LINKYOUR CONNECTION WITH TRIBAL MISSIONS 2021 March EDITORIAL HEARTFELT THANKS

Graham and Carol Townley took their first steps of faith into missions together in 1985, and as the Lord directs, so He provides. They served in for twelve years with their young family, working in Graham and Carol Townley various support roles before returning Isaiah 55:9 to the UK in the summer of 2000, “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, joining the team at North Cotes that So are My ways higher than your ways, September. Graham worked mainly And My thoughts than your thoughts.” on grounds as part of the campus management team, and Carol in many roles, including kitchen manager and All of us experience times of waiting; It might appear that things come practical programme co-ordinator. it may be for answers to our prayers, to a halt, but God is still at work. In May last year, they took another for new plans to unfold, or for a We hope that as you read the articles step of faith, moving to Ingleton to change in circumstances. These in this edition, you are encouraged to refurbish the bungalow belonging to Ingvard and Erla Petersen times may stretch our patience as see that these times are not wasted; Graham’s mum, hoping to care for her we eagerly anticipate an end to the that God’s timing is always perfect there. In September, they received waiting and uncertainty. and is never hindered by unexpected the news that she had gone home Our missionaries also experience disruptions. to glory. Graham and Carol are very Ingvard taught in the Biblical Studies periods of waiting with interruptions You will see in their testimonies the aware of the verse Proverbs 16:9, ‘In course and served in leadership, and delays to their travel, or ministry vital truth that it is God’s work in and his heart a man plans his course, but while Erla was involved in various plans due to illness, family needs, through us each day that is most the Lord determines his steps.’ They ministries over the years, including paperwork and, more recently, the important, no waiting required. are so thankful that God overrules student housing and administrative in each step they take. For now, they work in the college. Together they pandemic and related restrictions. have stepped out of NTM, but their provided guidance and support to the intention is not to leave permanently, students in their fellowship group

