Found ~ Sikol

Sikol

Getting an attack of malaria is a small price to pay for a fantastic weekend. Not only did I get to take my oldest son Micah down 3,000 feet to a beautiful flowing river closed in by pine trees and thick jungle; but God encouraged my heart greatly that He indeed is alive and working in the heart’s of people around the world.

After a full day of sunshine, spearing for fresh water shrimp, swimming in ice cold water, and just enjoying time with my boy, we went back to the thatched roof hut (with no door) and rested. As we sat around the fire with Tingon, his wife, 2 sons, and one of his relatives, Sikol with his wife and son, we enjoyed a good meal of shrimp, rice, sweet potatoes, and cabbage. After we finished eating we sat by the fire and Sikol asked me, “So what are these literacy classes about and when will one start?” I told him that the classes were designed so that people could read God’s word and understand for themselves God’s road to eternal life. To which he replied, “Tingon, awhile ago, came and told me what you had been teaching him from the Old Testament and the life of Jesus. I heard this and I went to the village church (the other religions that are here) and I heard them talk about how we need to clean up our lives, forsake our sins, follow the ten commandments, and hold on to God really strong and then we can go to heaven. If we do not do these things, we will go to hell, they said. So I thought about what they said and weighed it in my mind, and I knew that it wasn’t correct. There is no one who can follow God’s law and make his own way to heaven. We try, but always fail. So we will all go to hell. I also thought about your talk which Tingon had told me about what Jesus had done; how He washed our sins and took our place so we didn’t have to die and go to hell. He said all we need to do is believe it, and Jesus, through his blood, would save us and take us to heaven. And I knew that this was the truth. Jesus is the only road to heaven, we can’t do it on our own insignificant strength. So I weighed these two different talks and I believed in Jesus.”

This thrilled my heart because here was a second generation Christian led to the Lord by Tingon and I had nothing to do with it. From there we proceeded to talk through the Old Testament through the life of Christ, rehashing the stories of Abraham and Isaac, the brazen serpent, the Bread of Life, and many others for the next 3 hours into the night. In a lull in the conversation, Tingon in classic Tobo fashion said, “Brothers, this is very good talk, let’s go to sleep.” So we laid back and fell asleep to the roar of the river, the warmth of the fire, and the assurance that our God has saved us for all eternity. What a blessed time.

His Clay Pots, Jason, Kellie, Micah, Sophia, Malachi & The Tobo Church

Found ~ Ambux

“A few weeks ago, when that man stood up in our meeting and said that he had seen Jesus, and that Jesus had told him to forsake all his sins and his old ways, and to straighten his life out, I heard it and I wasn’t satisfied with what he said. I know that no one can see Jesus, because he went to heaven and is sitting at God’s right hand. I also know that Jesus washed our sins away when he died on the cross, and that all we must do is believe in him. All that we will learn of Jesus is in the Bible, if it comes from somewhere else, it is a lie. I knew he was not telling us the truth. I think that he and his group came that day to pull us into their false belief. And I wasn’t happy with that.” -- Ambux

Ambux is Asa Salap’s son. He too was saved at the end of our teaching on the life of Christ back in January. He has been faithfully coming to the believer’s meetings along with his wife. He is a quiet guy, but has said some very profound things to us lately. He and his wife have one young son and a baby due any day now. He also has been helping Chad with translating the Bible, and has been a huge help and encouragement to us as he works with us in that.

I was greatly pleased and excited to hear him say what he said above. He had come to Chad to do a translation session with him, when Chad asked him what he thought of the previous weeks meeting. I just happened to be passing by, and stopped in to say hi. We couldn’t stop this man from talking, he just wanted us to know that he wasn’t in agreement with what happened, and that if they kept coming, he was not going to come anymore to the meetings; because it wasn’t correct. This means that he is learning and putting into practice what he has been hearing from God’s Word, and we couldn’t be more excited!

Continue to pray for these believers, that their faith would grow stronger, and that they would be able to comprehend more and more the love that God has for them in Christ Jesus.

Also, for those of you who are wondering. I never did make it to the other village with Nikos a few weeks ago to confront these false prophets that came into our midst. To make a long story short, one of the leaders of that group came to see me after I didn’t show up at his place. I was able to talk to him, and tell him that this was not just my thoughts; but the thoughts of all who were present on that day, but that he and his group were no longer going to be allowed to break in and lead in singing or prayer or give testimonies. They are allowed to come and listen and learn; but not to lead in any way. He was an interesting fellow to say the least; but he agreed and went on his way. We haven’t seen any of them for the past 2 weeks.

