resources on the life and needs of the body," Mike wrote.
While the missionaries are still teaching, they have also started to disciple some of the Dinangat believers. Iteringke is taking on more responsibilities during the believers' meetings. He takes prayer requests, asks for individual testimonies from the body and reviews Bible lessons.
"[These believers] will, by God's grace, become the future Bible teachers of the Dinangat church. Success in ministry is equipping others for the work of the ministry and to let Christ use them in His body," Mike wrote. "The church cannot hang on the ministry of the missionaries. It must grow to stand in the grace of God to let His Holy Spirit use them."
Please pray that God will reveal His Truth to the Dinangats who believe good works and decent behavior will save their souls.