From a Team Expansion worker:
Team Expansion had been praying for unreached people groups along the Amazon River. Specifically, one group (we call the Bobo) knowing them to be a very difficult-to-reach culture.
From those prayers, a director for the work in Brazil stepped forward.
Through his prayers and efforts, an overseer of indigenous workers stepped forward.
Then, again as an answer to prayer, a specific indigenous worker who was already connected to the Bobo, stepped forward.
Training Local Workers
Four Team Expansion workers joined with four members of a US church to provide a Disciple Making Tools Training in a frontier town in the Amazon. The goal was to train this one indigenous evangelist and a handful of other indigenous workers who would make disciples among unreached tribes in the Amazon.
As often happens in this part of the world, word of the training traveled along the river and several tribal people wanted to join. Thankfully some faithful churches and individuals provided funds to cover their expenses.
Two young adults living in a remote tribe wanted to attend. They had previously come to this frontier town for education and practical-skills training. During that time, they met our host, who led them to faith in Jesus. Now back in their village they were undergoing intense persecution from both family and peers. They wanted to attend the training for both spiritual and emotional support.
“But We’re Going With You!”
The church helping with the training was willing to cover their expenses, but their father, a tribal leader in the village, was not willing to let them come. After several days, he finally relented but said, “We are going with you! We must confront these people who made you change your religion.”
A canoe load of people from the village began the journey on the Amazon River. It was a four-day trip of non-stop travel. As was the custom, everyone fasted for several days prior to travel so no one had to stop for food or bathroom. Each person laid against another to keep from falling from the boat.
Along the way, a young lady gave birth. In the canoe. And they did not stop.
When the group arrived, the anticipated confrontation occurred. The father and another village elder were very hostile. They pointed their fingers in our host’s chest and made heated accusations. Our host, in his great wisdom, calmly listened and then made a challenge. “Your kids heard the story of Jesus and made a choice to believe. At this training, we will repeat what they heard. Will you listen so you understand why they chose to follow Jesus?”
They relented and agreed.
“I think God is doing something here.”
Part of the training is for participants to practice sharing their personal testimony with others. Instead of practicing with one another, the young believers would practice on other members of their tribe. When practicing sharing a simple Gospel presentation, again they practiced with the other villagers.
One day, while leading a feedback session, one of the local church members said, “I think God is doing something here. We should offer an invitation.”
We allowed the Holy Spirit to lead, and six members of the tribe accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior. This included both village elders! They came for a confrontation and left with a transformation.
