Only four weeks left until we present the Gospel through the death, burial, and resurrection of the Savior! The last 10 weeks or last 10 updates have been filled with mostly encouraging stories of the way God is working in the lives of the Patpatar. This week there were encouraging times too. I could share about the “Pastor” that told me that he had always been unclear about an area until he heard it taught about this week from God’s Word. I could share about all those who just sat around in groups after each day of teaching to talk about God’s Talk. I could tell you about the ladies showing the deaf mute man in our village all the Bible pictures and trying to explain with actions all that they were learning. But this week I want to share about the other side. We are discouraged at times when we have a smaller crowd or key leaders are gone. We are discouraged when the main discussion revolves around smaller areas of the Bible and the bigger point seems to be missed. We are discouraged when community fights and disputes disrupt or pull people away from the teaching.

This week we ran into more conflict. The Patpatar are a fairly educated tribal group of people. Their location right on the coast has allowed for more access to the outside world including missionaries from years gone by. Unfortunately, many of the churches that were introduced catered to the people’s belief of appeasing the spirits in order to live well in the after life. They simply replace the spirits with God and the appeasement acts with good works in order to go to heaven. Today there is a great misunderstanding of church attendance, baptism, repentance, and living right in order to win favor with God. As we have began to teach in the New Testament we are seeing many of those false doctrines being challenged. For many the truth of God’s Word is clashing with the modern day religious beliefs they have depended on. For some the truth of God’s Word has been liberating as Scripture is being illuminated. For others, they are trying to figure out how to unite and rectify the discrepancies between what they now know and what they have always been taught. For a few the truth is not being accepted.

Last Friday, Butch taught on the temptation of Christ. Satan used God’s Word and twisted it to communicate his own desires to tempt Jesus. Satan is using the same tactic among the Patpatar and has twisted God’s Word into a morphed pseudo belief in God, religion, and the spirits. Please pray for the Patpatar as their traditional thinking of God and the New Testament is being challenged. Pray they will not cling to their own merit, works, and religious beliefs, but fall on their Messiah, Jesus Christ. Pray for the Patpatar to understand what was accomplished through Jesus. Pray that like that Pharisees and Sadducees, their religious beliefs will not cause them to reject the Savior.

Coming this week:

Jesus’ ministry begins
This is a BIG ONE - Jesus taught you must be born again – John 3:16
Jesus alone was able to forgive people’s sin.
Jesus predicted his death
The religious leaders began to plot against Jesus


For His Glory,

Aaron, Lori, Avalon, Sierra, and Kylee Luse
Missionaries with New Tribes Mission
Among the Patpatar in Papua New Guinea
 

New Tribes Mission

Papua New Guinea

That God would use our family and support team to reach the Patpatar people with the good news of Jesus Christ.