Putting your money where your mouth is

Many Loron people talk about how much they want to have God’s word in their language. They are also doing something about it. On Saturday morning, a group of Loron church leaders gathered together to discuss the Loron Bible translation project. They represented Loron Christians from around twenty different churches.

Several reports were presented explaining the progress of the work. They were encouraged by the fact that during 2021, nine of Paul’s shorter epistles were completed and printed in their language.

They were also thrilled to learn that last year, between them, they had managed to raise around $2400/£1700 for the translation project.

We praise the Lord for the increasing interest and dedication that the Loron believers are showing, not only in Bible translation, but also in evangelism in new villages and Bible teaching. Pray for them that they will bring honour and glory to the Lord Jesus in all that they do.

…’pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified’ (2 Thess 3.1)

A Faithful Servant

In the early 1990’s, after spending several years learning the Loron culture and language, Marina and I, along with our missionary partners, began to bring the gospel to these dear unreached people. Sadly, a large section of the older generation of Loron people refused to listen to the message of God’s love for them, and most of them died without Christ.

There was one man, however, who was eager to hear the good news. His name was Cakʋrɛ [cha-ko-ray].

Cakʋrɛ lived with his wives and children in a large village about 6 miles from where the New Tribes missionary team was located. Over many months, the missionaries travelled in the evenings to his little family homestead, and presented a series of chronological Bible lessons to Cakʋrɛ and his family as they sat in a circle in their courtyard. I can vividly remember sitting in the cool of the evening in the open air, with a fire crackling in the background and the stars gazing down, as the Word of God was taught.

When the gospel was presented, Cakʋrɛ and several members of his family, put their trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation. They were the first Loron people in the village to become Christians.

Cakʋrɛ was a reserved and unassuming man who enjoyed wide respect in his community. For quite a few years there were no other Loron people in the village who became Christians, but gradually, through the quiet, humble witness and testimony of Cakʋrɛ and his family, more and more people trusted in Christ, and today there is a thriving church in the village, including his children, grandchildren, as well as many from other Loron families in the area.

Cakʋrɛ passed away on Thursday evening, and went to be with the Saviour that he loved and served. We thank the Lord for the life and work of our dear brother.

‘...bring forth fruit with patience’

‘...bring forth fruit with patience’ (Luke 8.15)

About 5 years ago, a group of Loron men and women from a small community just a few miles from our home village in Ivory Coast expressed an interest in learning how to read and write in their own language.

Marina arranged to begin teaching literacy to the group, but, after just a couple of weeks, some village leaders raised an objection to the classes and permission to use a little village classroom was withdrawn. Apparently, some of the elders were concerned that those who were learning to read might become Christians.

Marina could no longer teach there, but, in spite of the opposition, literacy classes continued elsewhere, and some in the community have now learned how to read and write.

Resistance to literacy and Bible teaching has been quite common over the years among those who resent the message of the gospel because they fear it may lead to a loss of power and control that they enjoy over the people. 

However, in numerous locations, the Lord has worked in people’s hearts and changed them, or has removed them from the situation altogether, and the work of the gospel continues to progress among the Loron people.

And so it is in this particular village. In His providence, the Lord has reopened the door, and now Bible teaching is taking place in the village, with around twenty young people and adults regularly listening to foundational Bible teaching from members of the Loron Bible teaching team.

Please pray that the Lord would work mightily though the church elders and other Bible teachers as they bring the gospel in this new Loron village, and that many more Loron people will put their trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, alone, for salvation.

‘He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.’ (Psalm 126.6) 

Briggs Family

This photo was taken last Summer. We thank the Lord for all of our children and grandchildren.