Greg and Wendy Mann: October 2006
Dear Family and Friends,
Please forgive our "silence." We have recently hosted a dental clinic and then spent a week in "town," for some much needed R and R. Wendy has battled a bad infection in her ankle, that has taken her down for serveral days. Thankfully she is doing MUCH better today.
On Friday I had a great meeting with the men in our ministry. I am wanting them to stand and think more independently. They are far from being prepared in their Bible training, but I believe they should act more independently from me. One very difficult, but very necessary step in our mission process is to develope self supporting churches. In light of this, I asked each of the men to give me a workable plan so that they can be free from outside support within the next 3 to 6 months. We have made steps in this direction in the past, but this is the first major move to get ALL the men "on their own." Please pray with us...this is A MAJOR STEP FOR OUR MINISTRY.
In response to this encouragement to think more on their own...we are already discussing the possibility to starting 2 NEW CHURCHES! We are in 7 villages now. I wish you could know what it is like to have people come to you from unevangelized villages and ask "WHEN ARE YOU COMING TO US?" Just in the past WEEK we have had people come to us from Hoti Quai, Cumwata, and Baramita and ask that very question. How would you answer? What would you do? Or should I say, WHAT WILL YOU DO? How urgent is it to get the gospel to these villages? What could you do personally to make a difference? Sometimes missions is presnted as a distant problem...you know, out of sight, and out of mind. But I think it should bother you that people must come and ask for the gospel to come to them. Jesus said GO, and the people are saying COME, what are you going to do? I think you should wrestle with that question for awhile. Unevangelized villages is not a problem for missionaries...it is a CHRISTIAN problem.
We had a wonderful prayer meeting on Friday. Romel, Andrew, Ashton, Paul, Allen, along with myself knelt together for prayer. (Norbert could not be present). The humility of these men of God is touching. I love praying with these men...they are so sincere, so transparent.
Please stay faithful in the Lord's work...and make sure you are making a difference for Him! DON'T WASTE YOUR LIFE!
Greg, Wendy, Joshua, Josiah, and John Mann
serving in the jungle