NTM Baptizes Over 100 from Unreached Indigenous Tribe in Venezuela (fwd)

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NTM Baptizes Over 100 from Unreached Indigenous Tribe in Venezuela

New Tribes Mission (NTM)  an international association of missionaries  
concentrated on indigenous, unreached tribal groups in the world   
baptized more than 100 Macos in the Ventuare River of Venezuela, on  
Sunday, Sept. 11.

2038-01-18 19:14
http://www.christianpost.com/article/missions/1789/section/ 
ntm.baptizes.over.100.from.unreached.indigenous.tribe.in.venezuela/ 
1.htm

Last week, over 100 indigenous people from a tribe in Venezuela were  
baptized by a tribal-focused mission organization.

  New Tribes Mission (NTM)  an international association of missionaries  
concentrated on indigenous, unreached tribal groups in the world   
baptized more than 100 Macos in the Ventuare River of Venezuela, on  
Sunday, Sept. 11.

  I was just thrilled, NTM Nita Zelenak spokesperson told the Christian  
Post on Wednesday. That is what we are here for  to see that the gospel  
goes out to people who dont have a chance to hear it.

  According to NTM, the Maco people live in Southern Venezuela in both  
the jungle and savannah areas along the Ventuare River. They survive by  
planting gardens of jungle fruits and by fishing, relying on fish and  
yucca as their main source of nourishment.

  Prior to the arrival of NTM, the Macos had some knowledge of  
Christianity, learning from the Piaroa, one of approximately 12  
surrounding villages around the Maco tribe. Yet because of the language  
barrier, the Maco only had a garbled understanding of Christianity from  
the knowledge they gained through the Piaroa.

  NTM had first presented the Gospel to the Piarao village, and when NTM  
missionaries started to evangelize in the Maco village, they brought  
believers from the Piarao tribe to help teach the Maco tribe.

  Typically, Zelenak explained, we go in and we do it (evangelize) for a  
period after our missionaries have learned the language and culture  
well so that when they present the message they have a good idea how it  
will be understood and interpreted and they teach accordingly.

  What we try to do is work ourselves out of a job, she continued, so  
initially a missionary is doing the teaching, but after a while the  
native leaders are doing the teaching, and as the Bible is translated  
into their language they can be reading and studying on their own as  
they grow in their understanding.

  The team of missionaries working with the Maco tribe  Davey and Marie  
Jank, Joe and Jackie Bruce, Bruce and Cindy Higham, Phyllis Gordon, and  
Elivia Ulacio  press toward the goal of seeing the Maco form a self-run  
church. They hope that the Macos will soon be able to assume the  
position of the missionaries and spread the Gospel to other native  
tribes.

  Our long term goal for the Macos is to see them with a  
well-established church where they are the leaders and they are  
reaching out to others, taking the gospel to others  first, groups  
within their tribal groups and then to others beyond their tribal  
groups.

  Zelenak concluded her interview with the Christian Post voicing NTMs  
vision, goal, and mission when sharing the Gospel to the unreached  
tribal people of the world.

  There are so many people in the world today, it is not that they  
rejected Christianity, she said. They just dont know it exist.

  I see our responsibility making that choice to other people, we are  
not out to make people believe something but just let people know what  
is available.

  Currently, NTM missionaries are officially planting tribal churches in  
more than 18 "Explore" countries and also involved in vital support  
roles  including training and administration, supply buying and Bible  
translation. They also serve in nine other sending countries including  
Australia, Canada, Germany, South Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand,  
Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the United States.


  michelle at christianpost.com

Copyright © 2005 The Christian Post. Click for reprint information
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