Genuine Preaching: Sharing the gospel authentically requires an understanding that it is not about eloquence or charisma but about a genuine connection with the truth of God’s Word. Many believers grapple with insecurities and doubts about their ability to effectively communicate the message, but the essence of preaching lies in obedience to God’s command and a sincere heart for sharing the Word. Throughout history, God has consistently demonstrated His preference for authenticity over outward appearances. He called Moses, a man with a speech impediment, to lead His people out of bondage in Egypt. Despite his initial reluctance, Moses obeyed God’s call and became one of the most significant figures in biblical history.
Angeles, Pampanga Province — Philippines: The dense tropical air hung heavy, thick with the metallic tang of fresh blood mingling with sweat. Under the scorching 100-degree heat on the streets of Angeles we followed a procession of catholic penitents. These masked men with exposed backs, now stained in blooms of crimson subject themselves to ritual self-flagellation. Tasseled whips lashed bare skin in reverberating tin sounding hits, trailing arcs of scarlet with each agonizing stroke. Children followed the columns, eyes wide, sweat beading on brows as they held small buckets of water. Periodically the bloodied penitents would dip their flagella into the pails, diluting it before resuming their lacerating rhythm. At the front, men shouldered heavy wooden crosses, leading the groups through the side-streets of Angeles city. With each lurching step, flecks of gore splattered outward, misting the ground, walls, and any bystanders with a ghastly red overspray. We were not spared the errant spatter, and immediately wiped away the warm blood that clung to our exposed skin and camera equipment.
Witness: In a world obsessed with human logic, philosophical reason and biased scientific theory, the truth of the supernatural and miraculous is often dismissed or ignored. But as believers, we know we serve a supernatural God who transcends the natural realm. Throughout Scripture, we are reminded that the supernatural is REAL and it is an integral part of true faith. In fact, it is impossible to truly have a relationship with Christ Jesus if you do not believe that He is the Word made flesh, that He died for our sins, is risen and will come again. Unfortunately, many modern day churches neglect speaking about the supernatural nature of God because it goes against the mainstream ideals of the world. However, when you read the Gospels they are marked from beginning to end with a documentation of miraculous events from the life of Jesus. This is why the apostle Peter emphatically declares, “For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty” (2 Peter 1:16).
Spark: How often do we underestimate the power of a single spark? It takes only one struck match to start a blazing fire. One encouraging word might renew fading hope. One act of kindness can shift a hardened heart. One truthful conversation might plant the seed of salvation. One phone call at just the right moment could prevent tragedy and despair. One prayer lifted up in sincere faith unleashes heavenly power. One decision to surrender your life fully ignites a radical transformation. And like a glowing ember fanned into a flame, a divine spark, though it may seem insignificant at the time, can blaze into a sweeping move of God that changes everything. Here are a few examples of historical sparks that impacted the world.
Christ the Lord and Savior: The foundational truth upon which our faith stands is that Jesus Christ is both Lord and Savior. As prophesied in Isaiah 9:6, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” When Jesus walked this earth, He demonstrated His lordship through teachings that astounded the people (Matthew 7:28–29). He displayed authority over sickness, nature, evil spirits and even death itself. After willingly laying down His life on the cross to atone for our sins, Christ proved His supremacy as Savior and Lord through the resurrection. Jesus lovingly calls those who follow Him not merely believers, but friends (John 15:15). Yet we must not lose sight that He is King of kings and Lord of lords (Revelation 19:16). As Savior, Jesus bestows the gift of salvation upon all who call upon His name. As Lord, He rules our lives and demands our unwavering allegiance. Christ alone must occupy the throne room of our hearts.
Part Two: Moses — Moses grew up in a time where his people, the Hebrews, were oppressed by the Egyptians. His life was suppose to end at birth. The Egyptians, who feared the rise of the enslaved Hebrews sent an edict throughout the land that all newborn male Hebrews were to be thrown into the Nile and drowned. Moses, whose mother couldn't bare this outcome, set him in the reeds of the Nile hoping life would find him.
We would like to share a continuation of our days in Nepal in the aftermath of earthquake.
Day Two: A quiet dawn breaks over the city of Kathmandu. Gone are the incessant honking of horns, street sellers hawking goods and the busy foot traffic that gives Kathmandu its personality. The mood instead is somber, quiet, and fearful of what happened and what might happen next.
The Earthquake: Day One - 11:56 AM Thamel District - Kathmandu, Nepal: A low rumble of what seems like a large truck passing by begins to vibrate the desk I am working at in our 2nd floor room. But something is different. The vibration begins to increase and I take my hands from the desk and lift them up like I have done something to cause this. I then look at a water bottle near me as it teeters around in a dancing motion and then falls to the ground. The deep rumble increases and the entire room begins to sway. I look over to William and both of our eyes grow wider as the vertigo motion takes hold. It feels as if we are aboard a ship in high waves and passing over debris. The rumble increases and from every direction we hear screams of terror.
Siberut Island, Mentawai archipelago off West Sumatra - Indonesia: Sitting cross-legged on the wooden-slat floor inside the uma (Mentawai style long home) we take stock of our scratches and leech bites from a long jungle trek. Our clothes are soaked with sweat and mud and we are flush pink from exhaustion.
Finding Your Quest
A Quest, by the medieval definition is: an expedition made by a knight to accomplish a prescribed task. There is a great amount of adventure, daring and excitement in that short definition, and in the depths of every person there is a desire to take a quest. Quests, are not, specifically, all the same, but each person has one. We, as Christians, know we have a Quest given by the King of Kings (Mark 16:15), but He sends each of us out, in different capacities, to accomplish the same goal. Do you know what your Quest is? Are you living your Quest?
We would like to show some of the first testimony responses to the new episode--People of the Trees. We are so grateful for the support and prayers each of you has given and we look forward to many more great missions like the Korowai Journey.
Interior Papua, Indonesia: As we set off for another day of marching in the flooded forest, we think about how the days in the jungle changes a person’s perspective. In our own experiences, we notice that there is an immediate shift of focus that becomes more simplistic. We awaken each day, march in the prehistoric forests, pray in the spirit as we trek, minister the Gospel to Korowai settlements and sleep happy and without burden even though we face extreme physical conditions each day.
Deep Jungle — Korwai regions, Papua: The soft rain of the night has stopped and a steam lifts from the jungle floor at early dawn. A light blue hue is cast over everything as we sip boiled water from our cups. The Korowai porters on our team are already active and moving supplies into their packs for our next march into deeper regions. Yesterday, we prayed with, and led two elderly Korowai brothers to the Lord, both of whom sit with us and our team around the last embers of our morning fire.
Korowai regions — Interior Papua: Looking down, our gum boots are almost submerged in the flooded jungle floor as we trudge through kilometer after kilometer of deep bush. Mud, twisted trees, rust colored water, soft rain, humidity, the sounds of mosquitos circling our ears is the scene that feels like a prehistoric world, but this isn’t prehistory, this is now, here in the interior of Papua.
The interior of West Papua holds some of the most remote tribes known on earth and even the possibilities of uncontacted peoples. For example, it was not until 1938 that the highland regions around Wamena were known to the outside world. Missionaries have been active in the region since the first discovery of the highland Dani tribes and arrived as early as 1954. Cannibalism and intense tribal wars were the common way of life in the highland as recently as the 80’s, and even today around Wamena and the Baliem Valley, you will still find that, amongst the middle aged and elderly, a traditional way of life.
