At the end of their river

At the beginning of December I went into the bush for a few days to encourage 2 tribal church plants in the Sepik area of Papua New Guinea. One of the places is where my brother Tom Brendle and his family worked as church planters years ago. I was really excited to see the place that I had been hearing stories about since I was a kid.

For years these church plants were in extremely remote, small, and isolated places. And God was faithful to build his church even in one of the farthest corners of PNG. The New Testament was translated into their language and given to the people in 2012. 

But after the work is “done”, (a church is established, leaders are appointed, the Bible is translated, and the missionaries leave) there is still a church in the middle of the jungle that is learning how to depend on God’s Word and follow Him. 

Trips like this are a part of that continuing discipleship and encouragement of God’s church and the mutual edification of the body. I had heard the local churches in the area were struggling. I went with other missionary leaders and friends to share words of encouragement and exhortation with the church leaders.

We flew into an airstrip close by then took a motor dugout canoe up the river for 1 ½ hours. After traveling all that way, what I didn’t expect was to get into a car and drive. There in the middle of the jungle, the middle of nowhere, was a gravel road cutting straight through where my brother’s house used to be. Lumber companies work all around the country, they will collect for a couple of years, then move on to the next place and let the land rest. The company had come in a few years before and brought new employment opportunities for the people. 

The road brought the people money as well as lots of beer to spend it on. Because of its isolation, these people had never had to deal with alcohol. Now, suddenly the church is having to address a brand new stronghold that is draining the church. Faithful leaders are working out how to disciple and lead the church through problems they’ve never had to navigate before. 

We listened to their worries and a veteran missionary cut through their shame and addressed the heart of the problems the church is facing. He encouraged them to continue in discipleship, not from the pulpit but one on one, father to son, or brother to brother. 

We know the world constantly changes, but God does not. We can trust Him at his word. Our friends here in the jungle have the same scripture and the same lifeline. And we can all follow the Lord in whatever new circumstance we encounter.  

I’m super thankful I got to go and be part of encouraging these churches. We want to see them grow to maturity, trusting in Jesus in whatever circumstance. We want that for ourselves and for our friends here in PNG. We would love for you to join us in praying for the different church plants around the country who are seeking to follow the Lord and for the many difficulties they face.