A Letter from our President
Traveling throughout the mountainous regions of the western Pacific islands is often dangerous, and sometimes even impossible. Read how JAARS was able to help one Bible translation partner make their work possible in Papua New Guinea.
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Dear Friends,
In May I asked two of our vice presidents, Craig Russell and Johannes Rehm, to represent JAARS at a major Bible translation coordination meeting in Papua New Guinea (PNG). This gathering, which included both local and global leaders, was their first face-to-face meeting since the COVID-19 pandemic started in 2020.
Craig and Johannes’ report of their trip encouraged me enormously. I asked Craig to share his update so you can see how your partnership with JAARS is making a difference in a very remote and difficult place on earth right now. Thank you for standing with us in prayer and with your financial support.
Here’s Craig’s update:
What’s a four-wheel-drive truck have to do with a flotilla of 80+ privately owned ocean-going vessels—all committed to delivering trained Bible translators, oral Bible translation equipment, and printed Scriptures to the far-flung island people groups of PNG?
On the surface, not much.
Let me explain. I just returned from meetings in PNG, along with Johannes Rehm, our vice president of Global Initiatives. There, we joined with leaders from nearly two dozen mission organizations as part of the Wa’a Partnership to pray, discuss, envision, and take practical steps—together—to eradicate Bible poverty in the western Pacific region.
One of those partners, the local PNG-based affiliate of Youth With A Mission (YWAM), thrilled us with a description of how God is using them to reach people he loves, for his glory, in and around the islands of PNG. In part, their work has been enabled by the support that JAARS has provided and which friends like you made possible.
Specifically, just a few years ago, YWAM PNG had a vision and a plan for missions in PNG—both on the mainland and throughout the many widely dispersed islands. The plan required a base of operations in the port city of Madang.
Their plans were wide-ranging, from providing missions training for pastors, to operating a Scripture recording studio, to enabling mobile OBT (oral Bible translation) teams in far-flung island and mountain communities. They would be coordinating a flotilla of privately owned boats to support OBT work and distribute printed and recorded Scripture across hours of open ocean between Madang and PNG’s many isolated islands.
The missing link? Reliable and accessible ground transportation for YWAM leadership and staff.
Perhaps not what you, or we, would initially think would make a difference, but we listened and engaged with them.
And it was as simple as JAARS providing several rugged four-wheel-drive vehicles—which we were able to do even during the early COVID-19 days of 2020. Then the very competent YWAM team could pull all the other logistics together and get their widely distributed teams to work.
It wasn’t about the vehicles. It’s rarely about specific “things.” It’s about how the right things—big or small—can make such an impact on the work of Bible translation.
Now, their mission center is in place, their recording studio is operating, their pastoral training is underway, their private flotilla is being assembled, and they hosted the most recent week of Wa’a Partnership discussions!
It has been so encouraging and inspiring to see local PNG believers assume leadership for the direction and plans to reach their own nation with God’s Word. With God leading, the Wa’a Partnership has been a blessed forum for both local and global partners to collaborate. Johannes and I felt privileged to be a part of this work.
Moreover, the heart and mindset of the Wa’a Partnership echoes what we’re seeing in Africa, in South America, and all over the world. God is raising up local leaders and partners. As global organizations become encouragers and facilitators, providing insight and expertise and resources, they acknowledge the power and the progress that can come when God raises up local leadership.
And just as encouraging, we’re finding that these partnerships are not simply experiments in goodwill. Their collaborative spirit, along with the resources and energy in the room, leads to effective relationships, tangible projects, and mission impact.
We are all so blessed, and privileged, to participate in this part of God’s plan.
We joined with leaders from nearly two dozen mission organizations as part of the Wa’a Partnership to pray, discuss, envision, and take practical steps—together—to eradicate Bible poverty in the western Pacific region.
–Craig Russell, Vice President of Transportation Services
It wasn’t about the vehicles. It’s rarely about specific “things.” It’s about how the right things—big and small—can make such an impact on the work of Bible translation.
It has been so encouraging and inspiring to see local PNG believers assume leadership for the direction and plans to reach their own nation with God’s Word.
Whatever the barrier to overcome, our desire is to work through healthy, Christ-focused relationships with local and global partners to discern the needed solution and implement it in a sustainable, locally appropriate way.
Woody continues…
Craig has contributed to the Wa’a Partnership meetings for several years now. It encourages me greatly to see that the strong relationships among so many partners are leading to specific and significant ministry initiatives that are making a difference in the Pacific region.
Space doesn’t allow Craig to share other stories of God’s work and our contribution in that region—partnerships that JAARS has supported for years and others that are just developing.
God has blessed JAARS with unique and significant focus areas in transportation, technology, media, and training. In some cases, such as aviation or maritime operations, our contribution will require a significant investment of staff, time, and financial resources.
We also recognize many areas and partnerships where our partner’s need is much more modest and accessible.
Whatever the barrier to overcome, our desire is to work through healthy, Christ-focused relationships with local and global partners to discern the needed solution and implement it in a sustainable, locally appropriate way.
Your support for JAARS—both financially and through your prayers—enables us to engage and respond thoughtfully.
Thank you for joining with us in God’s Mission.
Yours for God’s glory among all nations,
Woody McLendon
President
Will you join us?
Let’s make Bible translation possible in the most remote, difficult places on earth. Because we all need the hope of God’s Word—now more than ever.