March 2021 work in the same area or country payable to New Tribes Mission. they are not ready to retire. Beyond each year. They moved back to the Volume XLVII or use pictures from other archives. You can donate online: the immediate plans for local ministry, Faroe Islands just over two years ago Issue 1 Link is the official magazine of www.ntm.org.uk/give they are waiting to see what God where God has provided them with a New Tribes Mission in the UK and New Tribes Mission is a registered Cover photo: NTM Resource is published three times a year. It charity, No. 278627. directs them to next. Their faithful place to live and new jobs. Recently Printed by: DMP, Keighley, is available without charge. Please Tel: +44 (0)1472 387700 service thus far is much appreciated. they made the decision to step out West Yorkshire notify us promptly of any change Fax: +44 (0)1472 387707 © 2021 New Tribes Mission of address or if you do not wish to [email protected] of full-time ministry. However, their continue receiving a copy of Link. www.ntm.org.uk Content of this Link or any previous Ingvard and Erla Petersen are from heart for missions has not changed issue may not be reproduced in All financial gifts should be sent Contact our representatives: the Faroe Islands. They count it an and they will continue to support and whole or in part unless expressly to NTM-UK Finance Office at the Ireland (North & South) honour to have served the Lord with represent the work of NTM Faroes. authorised in writing by the following address: [email protected] Publication team. NEW TRIBES MISSION, Mainland UK NTM for 20 years, spending the first We are thankful for their many years As our missionaries are not North Cotes, Grimsby DN36 5XU, frank_brearley ntm.org.uk professional photographers we are England @ eight years working in Latin America, of faithful ministry and pray that God stephen_jerrard ntm.org.uk not always able to use the pictures @ then moving to NTM North Cotes would continue to bless them in their [email protected] supplied with the submitted articles. Gifts may be designated for a in 2008 with their three children. future plans. We will in such cases use pictures missionary, ministry or other taken by other missionaries who purpose. Cheques should be made 3 about to buy tickets, the advice was Meanwhile, slowly working on that for over sixties, especially with translation, although motivation is medical conditions, it was unwise to low without a return date, we take up return to PNG, as there are no critical any opportunities that present for us GOD FINISHES WHAT HE STARTS care beds available if complications to serve the Lord. Our situation is not developed from Covid-19. isolated and many missionaries face Looking back over life, now in our help. How should we respond to A year on we are still waiting to difficulties, but we rejoice that the sixties, and in a global pandemic, we hindrances? Call it a day? In our case, return, with limited flights and last- work of the Gospel and establishing reflect on the goals of our thirties convinced that God finishes what He minute cancellations and reams of churches continues in many places. when a chunk of life was ahead. starts, we wanted to bring the work paper work. Some missionaries have As church planters in Papua New to some sort of conclusion. Our main returned, but the biggest difficulty Guinea, by now, we expected to be objective is to complete the translation for us is ‘over insurance’ due to pre- retiring, a New Testament printed and lessons of a selection of New existing conditions. We are thankful to and a flourishing indigenous church Testament epistles. be able to call brother K.... in the village established. But with sickness, family In 2015, Paul had appendicitis, which a on his mobile phone each month. It concerns, aging parents and more few months later resulted in a medical provides a limited picture, but mutual over the years, we find those goals condition that grounded us in England. encouragement. He is the only Bible unattained. With that now rectified, but with teacher... teaching the believers from Our home and belongings in the concerns about leaving an aging parent, the translated Scripture and Bible village were destroyed during our we have returned to PNG for shorter lessons. home assignment of 2007. This periods. Our last trip to the village The believers worry about us in Paul and Susan occurred just three years after the was October 2019. Good progress the pandemic. We rejoice that they first Gospel presentation and when was made with comprehension continue to gather in one of their checks on 1 Corinthians and 1 and 2 translating of epistles and Bible homes. News of our friends is vital. Yes, Paul and Susan are from Thessalonians. Susan and a friend lessons, together with teaching there is sadness at reports of those Chesterfield and have served with the new believers, was gaining completed the first draft translation of who once followed the Lord but choose NTM since they started Bible college momentum. Some suggested it was the book of Revelation. to continue in sin rather than serve in 1986 and have ministered in a not God’s will for us to return, but we Returning to England early 2020 there Him. We know something of what the number of roles. They have worked expected the sin and attitudes in this were obvious signs of the looming apostle Paul felt in Philippians 1:3-8 in with a people group in Papua New world to touch us and so we rebuilt pandemic but we had determined to writing to the Thessalonian believers. Guinea since 1993. They have three and picked up again with the Lord’s travel again in April. Then, as we were daughters and five grandchildren. 4 5 NEW TO NAYBA Elizabeth is from Canada and her The exciting day of beginning our husband Ragnar is from the Faroe journey of living in the tribal village Islands. They have been working of Nayba had finally come! We could with NTM since 1978. hardly believe that we were literally Most of their ministry has been in on our way up the winding path we were waiting for the rice and on the third week, Myrna,​ along with the Philippines, working mainly veggies to boil, the men made a 13 other ladies, came to spend the that leads to Nayba. We had been with the Kankanaey people. planning this move for a couple of circle around Ragnar and the women day with me. Their homes are very They have two grown children and around me. They each introduced spread out so it will take some time, years so I had to pinch myself to see eight grandchildren. if it was really coming true now, or themselves, telling us a bit about but over future months we should be their family, which village they live able to eventually reach all of them. was it still a dream? More folk had sent over freshly in etc. Lord willing it will not be long harvested rice, bananas, green What fun being surrounded by my After travelling in our truck as far as before we can call them all by name beans, ginger, freshly baked rice sisters in Christ who are going way we could, we began the 15 minute and know who belongs in which cakes and more. They also stayed beyond what I would have thought or hike up the steep mountain where family. we were greeted by lots of our to cook dinner for us and then help expected to make me feel like one of neighbours, who had been there carry some belongings that had been Myrna has offered to take me to visit a them. new family in our church each week. since early morning doing last stored in the church building over to What an encouraging beginning to What a great idea and wonderful minute things to make sure our the house. life in Nayba! We look forward to the way to get to know my sisters in this house was ready for us. On our first Sunday there, our time the Lord allows us to live there​ area. Her kind offer is very much Not only were we welcomed with big brothers and sisters could not have working with this wonderful group of appreciated and I really look forward smiles and hugs, but they had also been more friendly and welcoming! believers. to those times! The first two weeks boiled sweet potatoes ready for us to After the morning service and before we visited Alisha and Imelda. Then go along with the coffee. the afternoon prayer meeting, while

