VISITOR WANTS GOD'S MERCY
August 19, 2004
GOROKA, Papua New Guinea: Tomas couldn't contain himself. He just had to speak.
"Are you all hearing what Paul is saying?"
Tomas, who lives among the Kuman people in Chimbu province, was visiting his Gende relative, Arnold, and was able to sit in on two meetings as missionary Paul Boothby was teaching evangelistic Bible lessons.
"We have been tricked. We have done all these things we were told to. We have confessed and all but there is no change. Oh, what can we do? I am worried about all this but Paul is saying there is another way. I want to hear but need to go back home," he said.
As the man finished speaking, Paul heard him quietly say, "God show mercy to me."
Tomas left the next day to return to his home. Paul and his wife Susan pray that he is able to come back soon and hear more, or maybe he will get to hear God's truth in the Kuman language. But even that seems improbable at the moment since even the Kuman missionary team is teaching in a village a long way from where Tomas lives.
Tomas was voicing what many Gendes are feeling. They are upset with how they have been deceived over the years in the name of religion.
Arnold, who has been working with Paul to translate and prepare Bible lessons, said that his family has stopped going elsewhere for religious teaching. "From now on we are only going to listen to God's true word," he said.
The Gendes like the freedom of being able to ask questions and enter into discussions about spiritual truth. "It is a very good thing rather than someone just preaching at us," Tobi said.
Pray for Paul as he presents Christ to the Gendes. There is a lot of former religious teaching that needs to be corrected. Pray too that the people will understand the truth of God's Word.
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