Against All Odds

But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed.
And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled…
1 Peter 3:14

Obedience is what God desires from His Children but when the rubber meets the road it is often not the easiest road to choose. I have seen that very struggle take place these past couple months here in Tobo. The believers here know the truth. They know that Jesus has commanded his children to be faithful in following through with baptism. It seems like such a simple thing for us Westerners - why would we ever struggle with the decision to get baptized? We know that baptism doesn’t save us, but it is a testimony of the beautiful picture that Christ laid before us of how are lives are associated with His death, burial & resurrection. The sad truth is that here in PNG baptism has been built up into this huge event in one’s life with a whole slue of meanings. One of those meanings is that you are separating yourself from all your previous beliefs and are now a member of a new mission/church. We know this to be a lie, and the believers here do as well. But for the past several weeks they have felt so much pressure from their community and they’ve have been wrestling with the Truth in God’s word and the reality of the fear that they’re feeling.

I’ve seen that fear is something that can drive someone away from obeying what is true. Many of the Tobo believers are facing oppositions & fears that many of us as Westerners will never have to deal with if we are baptized - the fear that they would be looked down upon by their own family and community; the fear of being forced to physically move out of their homes and away from their family; the fear of being mocked, beaten, burnt, or even killed. However despite all of these fears they realize that obedience should not be based on how we feel but should be based on the truth of God’s word. On Thursday morning Jason Knapp and I had the privilege to witness the first Tobo believers get baptized. Despite their fears and a crowd of around 75 onlookers two Tobo men (Welsen and Alex) and 4 Tobo women were baptized. It wasn’t a big event. They just damned up a little stream and said a little testimony and were baptized. But a huge event took place in their own lives as they took a stand and were found faithful against all odds. Afterward Alex was gleaming with the joy that often accompanies obedience. In celebration he killed one of his pigs and we all enjoyed a feast for the rest of the day.

Many of the believers who did not get baptized saw the testimony of those who did and were encouraged. In fact one of the men could not make it to the baptism and was upset. He came today (Sunday) and wanted to get baptized right away. In less than an hour a group of about 30 believers gathered and in the midst of a thunderstorm & rain we headed down to the stream again to baptize Him. He was just excited to obey the Lord. We’re looking forward to the next weeks as other believers have said they would like to get baptized the next time there is an opportunity.

Thank you so much for your prayers for the Tobo church. It has not been an easy process for them and they will continue to face opposition as more of them are baptized and they continue to grow in their faith in Jesus Christ. Please continue to keep your brothers and sisters here in Tobo in your prayers.

Tobo Believers Need Prayer!

The Tobo believers clearly understand that baptism is simply an expression of their belief in Christ and that they are now associated with Him. They also understand that it is an act of obedience to Jesus’ command in scriptures, and that it is a testimony to those around them that they now believe in Jesus’ finished work on the cross. But to the rest of the community, baptism is the means by which a person leaves one religion and enters a new one, and thus they see it as an attack to their old belief system. I guess, in a way, they are correct, but the believers know that they are not becoming a part of a new religion; but that they have already been born into a new family; the family of God!

The date for the baptism has been set for Thursday, January 10th. I wish we could report that everyone is excited with anticipation for that date, but that is not the case. We have talked and prayed with various believers who have made it known that they are going to be baptized, and they have already been under tremendous pressure and persecution. Husbands, families, and village leaders have mocked them, laughed at them, and have even threatened to harm them if they proceed with their decision to be baptized. So the general atmosphere has been more along the lines of fear and nervousness, rather than joy and excitement. But we know that God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. So we know that because they will be obeying God, this baptism truly will be a testimony to others, just as God intended it to be.

We covet your prayers. We need them. If we felt that your prayers were of no use, then we would not be writing this e-mail to ask you to pray. Pray for the Tobo believers, that they will have strength and courage in the face of opposition. Pray that we will know how to encourage them and that this would not hinder Jason’s relationships with the unsaved for language learning opportunities. Pray for Jason Knapp and some of the Tobo men who will be preparing what they will say on the 10th to the crowd of people. Pray that Jason K will have courage and wisdom in addressing the crowd. Pray for the ladies whose husbands have not believed, and who are taking a real step of faith by disobeying their husbands in order to obey the command of Christ. And most of all, pray that God and his Son would be glorified in all that is said and done.