NEW TRIBES MISSION  |  planting tribal churches

KUMANS ANTICIPATE BIBLE TEACHING

July 31, 2003

It's an exciting time in the Kuman tribe of Papua New Guinea as Bible translation work progresses and missionaries prepare to teach evangelistic Bible lessons for the first time.

"The check of Genesis is done and went well," wrote missionary Ken White. "We have a few corrections to make where we found out that people weren't understanding the passages correctly, but there are not many and when we are done with those we can print up our first Genesis booklets."

The translation check was a process of working in three languages. Ken or his co-worker Will Tallman would read in Kuman, then translation consultant Linda Kreig would have the Kuman language helpers explain the passage in Pidgin, asking questions to determine what they were understanding. The missionaries would then discuss in English any problem areas and how they might be corrected.

The Kuman people are showing definite interest as the missionaries prepare to teach in two weeks, but opposition has also surfaced from some Kumans who are saying that the missionaries are there to get rich off the people by selling Bibles. Ken and Will and their wives, Kim and Kelly, have assured the people that there is no financial profit from giving them God's Word, but in a culture where deceit is the norm some Kumans are not convinced.

The missionaries are consulting with three professed Kuman believers to determine the best time and location for the teaching. Pray for God's direction.

Pray too that the truth will overcome any opposition and that God's Word and grace will be manifest to the Kuman people.