Sergio (name changed for protection), a stoic indigenous man whose expressionless face reflects none of the passion in his heart, is a missionary to his own tribe and to other unreached tribes.

Russ met Sergio in one of his early trips to the Amazon. He was a student in the Bible institute - a serious young man given to few words. Russ taught him in several classes and later became his mentor. While in the Bible institute Sergio met and married a godly young lady from a different tribe, who is also passionate about spreading the gospel to unreached people groups. Consuela’s (name changed) radiant smile (unlike her husband's schooled face) embraces all who surround her. The children, and the ladies as well, are drawn to the love of God reflected in her smile. 

I (Lynn) met the couple at their first church plant in the Amazon region. This village is a Mayuruna village transplant from another village 8-days upriver. Their chief, who grew up in a savage, uncivilized lifestyle upriver, came downriver looking for a safer place for his family. After finding this location, the whole village moved and started anew. Sergio, who came from the same region upriver and speaks the same dialect, met the chief and gave him the gospel. From Warrior to Servant of Christ. After the salvation of this chief and subsequent Bible studies, a church was born, and Sergio became their pastor. 

Sergio informed us of this new group of believers and asked us to help them build a church in this Mayuruna village. We sent money for materials, and they began joyously working. When the building was almost completed, they invited us to come meet the villagers and see the new building. Although we had seen pictures, we were excited to see the progress in person.

After a short service, we thanked Sergio for his love for these unreached people. He bowed his head, and with a shy smile, pulled out a blue piece of leather. He had drawn a map of different tributaries along the Juba River (name changed) with numerous villages dotted along the way. 

"I must visit these villages and tell them about Jesus," he said. "The seminary training and the nursing school that you helped fund will allow me to meet their physical needs while telling them about the One who can meet their spiritual needs."

He and Consuela are fulfilling their passion. They returned recently from an 8-day trip to his home village upriver (an area closed to missionaries) where they spent several days teaching and winning people to the Lord. God has a plan to shine His light into the darkness of unreached villages--places we cannot go as foreign missionaries, but the indigenous people that know Christ CAN go. This endeavor takes money for gas and supplies. Will you pray for them and contribute to this outreach?