Counting the Costs

Time. Money. Family. Children. Friends. Success. Failure. How much does overseas missions cost the missionary? I think the question should rather be have the missionaries put a limit on what they are willing to pay?

We had a guest speaker, Brooks Buser come through this month who gave a challenging message to us. He spoke for less than an hour but I have replayed his words for days. He and his family have successfully planted a church among the previously unreached Yembiyembi tribal group in Papua New Guinea and have finished translating the New Testament into their language. While this is an amazing accomplishment, he didn't tell us a string of funny stories but rather told us the hard stuff. He told us that we need to be committed. Committed for the long haul, the rough road, the unexpected. He said that we need to be prepared for sacrifice. We can't do it all and we have to sacrifice some things in order to fulfill what God has called us to.

What if we are willing to pay the costs? To make such a sacrifice? We then may become a part in God's work in reaching a tribe with the Gospel and they may shed their animistic lives of bondage and hold fast to the truth of God's Word! The Word of God will turn their lives radically upside down as they understand who He is and His desires for their lives. What a joyous day that will be!

But. What if that's not how the story ends. What if, after spending years learning the language, teaching the people how to read and write in their mother tongue, translating the whole of Scripture, and creating lessons that minister directly to their worldview; what if, after all of this, you present the Gospel and nothing happens. The people are not receptive and reject the message. Have you failed? Was the sacrifice worth it? Will you still remain faithful to what God has called you to?

Hebrews 11 records the great Hall of Faith where great men like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and others commended for their acts of faith. However, the end of Hebrews 11 records those who's message was not received. God does not call them failures but, rather, says that the world was not worthy of them. It continues by saying that they, "were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised." We cannot always judge success by the outward results but by the faithfulness of God's people.

Wow! Talk about convicting! Obviously, we are heading to the tribe with the goal and expectation that the people we will be ministering to will receive the Gospel but, if they don't, will we still call God faithful? I believe we will.

We strongly recommended you read this article about translation. It contains an excellent synopsis of why Cameron and I are desiring to do translation work in a tribe. It also includes some Brooks Buser's story with the Yembiyembi tribe in Papua New Guinea.

Thank you for words of encouragement, prayers and support!

United in Christ,

Caitlin and Cameron

We invite you to prayerfully consider partnering with us through regular monthly support or a one-time gift, as we prepare and train to go and share the Gospel with those who have never heard.
When designating which missionary you are supporting, indicate:
Cameron Neace Account #900458