Ed and Jeanne Casteel minister among the Wana people of Asia Pacific. “Years ago, when we first started to teach the gospel to the Wana people, there was one clan in particular that strongly rejected the gospel. This particular clan was instrumental in inviting us to come to live and work with the Wana, but when they found out that we did not come to bring them material wealth, they wanted nothing to do with us or the gospel we were teaching. They, in fact, rejected the gospel so strongly that they moved from the village to a different village with strong instructions to their family not to follow the missionary’s teaching. ‘Pa’a nTene’ (the father Tenay) was part of this clan.
Tenay was just a young teenage lad when we first moved into Wana and was one of our language helpers. However, when his father and uncles decided to leave the village, he, of course, was forced to leave as well. One of his uncles rejected the gospel so strongly that his dying words were ‘Do not follow that teaching.’ To my knowledge none of the generation in that particular clan ever accepted the Lord, and they have since passed away into a Christless eternity.
Needless to say, Tenay’s parents’ and uncle’s strong objection to the gospel had a great impact on him, his wife and kids. However, Tenay was very curious about the gospel and a number of years ago started to ask to be taught the gospel. He was very cautious and very noncommittal for a long time; however, we knew that a battle was taking place in his heart. After many years of listening to the gospel message, Tenay finally decided to put his faith and trust in Jesus as his Savior. His wife is still holding out, but some of his kids and one of their spouses have also recently trusted Christ. Tenay is just one example of others in that generation whose parents rejected the gospel. Of course, it is great to see the Holy Spirit’s work in their lives and to see this generation start to soften toward the gospel and many coming to know Him as Savior.”
The prayer request above is one of five that we emailed to the Ethnos Prayer Team on Saturday.