Thank you for your prayers concerning these issues.
His Clay Pots,
Jason, Kellie, Micah, Sophia, Malachi Knapp & the Tobo Church

Found! ~ Zango

“My whole life I knew I had to believe in Jesus, but I also thought I had to be perfect or God would send me to hell. Now I am at peace because I know that I cannot make myself perfect, but in God's sight, I am perfect now because I simply believed in Jesus. And Jesus' blood washed all my sins away.” ~ Zango

Zango is our village doctor. He is 70 years old. He has been to the universities, been well educated, gone to "church" his whole life, but had never found grace. He struggled his whole life to keep God's law because he thought that if he disobeyed, he would be sent to hell. He thought that Jesus had died to wash our sins away, but that he needed to constantly live a good life, or all would be lost and go to hell. So he lived in fear, with a constant burden to "perform" or God would strike him down.

But now this man is at peace. During the phase 1 teaching, he found the grace of God. Jesus did it all because Zango couldn't do it. Jesus paid it all because Zango couldn't pay it. Jesus died so that Zango wouldn't have to. Zango is now resting in what Jesus did for him, and he can't understand why the rest of the people just don't "get it together" and listen to this message and believe. "This is eternal life, and they are searching for food that will die with the man who eats it," he says.

Pray that Zango would continue to grow in faith and in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Pray that he would not "default" back to works as a means of maintaining his salvation.

His Clay Pots,
Jason, Kellie, Micah, Sophia, and Malachi Knapp & The Tobo Church

Found ~ Paulas

“By the grace of God, Jesus has washed my sins away, and I am now clean (righteous) in God’s sight. I believe, and do not need to do anything else to gain it! No one can ever tell me again that my sins will separate me from God, because even my future sins are washed away by Jesus’ blood! Thank you Jesus!”
-- Paulas

Paulas has been a pastor in the local religion here for the past 15 years. He has been studying the Scriptures and trying to apply and preach them accurately; but his theology was off a little bit. He didn't understand what the death of Christ meant for us: that Jesus died once for all, so that all our sins could be forgiven; that salvation was not based on works, but by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone; and that all he had to do was believe it! Have you ever read the story in Acts 17:24-28? It is a great story of Apollos, who was greatly used of God, but his theology was off a little bit, so Priscilla and Aquila came and "explained to him the way of God more accurately." Apollos took the correction, and became even a greater evangelist for the Lord. I think this is the case with Paulas.

A month and a half ago, before he was saved, I finished talking to Paulas on one occasion, and he said, "What you are saying seems very short, but powerful. What I have been saying seems very long, and difficult." Then he went home and thought about it for a week or so.

So I went back and talked with him again, this time with Tingon. After we went through key stories from Genesis to Christ, Tingon pointed out that salvation has always been by faith and not by works. And Paulas finally said, "I believe it! It is true. Jesus did it all, and there is nothing left to be done. Jesus said, 'It is finished' because he had finished it. Now I am one with God. Your way is short and powerful, because it is God's way."

This man's testimonies in our meetings have been amazing, and he has already been applying scriptures which he knew to his life in brand new ways. Pray for his continued growth, and for continued zeal for the Lord.

His Clay Pots,
Jason, Kellie, Micah, Sophia, and Malachi Knapp

FOUND ~ Ankle & Nara

Ankle

This man came knocking on our door this afternoon looking for Jason. Jason had gone to another village earlier this morning and wouldn't be back for another hour or so. He said he would wait for him to come back.

Ankle came because he was excited to tell Jason that his wife, Nara, was saved last night!! It had been a big burden on his heart. When he would come to the believer's meetings every week he would be one of the only men whose wife wasn't saved. He greatly desired that his wife too shared this new life. He said, "If I had died and gone to heaven, and my wife didn't, it would not have be right, she needs to go too," so he had been praying for her and talking and witnessing to her daily. "Now Jesus has grabbed her, and she is going to heaven too, and I am so happy," he said. He greatly desires to teach their children, together, about God's Word.

Also, yesterday Ankle came to the time of fellowship and applying of the Scriptures to specific areas of our lives which some of the core group do on Tuesdays. He enjoyed it so much he wanted to stay until after dark (the meeting had started at 10am :-)

Pray for Ankle as he continues to witness to his family. His father is Yaka Siwia (a past Wanted e-mail) and is sick. Ankle tells him that he doesn't know when he will die. He has tried to share with him over and over again the message of salvation before he dies but as Ankle put it, "He just listens and then just puts it to the back of his head".

Thursday mornings (tomorrow) are the believer's meetings. Ankle was proud to say that both he and his wife would be there tomorrow. Pray that it will be a great time of fellowship and encouragement for the believers and pray for wisdom for Jason as he leads in the study of God's Word. It can be a little discouraging at times that the numbers God has chosen are so few (in light of how many people are here) but yet we are so incredibly thankful for the depth and maturity of the ones God has hand picked to be his disciples here in Tobo.

