LIGHT OF CHRIST

Kobon Ministry Weekly Prayer Focus - Pastor John and Maila Davies
October, 2013

Dear Friends,

On the front cover of the Haruai, Kobon and Minimib New Testaments is a large gold cross which summarizes the precious content of the Scriptures – salvation through the Cross of Christ. There are also two words warning of the highly inflammable material contained between the covers: “Living Word” – the Word that is alive and the Word that gives life. As our Minimib New Testament transla-
tion assistant Lindon put it so well: “Jesus comes to us through his Word.”

It was because they knew the transforming power of the Living Word in individuals and whole societies that the 16th century leaders of the Catholic church hunted down copies of this dangerous book to burn them. They also hunted down people who dared to translate it so that their fellow English-speaking and German-speaking citizens could read it for themselves and experience the transforming power of the Word of God in their own lives. The leaders of the Catholic church were all too well aware that unless it was ruthlessly stamped out, the transformation of individuals could have only one result — the transformation of entire societies and countries.

Over the past 40 years we have had the joy of seeing Jesus coming to Haruai, Kobon and Minimib people through His Word. As people whose lives were previously filled with fear, hatred, vengeance, and killing have been transformed by the Word of God, the communities in which they live have also been transformed. Previously they had no concept of forgiveness and no word for forgiveness, but once they grasped that Jesus expects us to bring our lives into line with His Word, they had to learn what it means to forgive as Jesus Christ has forgiven us. Hatred, vengeance and killing were no longer an option. For example, all but one member of the Kobon community in which we lived for the first 27 years is now a Christian, and the whole foundation of the community has changed.

As this same process of transformation by Jesus through His Word has taken place throughout the Kobon language group, the foundation of the whole of Kobon society has changed. And as this process of transformation by Jesus through His Word has also taken place in the neighboring Haruai and Minimib language groups, the relationship between people from the three language groups has also changed since they all now have a common foundation to their lives – Jesus and His Word. Thank you for being part of the team through your prayers and gifts—without you this work would not be possible.

In his love and grace,
John and Maila

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John & Maila Davies, 8565 Trinity Cir #825A, Huntington Beach, CA 92646. Any gift for the Kobon work should be made payable to “LOC - Kobon Ministry” and placed in the church offering

Kobon Ministry Weekly Prayer Focus - Pastor John and Maila Davies
June, 2013

Dear Friends,

Dr. Comrie arrived at Ukarumpa on April 12. The next day we left for Dusin but were unable to land because of cloud. As we passed Ainong on the way back to Ukarumpa the new airstrip was completely clear. If it had already been open we could have waited there until we saw the cloud blow clear from Dusin and then landed at Dusin. I was amazed as I looked down at the Ainong airstrip. The people have put to good use all those wheelbarrows, iron bars, picks and spades that we were able to provide with your gifts. Lindon took photographs of the progress of the work at various stages. I will now take them to show to the pilots at Ukarumpa. I believe the airstrip will soon be ready for a final inspection. It may be that the grass they have planted will first need to cover the airstrip to prevent water erosion and ruts during the monsoon-type downpours.

We finally arrived at Dusin on April 18. The Haruai Teacher/Staff Conference on May 21 went very well and also the interviews with each of our Living Word School coordinators. We are very pleased with progress on the Haruai Grammar. On May 29 I attended a workshop at Ukarumpa to learn
how to use the equipment to record the New Testament and later edit the recording so it can be put onto the AudiBibles. I will record some of the Haruai New Testament June 1-10. We will go to Kobonland from June 11-25. Our schedule is Board Meeting (June 12); 10th grade Teacher Training (June 13-14); Grade School planning meeting (June 15); Teacher Conference (June 17-18); Leadership Training (June 19-22). On June 25 we return to Ukarumpa and on July 2 we return home. Please use the address below for any correspondence from here on.

Thank you for your prayers and gifts without which our work here would not be possible.

In his love and grace,
John and Maila

DOWNLOAD THE JUNE 2013 NEWSLETTER (PDF)

John & Maila Davies, 8565 Trinity Cir #825A, Huntington Beach, CA 92646. Any gift for the Kobon work should be made payable to “LOC - Kobon Ministry” and placed in the church offering

Kobon Ministry Weekly Prayer Focus - Pastor John and Maila Davies
November 20, 2012

We thank the Lord for the graduations taking place at several schools over the next two weeks. Please pray for the graduates, and also for the teachers, coordinators, parents and local school board members who will participate in the ceremony and the graduation party. This week please pray for the Kobon Living Word School at Ambamp, for teacher Ice Jonah, and for all the students.

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Kobon Ministry Weekly Prayer Focus - Pastor John and Maila Davies
January 17, 2012

We thank the Lord that teacher postings for 2012 have already been made by the Living Word Schools board. All teachers, district coordinators and board members will be together at Dusin February 1-4. At this time teachers will be commissioned to their 2012 teaching posts. Please pray for a really good time of fellowship during these days. This week, please pray for the Kobon Living Word School at Bullum, for teachers Ened Waki,Las Dasi, and Sevenaia Amap, and for all the students.

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Prayer Focus: May 5, 2011

We thank the Lord that Lukson’s report shows that the three new Haruai schools at Waibu, Urbu and Aulo have 83 students enrolled. There are 50 more children registered but no teacher to send. Lukson is currently training new teachers.

This week please pray for the Haruai Living Word School at Waibu, for teacher Jokrer Front, and for all the students.

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Kobon Ministry Prayer Focus from Pastor John and Maila Davies
April 8, 2008

We give thanks to the Lord that Lukson is better after being ill. Please continue to pray for him as he still is still very anxious about the court case. Pray that he will be able to focus on working through the Haruai New Testament and his supervision of the schools.
We also give thanks that that we have received our work permit. Pray that our visas will now be issued and our passports returned so we will have them in hand when we need to travel.
This week, please pray for the school at Yon and teachers Aim Madyu, Robinson Josep.

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A Brief Report on Long Beach Ethiopian Lutheran Church

Worship at the Long Beach Ethiopian Lutheran Church has been going on well. The period after its inauguration June 3 has been a period of establishment and being rooted. We have been trying to find our place in the surrounding. We have been learning the meaning of the words of our Lord “Wherever two three gather in my name I will be amongst them”. Our number goes up and down. Sometimes those who come to church become sick or asked by their employers to work on Sundays (such as parking Lots) at that time our number goes down.

Since the last information, we have baptized one child (Haset Beka). We have Holy Communion service once every month. A few Ethiopian Lutherans come for the Communion service from distance.

Plans:
Reaching out to Ethiopians in Long Beach area, by inviting for Easter Lunch.

1. Slightly changing our worship to a Bilingual format so that English speaking children of ours and English speakers might be benefited.
2. Organizing a Christian music festival where people can attend and thereby know about our ministry.
3. Preparing for one year celebration for the planting of the church.

Dear friends in Christ,

Planting a church is not an easy job. It needs sacrifice, above all the Lord’s grace and help. I am grateful again to the Light of Christ Lutheran church for the continued support and prayers you are making in the Name of our Lord. At some occasion I will be more than happy if some or one of your elders could come to visit us. I will pass the invitation when we are ready with the occasion. Continue to pray for us.

Yours in Christ, Pastor Eshetu Abate. 
March 17, 2008