During the conference, there were a lot of testimonies of miracles and conversions that were happening in Indonesia. One story was from one of our speakers Jim Yost. Jim and his wife were American missionaries to Papua formerly Irian Jaya. I really like this guy, animated when he speaks but very humble, he stays in our hotel also (too bad we weren't able to meet him personally).
Anyway, he tells how they spent three years with the Papuan tribe they were trying to reach without any sign of interest and conversion. One day while he was in their house, he heard a loud scream from the jungle. So he ran through the forest towards that loud wailing. After 30 minutes of running he finally arrives in the riverbank and behold, there were many tribespeople already gathered. A family gathered crossed the river to the other side of the forest to gather food. When they returned, the family left their youngest member of one-year old in the canoe to carry their provisions to their house. But when they had returned the child was gone--he fell on the dark, algae-covered water. That's when the mother began crying out for help.
As Jim scans the area he sees the men wading through shallow but dark water trying to find the child. And the women now were calling on their gods, cutting themselves, dancing in ecstacy, to call the god's attention in vain. Finally they spot a body, it's stomach swelling because it drank to much water. They bring it up the bank to perform more rituals to revive the child. Finally Jim's wife steps up and gives the boy mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. 5 minutes ... 10 minutes ... 30 minutes she tried. It was too late. The boy is dead.
Jim was desperate. Three years of reaching out to this hard-hearted tribes people ... In a sudden surge of supernatural faith--which he tells us he hasn't done before--he prays to God, "God, these people may not believe in You, but I know You love this tribe very very dearly. Please let them see that You are real and alive, bring this child back to life." And immediately the child's color turned warm. He coughs. And finally he spews out all the water that he ingested. The boy is alive!
The mother runs to the child and weeps, her child alive. The tribes people were amazed. They began making clicking sounds at the back of their throats--Jim say that's what they do when they see something amazing. They needed explanation. This is the moment. After three years of what seemed to be a pursuit in vain, God opens a door of opportunity. He begins to speak, "This child did not rise from the dead because of me. Jesus Christ, the God I am serving, who sent us to you, whom I am telling you about these years, He wants you to know Him because He loves you very, very much."
Thus one by one, families began to believe in Jesus. In the first week, six families gave their hearts to Christ. The next week, more. Until finally, by God's abounding grace and steadfast love through time, an entire tribe is won. Now, Jim and his family has spent 35 years with these tribes, continually teaching them and discipling them, and even sent missionaries from these tribe to other nations including the Philippines.
"Praise the Lord, His mercy endures forever!"
Anyway, he tells how they spent three years with the Papuan tribe they were trying to reach without any sign of interest and conversion. One day while he was in their house, he heard a loud scream from the jungle. So he ran through the forest towards that loud wailing. After 30 minutes of running he finally arrives in the riverbank and behold, there were many tribespeople already gathered. A family gathered crossed the river to the other side of the forest to gather food. When they returned, the family left their youngest member of one-year old in the canoe to carry their provisions to their house. But when they had returned the child was gone--he fell on the dark, algae-covered water. That's when the mother began crying out for help.
As Jim scans the area he sees the men wading through shallow but dark water trying to find the child. And the women now were calling on their gods, cutting themselves, dancing in ecstacy, to call the god's attention in vain. Finally they spot a body, it's stomach swelling because it drank to much water. They bring it up the bank to perform more rituals to revive the child. Finally Jim's wife steps up and gives the boy mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. 5 minutes ... 10 minutes ... 30 minutes she tried. It was too late. The boy is dead.
Jim was desperate. Three years of reaching out to this hard-hearted tribes people ... In a sudden surge of supernatural faith--which he tells us he hasn't done before--he prays to God, "God, these people may not believe in You, but I know You love this tribe very very dearly. Please let them see that You are real and alive, bring this child back to life." And immediately the child's color turned warm. He coughs. And finally he spews out all the water that he ingested. The boy is alive!
The mother runs to the child and weeps, her child alive. The tribes people were amazed. They began making clicking sounds at the back of their throats--Jim say that's what they do when they see something amazing. They needed explanation. This is the moment. After three years of what seemed to be a pursuit in vain, God opens a door of opportunity. He begins to speak, "This child did not rise from the dead because of me. Jesus Christ, the God I am serving, who sent us to you, whom I am telling you about these years, He wants you to know Him because He loves you very, very much."
Thus one by one, families began to believe in Jesus. In the first week, six families gave their hearts to Christ. The next week, more. Until finally, by God's abounding grace and steadfast love through time, an entire tribe is won. Now, Jim and his family has spent 35 years with these tribes, continually teaching them and discipling them, and even sent missionaries from these tribe to other nations including the Philippines.
"Praise the Lord, His mercy endures forever!"
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