The Gospel Changes Everything (HeartCry story by Paul Snider)
“I am sending you [to the Gentiles], to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.” — Acts 26:17-18
The following awesome story was written by HeartCry Missionary Society friend and partner Paul Snider who has served in Indonesia for many years. I urge you to read the entire piece and the of HeartCry's magazine (see below). I am confident it will lead you to praise God even as you continue to pray for these men and women made in God's image and for God's glory. Here is what Paul wrote:
"My wife and I have been serving in the Korowai tribe for over eleven years. When we first arrived, they were oblivious to the outside world. They lived in spiritual and moral darkness, practiced animistic rituals, and offered sacrifices to the evil spirit Saip. They believed that Saip was in control of their daily lives and had to be constantly appeased for them to have success in their families, gardening, and hunting. They attempted to ward off sickness by wearing necklaces, which they believed possessed power from Walapuul—another evil spirit whom they believed created the world. They hung the skeletons of fish, pigs, and rats on the rafters of their houses, and when the meat on the skeletons disappeared, they believed that Saip had consumed the meat and was pleased with them.
The Korowai people lived in a continuous and all-consuming fear. They held long vigils, chanting by the fire to appease Saip. They were reluctant to communicate with outsiders, even other Korowai, in fear that they might be witches. If an individual among the Korowai was accused of being a witch, he would be taken out of the village and shot through with arrows or drowned. In some cases, the accused would be tied up and force-fed chicken feces and hot sauce to induce vomiting in an attempt to exorcise the evil spirit.
As the gospel marches forth and the Holy Spirit renews the hearts of individuals, a greater change in the larger Korowai culture is occurring. No longer do we see men holding their children by their ankles and beating them over the head. No longer do we see men neglecting their wives. Men now provide and care for their families, walk with their wives and carry their children. We no longer see men rushing into our worship services and threatening us with their bows and arrows and machetes. Men are no longer purchasing child brides or offering their food to Saip in the sago-grub feasts. In contrast, we see them going out to preach the gospel and treat the sick.
Today in the Korowai tribe we have a medical clinic, a school, a dormitory for children, and most importantly a functioning biblical church. The gospel truly changes everything! It changes how we behave, how we think, how we live. Old customs that were tainted with sin swiftly die, and new God-honoring customs begin to take their place as the Holy Spirit sanctifies hearts. The power of the gospel is beyond any power that man can contrive. It is so powerful that it raises the spiritually dead man to abundant, eternal life in Christ.
All cultures—not just those in the jungles of Indonesia but also in the largest and most refined cities of the West—need to be changed and their sinful customs transformed according to the dictates of the Scriptures. But this change must be the result of a total transformation of the heart as men and women are “rescued from the domain of darkness and transferred to the kingdom of God’s beloved Son in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:13-14). As we have witnessed in the case of the Korowai, there is no cultural darkness too dark for the light of the gospel, for it is “the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16). The gospel changes everything!" -written by Paul Snider
Praise God for His awesome grace and the power of His glorious liberating gospel! May we cherish it, treasure it, proclaim it and share it. And may we do so faithfully, patiently and prayerfully and boldly all our days! Soli Deo Gloria
You can freely download and read the rest of Heartcry magazine's latest ministry work and prayer requests here:
https://heartcrymissionary.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Summer-2023-Final.pdf