6 7 THE ‘REAL THING’ Ben is from England and Tabea While in the training at North Cotes, How much can things like is from Germany. They have two we enjoyed learning about missions marriage, kids, and a personal boys and another one on the way. but longed to put into action what relationship with the Lord, change They have been studying national we had been learning about church in ten years’ time? Those changes language and culture in Asia- planting, and finally leave for the will be based on how we think and Pacific for about one year. mission field to start with the ‘real act today. thing’. But then we are reminded that we If what we do today only makes Shortly after arriving on the mission will first need to learn the tribal sense in the light of the goal of field we realised that we could do language, which is even harder as it seeing a church planted, what if less here than in our home country. is often an unwritten language. This that goal does not work out the way We felt like children again; we could is necessary so that those language we planned? Is it all wasted? barely say please and thank you, we groups will understand the Gospel But what if the ‘real thing’ isn’t could not drive, we did not know clearly. the ministry goal? What if the Lord how to go shopping, we did not All this together could add up to wants more than anything to have a know how to cook, we did not know relationship with us; for us to walk how to use the toilets and we were maybe ten years of waiting for the ‘real thing’! closely with Him, know Him more, totally dependent on others to help praise Him, be transformed in His us get by… The problem with this attitude, is image, while heading towards the The thought that comes to mind is: that by just trying to get to the next goal that He has put in our hearts? step as fast as possible can mean maybe after we finish learning the We need not wait for the ‘real thing’ trade language, then we can finally missed opportunities that are right in front of us. as it is the Lord working in and start the ‘real thing’. through us today that is important.

8 9 Jack is from Lancashire and worked with his wife Isa in from 1970 until 2007, after which they made return visits each year to do further teaching. They were able to see several churches planted in the Pawaia language group and the believers there are going on well. After Isa's death in 2019, Jack came to live at North Cotes. He is a member of the teaching team.

