Not such a simple question
Three Lamogai tribal believers faced a team of 14 Interface students this week in Papua New Guinea and were astounded by what they heard.
It was question-and-answer time and the team leader explained to the Lamogais how some people in America try to convince Christians not to bother the happy-go-lucky tribal groups nestled in jungles all over the world.
It took ten minutes for the Lamogais to comprehend the question. Disbelief and confusion covered their faces. Why would someone suggest a thing like that? Were they hearing the question correctly?
Minutes passed as the missionaries translated again and again in different ways trying to make the concept clear to the Lamogais. Finally, the tribal believers turned to the Interface students.
"We lived in fear, under Satan's control. How could anyone say, 'They are happy the way they are?'"
The students left the Lamogai people after five days, feeling like the Lamogai Christians understand in a far deeper way than Westerners what it means to have been "delivered from the power of darkness into the kingdom of the Son."
The impact of the Interface side trip was deep, motivating at least one student to say, "This is what I want to do with my life."
For others, their questions were answered as they saw a functioning New Testament church, and they will return home to continue praying about their future involvement in missions.
Please pray for the students as they process what they learned and discern how and where their lives will make a difference.
It was question-and-answer time and the team leader explained to the Lamogais how some people in America try to convince Christians not to bother the happy-go-lucky tribal groups nestled in jungles all over the world.
It took ten minutes for the Lamogais to comprehend the question. Disbelief and confusion covered their faces. Why would someone suggest a thing like that? Were they hearing the question correctly?
Minutes passed as the missionaries translated again and again in different ways trying to make the concept clear to the Lamogais. Finally, the tribal believers turned to the Interface students.
"We lived in fear, under Satan's control. How could anyone say, 'They are happy the way they are?'"
The students left the Lamogai people after five days, feeling like the Lamogai Christians understand in a far deeper way than Westerners what it means to have been "delivered from the power of darkness into the kingdom of the Son."
The impact of the Interface side trip was deep, motivating at least one student to say, "This is what I want to do with my life."
For others, their questions were answered as they saw a functioning New Testament church, and they will return home to continue praying about their future involvement in missions.
Please pray for the students as they process what they learned and discern how and where their lives will make a difference.