IS SACRIFICIAL MISSION GIVING WORTH IT?

In 1962 Don Richardson, his wife Carol and their 7 month old son arrived in what was then known as Dutch New Guinea, to begin work among a violent, canabalistic, head hunting tribe called the Sawi.

The task before them was great because the Sawi language did not exist in any written form. They would have to learn the language by living with the people and slowly accumulate a vocabulary while at the same time giving the language a written form. This was difficult, discouraging and time consuming work but necessary before they could even begin to translate Scripture into the Sawi language for evangelism.

Their task was complicated by the constant tribal wars that kept the young missionary family in a continual state of danger. Not only was their task complicated by danger, but even after Don had reached a level of proficiency in the tribal language, so that he was able to present the story of the betrayal and crucifiction of Jesus, he was confroted with a seemingly insurmountable problem involving their perverted system of moral values. A world view that made Judas Iscariot the hero of the crucifiction story.

The amazing story of how God enabled Don to overcome this problem and give the gospel to them in a culturally relevant way is chronicled in his book intitled "PEACE CHILD". I would encourage anyone who has never read it to buy it TODAY and read it.

He has authored several other books among which are "LORDS OF THE EARTH" and "ETERNITY IN THEIR HEARTS". These books have for many years helped to fuel my passion for missions.

Eternity alone will reveal how many missionaries have been compelled to go to the unreached, difficult places and people groups because of Don's example and writings. To me, Don Richardson is a gospel hero. As a young man reading his books, I never would have dreamed that one day I would have the opportunity to meet him. However, in God's goodness and providence, not only will I be privileged to meet Him as an instructor here at the CPCP, but he is scheduled to share a meal with Jan and me in our home.

By way of concluding my ramblings, I'd like to ask my readers a question: Is it worth it to sacrificially give to missions? Before you answer, watch this recent video of now 77 year old Don Richardson and his sons returning to visit the Sawi tribe 50 years after Don first brought the good news to this once sin-darkened area.

Never the Same from Pioneers-USA on Vimeo.

PRAYER AND PRAISE UPDATE: Garry & JAN WEAVER

We greet our friends, supporters and prayer partners from the Tex-Mex border. Jan and I trust that our great King is blessing and prospering you in your faithful service to Him. He alone is worthy of our life’s devotion.
These are exciting times at the CENTER FOR PIONEER CHURCH PLANTING in Los Fresnos, Texas. The founder and president of TO EVERY TRIBE, David Sitton has been greatly moved by the words of Jesus found in Matt. 9:37-38: “…The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest that he will send forth laborers into his harvest.” The words ‘send forth’ come to our English translations from the greek ‘ekballo’ which means to forcibly expel. One example would be like a bullet fired from a gun, or another example could be a spear launched by the arm of a strong man. We are to pray that the Lord would send laborers forth in this way into His harvest. This is the reason for the “Ekballo Initiatve” which has become one of the driving forces of our mission.
At the CENTER FOR PIONEER CHURCH PLANTING, we are seeing this prayer answered repeatedly and in many ways. The Lord of the harvest has entrusted us with the training of many of these laborers as they prepare themselves for effective missionary service. They will be the gospel “spearheads” in parts of the world where the gospel of Jesus Christ has never been preached.
As the Director of Field Training, I oversee the hands-on, practical training of these young men and women. As I am with them daily, and as I lead them into Mexican villages for ministry, I am constantly amazed at the level of spirituality and commitment they display as well as their willingness to daily lay aside the pleasures and treasures of a comfortable, affluent lifestyle in order to reach the unreached for Christ. Although many of them are going to far off places where they will have to learn some impossible, indigenous language, they still are giving themselves to learning Spanish in order to be effective missionaries in the Mexican villages in which we are working.
I want to thank you who pray and give so that we can serve these missionary interns on a full time basis. I can’t possibly tell you what an honor it is to partner with you in training and equiping the next generation of pioneer missionaries.
Please continue to pray for God’s provision and protection for us as we focus on this great push toward getting the gospel to every tribe, people and nation before it’s too late.
All on the altar,
Garry and Jan

JUST IMAGINE

Just imagine a kid who unexpectedly encounters a group of super-heroes. Men and women who have been gifted with amazing abilities. Real people that exercise their unique and specialized powers to keep evil at bay and advance good in the world. Then imagine that this group of heroes asked the kid to come and hang with them.

The kid = me (I'm not a kid physically, but spiritually).
The heroes = everyone else at TO EVERY TRIBE and the CENTER FOR PIONEER CURCH PLANTING.

I LOVE THIS PLACE!!!