U___ lingered on the edge
of the crowd. Curiosity had drawn him to the Christian baptism service. He had
never before heard the gospel of Jesus, but he felt his heart strangely warmed.
Five people were immersed in the water, and each seemed to come up with great
joy. The evangelist then asked, “Is there anyone else who desires to receive
Christ and be baptized?” Suddenly,
U____ knew that he did. His new life began that day in 1996 when he strode
forward, accepted Christ, received baptism, and became a servant of the one
true God.
These humble beginnings were the
start of a move of God among the Miri, U_____'s tribe. The Miri remain
unreached, 0% evangelical Christians among them, according to surveys. U_____
and those early Miri believers faced fierce persecution from Hindu family,
friends, and neighbors. However, God has ways of overcoming opposition!
U_____ received a menacing
threat from one man—cease his efforts to convert Hindus to Christianity, or
else face death. He was given an ultimatum of fifteen days. But within those fifteen days the antagonist
got drunk and was killed in a motorcycle accident. As one might expect,
U_____ reported that persecution diminished somewhat following that event.
One of U___'s cousins had
spent more than $3,000 on doctors seeking a remedy for his illness. This was a
fortune for a Miri tribesman, most of whom are poor farmers. Five others
suffered from the same malady. As a last
resort, U____ was called upon to pray to his God, and all were healed, placed
their faith in Christ and were baptized!
U___ attended the ER School
of Evangelism in the state of Assam, graduating in 2007. Other Miri tribesmen
have also studied there, and through their efforts they have begun planting
house churches. Together they have
evangelized twenty villages. Forty-seven people have accepted Christ and been
baptized! Four house churches have been planted among the Miri, with an average
attendance of 12 each. God is on the
move, calling the Miri to repentance and salvation.
U____ needs help to
accomplish his mission to win the Miri. One little church has been built, and
it is too small now, praise God, to house the congregation! Funds are needed
for a larger building, and for a motorcycle for U_____ to use as he travels
from village to village as one of the leaders of this burgeoning work.
In 2013 Evangelism Resources
published the names of fifteen unreached people groups (UPGs), one of them
being the Miri, and encouraged people to “adopt” them. Those who adopt a UPG
are challenged to pray and give financially, if God directs, to support
evangelism efforts among that people group. Only one person thus far has adopted
the Miri—more people are needed to pray! U__ and his fellow SOE graduates
are counting on us to support their efforts. They know, as we do, that it is
God who sends laborers into whitened harvest fields, and He has commanded us to
pray for them (Luke 10:2).
Is the Holy Spirit prompting you
to join the Miri prayer team? Send an e-mail to Evangelism Resources at: eroffice@qx.net. We will be happy to add your name to the
team, send you materials to help you pray with wisdom, and report to you the
advances of the gospel among the Miri and other UPGs.
