Every Marine is a Rifleman

“What do you see as your family’s role on Team Vanuatu?”

...was the first question asked of me by Bill Lake, BMW’s Pacific Area Director, as we were sitting around a table on the island of Santo in Vanuatu.

It is amazing for Tania and I to look back and see how the Lord has uniquely equipped our family with skills and know-how vital to the work of Team Vanuatu (Eph 2:10). Technology, communications, construction, alternative energy development, water development, “off-grid”/primitive living, survival skills, logistics, and education are just some of the practical ways in which we will contribute to the team. However, all team members share the same main focus of planting indigenous churches.

Allow me to illustrate. In the Marine Corps every Marine is a Rifleman. In addition to the title and responsibility of ‘Rifleman’ each Marine has a specific occupational specialty that is essential to the overall effectiveness of the Marine Corps as a unit. In the same way, every Missionary is an Ambassador for Christ, while at the same time each has specific responsibilities that are essential to effective ministry (1Corinthians 12:12-28).

Our family will be actively involved in building relationships, evangelism, and discipleship. However, our unique role will be to support the team in such a way that our fellow missionaries will be free to do their jobs. This will allow everyone to be more effective servants of Almighty God as we proclaim Christ among the unreached.

In the remote areas of Vanuatu there is no corner supermarket, drugstore, or lumberyard. You can’t just plug your appliances into an outlet or turn on the tap for hot water (or any water for that matter). Communications may be a matter of life, or death. The skills we bring to the field will be crucial to the long-term sustainability of the ministry.

The Ni-Vanuatu that will come to know Christ as He sends workers into that field have been purchased with His precious blood. We overflow with thankfulness to God that, by His grace, we are able to be a part of the work He is doing as He gathers worshipers from every tribe and language and people and nation. And so we pray that as you learn more about what God is doing, you also will become impassioned with the vision to claim Vanuatu for Christ and will join with us as fellow laborers among the fields of harvest.

Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth laborers into his harvest. Luke 10:2 KJV

Vanuatu?

Until CBS filmed a Survivor series on the islands of Vanuatu (formerly known as the New Hebrides), most people did not even know these islands existed.

To read more about Vanuatu visit http://www.biblicalministries.org/countries/vanuatu.html

BMW Candidate Orientation Report

We thank God for all of you that prayed for us during our time in Georgia with Biblical Ministries Worldwide (BMW). It was a grueling two weeks ‘under the microscope’. We were tested and analyzed on everything from theology (both a written test and three hours of oral audits), our marriage (a twenty, yes twenty, page survey), plus our autobiographies, personality and temperament analysis, and many, many meetings over meals with the General Director, Area Directors, and other BMW staff. All of this was in addition to much training in many areas of ministry, deputation, and preparation for uprooting and moving to a completely foreign culture. At the end of it all we sat before the Board, and praise God, were approved.

And now the work begins!

Dear Fellow Laborers,

A Letter from Vanuatu Team Leader, Brad Jones

In March of 2005, after almost 7 years of prayer and planning, my wife and I partnered with Biblical Ministries Worldwide to establish a pioneering mission team to take the Gospel into the tribal areas of Vanuatu. In Vanuatu, 80% of the indigenous people live in bush villages spread out over 85 islands. To effectively reach the Ni-Vanuatu people for Christ we must go out to where they are…to live among them…to understand their culture and to speak their language. In order to do this, we knew that we would need strong, gifted teammates who love God and are committed to the work ahead.

By the fall of 2006 God was bringing a strong team together, but we still lacked a like-minded couple who was not only gifted in the areas of evangelism, discipleship, and leadership training, but who would also be able to concentrate on the sustainability of our team in a harsh, unfamiliar tribal environment. Then, God “arranged” for us to meet Jim and Tania Kenner and this July they official joined Team Vanuatu! They are a mature, godly couple with knowledge and life experience in the areas we are lacking. Some of the essential areas where they will be contributing to our team include: technology, communications, alternative power, “off-grid living”, education, logistics, supplies and so much more…

God has answered the prayers of our team by uniting us with Jim and Tania. It is our team’s goal to be 100% prepared to leave for Vanuatu by March of 2008. That is an ambitious goal and especially ambitious for the Kenners as they are getting a later start than the rest of the team. We need them with us, and as they embark on this new path for their lives, they will need your prayer. I am asking that you would prayerfully consider being a part of their support team.

If I can be of any assistance as team facilitator, please contact me at bjones@biblicalministries.org

Amazed by His Grace,

Brad Jones

What Next?

"...all things are possible to him that believeth." Mark 9:23

Until we depart for the field, and thereafter, we pray that God would be glorified as we serve.

There is much work that lies ahead. It is our aim, Lord willing, to depart for the field at the same time as the rest of our team. Therefore we will be diligently doing all we can to prepare.

Worldview Resource Group in Colorado is holding a one week seminar in September. Many classes will be held on planting New Testament-patterned churches among indigenous people. The entire team is hoping to attend.

We have lofty ambitions as we prepare for deputation. But with God all things are possible. We recognize His Sovereignty and are fully submitted to His will.

Prayer is vital. The Apostle Paul prayed for his fellow workers. He also encouraged them by letting them know he was praying for them. Right now we need people, like you, that will be committed to faithfully support us through prayer and encouragement. Please let us know if you would like to partner with us in this way. And, if you have any questions, do not hesitate to ask.

This is only the tip of the iceberg.