Jack Douglas DRIVEN BY GOD CHOSEN PEOPLE Koen and Anne-Laure Verdonck from Do you know how many roots a tree “But ye are a chosen generation, promised that all the nations of the Belgium serve in Papua New Guinea. has or where they go? In the same a royal priesthood, an holy nation, earth would be blessed though him. They were encouraged recently when way you do not know who and where a peculiar people; that ye should This promise was repeated to Abram’s PNG Pastor Zato spoke at a Sunday people are praying for you. shew forth the praises of him who son and again to his grandson. We service. He talked about the grace In our lives, we often drive the car hath called you out of darkness into now know that God had chosen that of God. “Mari Mari belong God” in and God and Jesus are allowed to his marvellous light;” 1 Peter 2:9. family to be the means of bringing the Whilst teaching through this verse . come with us, but in the back seat. Saviour into the world, the Saviour to the village believers, I wrote the The following is a rendering of some But we should let God drive and we who is the one to bless all nations. main points on the blackboard and of the very simple wisdom Pastor should be on the back seat as God Jesus explained very clearly to His continued teaching. Suddenly, as the Zato shared. knows where He is going! A daddy followers that they were to be His application struck home, a man stood witnesses - that they were to make “Sometimes, when you go shopping, holds the hand of his child! Not the up and, pointing to the blackboard disciples of all the nations. the shelves are empty here! God’s other way around! exclaimed, “That’s us.” He was right. Whilst it is true that the nation of grace is never low or empty! When you mow your lawn, that grass That is us! It does mean that we Israel is a witness to the fact that will grow again. But when you pull it believers are such a people, God’s If there is trouble in a tribal location God works in world history, it is in a out, it is dead. When we try to get rid special people. It is clear in the Old and there is fighting (a very normal passive sense today. Let us make of our own sin, it will grow back but Testament, that Israel was the one thing here) would you send your son sure that our Christian witness is nation that God chose out of all the to go in and solve the problems? We if Christ removes our sin, it will not not merely passive, by maintaining a nations. They were to stand out as would not either. But God did! grow back.” religious ritual performed weekly, but different, separated to Jehovah, let us faithfully and clearly make the holy. However, that was not intended Gospel known. Peter tells us that the to make them a proud nation. God’s reason we are God’s special people is TO THE FIELD purpose in choosing them was that that we should let it be known publicly they should be his witnesses. They In January, a couple from Austria that we praise Him for bringing us out were blessed to have a God who is joined the team in Asia-Pacific. of darkness into His wonderful light. always near and who hears their We have a story to tell to the nations, prayers, a nation with an outstanding, In February, a single lady from about the only One who gives eternal God-given constitution. (Deut. 4:5-8) Northern Ireland joined the team life! What a privilege and what a in Southeast Asia Mainland. When God chose Abram and promised responsibility! him a nation and a land, He also 10 11 CAMPUS News Jakob and Christina Klein are from Germany. They have been richly blessed with three children Joshua (6), Nele (4) and Jack (1). They have been serving the Lord as kitchen managers at North Cotes College since August 2020.

"In order to continue to be able to have information which was submitted at The Klein Family European students join us here for the end of February. Following this, 1 Cor. 10:31 missionary training we are currently there will be a detailed inspection of SO WHETHER YOU EAT OR DRINK OR WHATEVER YOU DO, pursuing accreditation for the all aspects of college life, although DO IT ALL FOR THE GLORY OF GOD. college via the British Accreditation this may initially have to be done Council. This is so that we can online (possibly in March). Hopefully, In 2016, after we had a good After completing the biblical studies obtain visas for Biblical Studies we will be granted a temporary conversation with my sister, my wife course, we stayed on at North Cotes as students for the next academic licence, after which a more thorough and I were challenged about going to volunteers in the kitchen for another year onwards, as well as for future on-site inspection will occur once North Cotes College; my sister had school year and were then challenged Cross Cultural Communications and the coronavirus restrictions allow. studied there several years earlier. about being involved in the kitchen Advanced Linguistics students. We Please pray for us in this process We visited the college in October on a longer-term basis. After seeing have already sent in our application and for a good relationship with the 2016, just after our daughter Nele the need for kitchen personnel on a and have added some more detailed accreditors." was born, and applied shortly after for more permanent basis, God laid this the biblical studies course starting in ministry on our hearts. September 2017. After the initial year of volunteering, THE ONSITE ‘NOAH’S ARK’ NURSERY IS NOW God made it very clear to us that the we returned to Germany to spend REQUIRED TO BE OFSTED REGISTERED. biblical studies course was the right time with our home church, family and PLEASE PRAY FOR THE NURSERY MANAGER AND next step in our lives. After we were friends. We prayed during that year in TEAM THAT ARE WORKING THROUGH THIS PROCESS. accepted for the course, we faced Germany that God would show us and several practical challenges moving direct us in the way He wanted us to be to North Cotes. God blessed us with involved in mission support work. our praying church, friends and family, The first valley on the workshop roof has now Looking back, we are again so amazed and all the challenges (big and small) been refurbished to a very good standard. that God blessed the period of decision were sorted out so quickly that we making, especially throughout the time It is hoped that the other six can be done at were amazed at how God blessed the some point soon. after March 2019 when the pandemic preparation time. crisis began and many things became A new heating control system has been God gave us a very special and blessed uncertain. We are grateful that He fitted in five buildings. This should make the time during the year of biblical studies. made it clear that He wants us to serve system more energy efficient, needing less We were able to look deeper into so in the kitchen at North Cotes College maintenance whilst keeping a more even many crucial truths of God’s Word. and we are thankful for the amazing temperature. During that year, God laid it on our team He has put together to support hearts to support missions or mission the students in their training. training in a practical way. 12 13 IMPACT 4 ETERNITY

