Keeping the Big Picture in view

I imagine that in every line of work it is easy to get distracted by the minutia, mundane tasks and daily irritations
that plague every type of job. The result can be a lack of focus. It is possible to start asking yourself, "Why am I
here, what is the bigger purpose for the work I am doing?"
Even though we serve at a Bible school that is engaged in
training cross-cultural missionaries, we too can get
sidetracked by the daily grind and lose sight of our true
purpose. Schedules to create, papers to grade,
curriculum to develop and meetings to attend are all
parts of our jobs here at New Tribes Bible Institute. If
we are not careful these things can become ends in
themselves rather than means to a greater purpose.
For the last three weeks I have been teaching a class on
Anthropology and Hamartiology (Man and Sin). There are
82 students in the class. Developing lesson plans,
preparing for class and grading papers is time consuming and at times can feel like drudgery. I purposefully invited
three guest speakers to speak in my class to help remind me and the students that we are preparing for a higher
purpose. Showing up to class, turning in assignments on time and getting good grades are not the highest goal that
we aspire to. Our greater purpose is to evangelize and disciple individuals so that people from every tribe, language
and nation can enjoy praising and worshiping God. We are invited by God to lay aside our earthly goals and desires
and be a part of this supernatural job.

Arnie and Diane Kitchener have just joined our staff here at NTBI and are heading up
our Food Services department. Prior to joining us they served for 30 years in the
Gavio tribe in Brazil and helped bring the gospel to that people group, saw individuals
come to the Lord and helped form a local church led by Gavio believers. What a
blessing it is to have missionaries serving at NTBI who have had first-hand experience
in planting a church in a previously unreached people group. The Kitcheners took one
class period to discuss how sin shaped the Gavio culture, how a fear based worldview
shaped their thinking and how the gospel has transformed their culture.

Greg and Tina Burt are missionaries in Thailand. They have served in Thailand for 8 years and

are in the States on a 1 year furlough. They have a daughter and a son attending NTBI and are
missionaries in residence here. Greg is working on our maintenance team and Tina is doing a
number of jobs including helping in the library and serving in child care. The Burts work with
the Thai Lu people group in northern Thailand. They have learned the language and culture,
developed lessons in the Thai Lu language and are ready to begin teaching the Bible to
them. Greg and Tina shared in my class about how a shame based culture views sin and some
of the roadblocks to sharing the gospel with the Thai Lu.

BJ and Jill Sanders are recent graduates of NTBI. Since graduating they have completed their training with
NTM, raised financial support, moved to Papua New Guinea and built their house to live among the Wantakia people
group. The Wantakia are a remote people group with no knowledge of
the gospel. They have an unwritten language and have lived and died
separated from the love and knowledge of God since the beginning of
their existence as a people. The Sanders have only spent a few years
among the Wantakia and still have more questions than answers
regarding their language and culture and how best to accurately
express the love of God and truth of the gospel to them. The
Sanders spoke in class about the challenges of living among a people
group with no knowledge of God. They spoke of the Wantakia's fear
of the spirits, how the women are treated as possessions having the same
value as pigs in the local economy and how unwed mothers will give birth to their baby and
then throw it into the river to die, in order to maintain harmony and peace in the village rather than upsetting
the spirits or their family.
Having these guest speakers in my class has been an encouragement and challenge to me. It has reminded me that
I serve the Creator of the universe and all of humanity. He loves us but will also righteously judge sin. Unreached
people groups around the world are dying and are destined for a Godless eternity if we don't set aside our own
agendas and choose to follow God and His will for the nations.
Andy and I would like to take the opportunity to thank all those who faithfully walk beside us in our
ministry here at New Tribes Bible Institute. We are continually blessed by God and uplifted in prayer
by fellow believers. Your financial partnership allows us to invest our lives to disciple the next
generation of cross-cultural missionaries. You are vital members of this ministry. We do ask for
you to pray for us to be faithful in the work that God has for us to do. We also ask that you pray
for our boys to walk with the Lord, and continued good health for our granddaughter Alice.
Speaking of Alicewho knew grandparenting would be so much fun?
It has been such a joy to see her developing, growing and to hear her
laughing and trying to talk. On October 27th she will celebrate her
1st birthday. We thank the Lord for her and pray
that He give us many more years to invest in her
life.

Support and Contact information:

We are so very grateful,

Andy and Gina Templeton

Send Checks to:

New Tribes Mission
1000 E. 1st. Street
Sanford, FL 32771
ACCOUNT # 200645

Andy and Gina Templeton

937 Perkins Ave.
Waukesha, WI 53186
Andy # 262-212-7768

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