As In a Mirror

Wow, folks; I have been quite a busy beaver lately, what with a research paper to top it up. So I guess I just felt like I was letting y’all down by not doing any posting… I have had some little reminders about my story, but unfortunately, I do NOT have any time right now. (pauses and makes angel face) However, I thought I might just take a moment and share with you part of the inspiration for my story subject. If you read it , I think you will more understand the material that will be presented in future updates. It’s an article I read last year at the Baptist Press website, called, “Amazon Peoples Remain Unreached.” Here is a small clip from the article:

More than 400 people groups -– roughly 26 million people -– live in the Amazon Basin. Of that number, 270 people groups are less than 2 percent evangelical, with no IMB missionaries living among them. About 85 of the people groups survive completely isolated, deep in the jungle.

“We know they exist,” says Terry, pointing out that some of the groups have been spotted only by satellite.

“We know very little about them -– except they live in primitive situations. They’re [understandably] suspicious of outsiders.”

Two key factors keep these groups unreached by the Gospel. The government prohibits missionaries from having access to them. And, most of these groups live in areas considered too dangerous for outsiders. Dangers include guerilla fighters, hostile tribes, poor flying conditions, crumbling or nonexistent roads and unpredictable waters.

Please do click the link and read the whole article; I do not believe Baptists are the only qualified evangelists, but the people down there really need help, not the help of the media or the anthropologists or the government. It’s needed here at home, too. We have a more difficult environment to work in; people here have preconceived ideas about Jesus, God, the Bible, and Christians. What is needed is the Holy Spirit. He opens eyes, heals the lame, makes the mute to speak, and the poor to rejoice.

Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan-
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.” (Isaiah 9:1-2)