His Clay Pots,
Jason, Kellie, Micah, Sophia, and Malachi Knapp & The Tobo Church

FOUND ~ Asa Salap

Asa Salap with his Grandson

The whole village calls this man "Asa salap" (Grandpa's finger) because he has a unique way of "shaking hands" with all the children...as soon as they see him all the kids stick out their finger and he shakes it and makes them laugh. He is a funny old man who recently believed in Jesus Christ as his Savior, and Jesus has saved him from his sins. You should see his smile when he thinks about the fact that he is accepted by God because of what Jesus did on the cross. But not only has he been saved, but his whole immediate family has also believed in Jesus as their Savior. His wife, two sons and daughter in law have all been saved and you can see their joy in what Christ has done for them.

There is a sickness that has been going around the village the last few weeks and their whole family has been sick and unable to come to the believer's meetings. Pray that they would be healed and that their faith would remain strong in the Lord.

Thank you for your prayers.
His Clay Pots,
Jason, Kellie, Micah, Sophia, and Malachi Knapp and the Tobo Church

FOUND!~ Nikos & Daisa

Nikos, Daisa, their kids, and Nikos' Father. Daisa is pregnant with Noah in this picture

Meet Nikos and Daisa and their family. They too are believers!!!! This family is very near and dear to Kellie's heart. Daisa was Kellie's language helper and best friend since we arrived. This past May, Kellie was able to help Daisa during the delivery of her baby boy. When he was born she asked Kellie to name him. Kellie gave him the name, Noah. Noah means "Rest" and Kellie's prayer was that Daisa's family would soon come to understand the rest they can find in Jesus.

Jebin (the boy in the red/yellow shirt) is Micah's best friend. There is hardly a day that Jebin isn't around the house coloring with Micah, reading books, or building forts.

Nikos is one of the major Lutheran Church leaders and has been seeking the truth for many years now. On the last day of teaching he got up and publicly gave testimony of what Jesus was doing in his life.

If you have visited us here in Tobo you have probably eaten at Daisa's house. She has a wonderful gift of hospitality.

We know God has some special plans for this family and His church. Pray for them as they continue to grow and mature in their faith and make their faith known to others.

His Clay Pots,
Jason, Kellie, Micah, Sophia, and Malachi Knapp

FOUND!!! - Megilin Mama

Megilin Mama
(He was one of the "Wanted's" in a past update!!!)

This man, along with his wife, are both so excited about what Jesus has done for them; that all their sins are washed away and they are now clean in God's sight and able to go to heaven, that you can barely get a word in edgewise. Every time we go to their house, they are talking about it with whoever is there with them.

Megilin Mama's father is Ukawong (Committee - look under past Wanted's on our website for his picture). Ukawong is a member of the cargo cult and was one of the ones who went to the big meeting this past week. He came back just before I went up to the village on Thursday. As I came to Ukawong's house I saw many people who were a part of the cult gathered there in the house with him. Megilin Mama was there as well. Ukawong was trying to tell his story; but Megilin Mama kept on interrupting and telling his story, "We heard from God's Word the other day that Jesus has washed all our sins away, and now we are clean in God's sight because all our sins were on Jesus. It is true, you just have to believe it!" Most of the people in the house got up and left (probably because they didn't want to hear about Jesus), but some stayed. One old man, who on the last day of teaching was unclear, stayed in the house and made a very clear profession of faith to us. And he and Megilin Mama were sitting there saying, "Thank you God, thank you, Jesus". And all of this was done in front of Megilin Mama's unbelieving father, Ukawong.

What a testimony this man is already to those around him. Pray that he continues strong in the faith, and that he will grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We will be having our first believer's meeting next Thursday, 25th at the Dr's house (more to come on him:-)! We have told many people the date, and they are very excited to hear more of God's Word. They are hungry.

His Clay Pots,
Jason, Kellie, Micah, Sophia, and Malachi Knapp and the Tobo Church!!

Clay Pots ~ The Birth of a Church!!!

Jason and Alis this Morning at the Teaching

January 16th will forever be marked in history as the birth of the Tobo church! Tuesday, Jason taught on the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. There were many people that came, more than what we were expecting. A large group of people left immediately after the teaching to go get dressed in their traditional clothes to show support for the cargo cult. Yet others stayed around just silently sitting and talking. 2 groups of men formed around Jason and Chad as they pelted each of them with questions. Some were having a hard time believing that Jesus washed ALL their sins away...if they were to sin again how would they stay righteous before God? Others had worked all their lives to gain God's favor and didn't want to be told that all those years of "works" were for naught. And yet others still didn't want to let go of the Cargo Cult and were looking for some way they could follow both.