Kevin is from England and has served Please pray for Brazil, in particular The remote Mibu people of Papua in the Philippines and North Cotes. Manaus, where the number New Guinea have been working He has three grown children, Caleb, of Covid-19 cases has been on their airstrip for well over Samuel & Heather, and a dog called overwhelming. Earlier this year twenty years. Literally moving Sakura. Heather now serves in the missionary, Phil Jansma, sadly did mountains by hand! Construction nursery here on campus. not recover from coronavirus and was completed in 2018. However, leaves behind his wife, Kristi and due to soft materials in a 90-meter twelve children. The family have section, while testing the strip a Kevin Still decided to return to the USA for a plane suffered total prop and engine time of healing. damage. The strip was deemed BEHIND THE SCENES unsafe and inoperable. It needs Simon and Annika Flanagan serve both permanent drainage as well as I began my journey with NTM back to me and my family, but also, as I am among the Mengen people of Papua subsurface soil reinforcement. The in 1982. Since then, I have served for actively involved in the administration 12 years in the Philippines and latterly for NTM-UK, to have seen first- New Guinea. They have five children cost of this is beyond the reach of for over 21 years here at NTM’s Head hand God’s faithfulness to so many and are looking for a home school the local people. Office, North Cotes. As I look back over missionaries and to the mission in helper from August 2021 - May 2022. these years, one thing that I know I general. Please pray that the Lord would North Cotes College courses are should focus on is God’s faithfulness. As one of the families that first moved provide the right person to fill this open to anyone who desires to grow Just last year we put up a wall sticker up to North Cotes back in 1999, it role. in their knowledge of God and His in our office that serves as a constant is amazing to remember how many Word, or wants to be equipped to reminder of all that God has faithfully times, and in so many ways, God has Since travel has started to open up take the good news of Jesus to provided. provided for the work here. He has not a little, please pray for those who unreached people groups. Pray for just provided financially, although that have returned to PNG and also for the accreditation process. Also, is for certain, but He has even sent All I have needed thy hand hath provided several that recently arrived in Asia- pray for students to apply for along people to meet specific needs Pacific and Southeast Asia for the courses starting in September. GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS and projects. It remains a constant first time. Lord unto me challenge to look at the hard situations we may experience, and at the same Just three years ago, we found out that time remember we serve the One who my lovely wife of 25 years, Marie, was cannot be anything but faithful. Sadly, due to the uncertainty diagnosed with cancer. After a 364-day I love the thought of the memorial 18-20 JUNE 2021 regarding coronavirus, it will not battle with Sarcoma, she was taken stones that the children of Israel be possible to hold our residential home to be with her Saviour. Even in were instructed to construct, serving conference this year. However, it the midst of pain, suffering and grief, as a reminder of all that God had God was faithful, and continues to may be possible to have an online done for them. As we reflect on God’s show us His faithfulness. He is our conference similar to the Reach faithfulness in so many ways, may these faithful cornerstone and strong anchor conference. reflections be a constant reminder that in the midst of the storm. More information will be posted it is God who is faithful and that HE will on our website ntm.org.uk nearer I consider it a privilege to not only be build His Church around the world for the time. aware of how God has been faithful HIS glory.

14 15 Searching FOR VOLUNTEERS we are looking for: • kitchen volunteers • nursery volunteers (preferably with a qualification in childcare level 2 or above) • skilled maintenance volunteers must be • IT volunteers UK resident

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