Jason and Chad took the rest of the afternoon going to different houses and asking questions and seeing where people are at. We don't know how many are saved, but we do know that there are brothers and sisters in Christ here now. We know of at least 4-5 families who have put their faith in Jesus alone, and we haven't been able to talk to everyone yet. Tragically, there are some who clearly have rejected, and that saddens our hearts. So we ask you to continue to pray as people are still struggling to choose. God is working in people's hearts!

We are VERY excited to tell you that not only did Alis and his family stay back from going to the Cargo Cult meetings; but they are now believers in Jesus Christ! After the teaching on Wednesday, Alis was just sitting there crying, so Jason went to him and just sat with him for a while, and Alis said, "Thank you Jesus." Jason asked, "What are you thankful for?" And Alis said, "I am no longer afraid that I will go to hell, Jesus' blood saved me." Alis is our land owner. To say he has been nothing but a frustration to our team would be an understatement. If we could have picked one person whom we didn't think would get saved it would have been him!:-) Thank God that our thoughts are not His!!!! Alis is very much like a Peter in that he speaks often without thinking first; but there is a definite change in his life these past few days. And we also know that as the Holy Spirit works in his life that others will see the change. In the last week or so, we have been noticing a change in his personality going from a very angry man to almost quiet and humble. Isn't God awesome?!!!!

As God shows us who He has chosen to be His church here in Tobo, we will be sure to share it with you.

Thank you again for your prayers, it is because of your prayers that many of these people have trusted in Jesus as their Savior. In a way the work is just beginning! We have babies in Christ. Pray that God would work through us to disciple these new Christians so that they can someday soon reach the rest of Tobo!

His Clay Pots,
Jason, Kellie, Micah, Sophia, and Malachi Knapp

FOUND: Tingon Willy

Praise God! Tingon Willy has just become our first Tobo brother in Christ!

Yesterday he trusted in Christ. Here is what he said:

"Ever since you taught me that the law was like a mirror (that it was there so that I could see how sinful I really am) I have been thinking about my sin. After my family falls asleep at night, I think about it. On the trail as I am walking back and forth, I think about it. In fact, I even forgot where I was going and ended up in the wrong spot because I was thinking so much about my sin. I kept coming to your house to help you translate the Bible lessons, but I felt that I was just helping everyone else in Tobo to find eternal life, but I wasn't going to be able to find it. My sins were too many and too big for God to be able to wash them away. And I would just go to the fires of hell. I was scared. I used to think Jesus could wash away my past sins, but that my future sins would heap up and then in the end God would just throw me into the fires of hell. But now I see and believe that Jesus took my place as the lamb took Isaac's place and he died just once so I could live. And his blood washed ALL my sins away, and he delivered me from my sin, death, Satan's power, and the fires of hell. I feel like the arrow of my sin that has been in my heart and in my head and giving me pain for all this time has been removed. And I am not afraid. Thank you, this is the first time I have ever heard this talk."

- Tingon Willy, 29, August 2006

Please pray that we would have fertile soil as we begin to teach God's Word to the Tobo people of the village of Dengenu in October. Pray that God would have a bountiful harvest.

Wanted: Tingong

WANTED
By the Savior to give glory
to the King of Kings!

• NAME: Tingong or Timson Mama = (Timson's father)
• VILLAGE: Dengenu (a half hour walk from our house)
• AGE: Late 40's
• FAMILY: Tingong has two wives: he has 4 or 5 children by the first wife; most of them are grown and some are married. He now has two children by the second wife (who is much younger). The first born's name is Timson and they just had a new baby, only 4 days after Malachi was born, whose name is Ronald. Tingong lives in the same house as his second wife; but still provides food and "looks out for" his first wife.
• STATS: Tingong is an interesting man, and one of my good friends. He is a regular language helper for me, as well as one of the main men I go to for 'inside' cultural information. He is fairly educated; has been to town; and knows a little bit of English. Tingong was originally a part of the main denomination here in our area; then he switched to the Jehovah's Witnesses. But when he married his second wife (sounds like some "magic" was used on the part of the lady to get him to marry her); they kicked him out of their assembly (his brother is at odds with him over this issue). So now he isn't too comfortable in either "church"; and so has moved his house outside of the village; and will often spend weeks in his garden (an hours walk away), living in his "garden house". Interesting enough, he has a good relationship with both father-in-laws!
• PRAY: I tell you all of this because this man has an interesting perspective on his own culture; and thankfully, I am able to learn a lot from him. As we draw nearer to the time when we will teach literacy, and prepare lessons for Bible teaching, he is going to be one of my main helpers.
• Pray for openness on his part, in sharing his culture and language with me.
• Pray for his salvation, that the grace of God will draw him to Jesus: the one who accepts us no matter what we have done.
• Pray for the health of his new child

His Clay Pots,
Jason, Kellie, Micah, Sophia, & Malachi Knapp