Title : Peace Child
Peace Child is a book written by missionary, This book tell of how God reached out to the most barbaric tribe of people that is unheard by many through His willing servants. We always hear how people say, “Go. God will guide you, He will put words in your mouth and prepare the way for you, only if you’re willing to go.” Many of us would nod and agree but how many of us would actually GO and dedicate our life to His work in the mission field? Indeed who can do God’s work apart from the Almighty Himself? But, we can be his tools to reach out to others, and it might even be that neighbour who had been living next door for the past 20 years!
Don Richardson and his wife, Carol risked their life to share the Good News to an uncivilised group of people, the Sawi tribe of Papua New Guinea. These people had never seen the outside world, and speak only the Sawi dialect. Together these two missionaries brave the unknown, the dangers of living among headhunters, cannibals and there, they build a home among the people, reach out to them, start a family there, all on the foundation of faith that they have in God, to keep them safe, not only from the barbarians but from diseases such as malaria in the jungle.
From an uncivilised tribe who believe in fattening up victims with friendship (gaining their trust to prepare for slaughter), they became the people who fear God and come to believe. The missionaries tried to reach out to them but to no avail. But they pressed on, believing that God will make a way, and that God has His own timing and method.
Who would have known that the traditions that the tribe have would be the key to opening the hearts of the Sawi people to the gospel. The title of the book, Peace Child refers to the tradition where two tribes make peace with one another by exchanging their child as treaty that they will no longer attack one another. Even these uncivilised people could understand the pain of giving up their children. Through this, slowly, Don see this as a breakthrough, a stepping stone to how to share the gospel with these people. He relate about how Jesus is an eternal “Peace Child” from God himself, that came to bring peace to us all. (to redeem us from our sins and give us eternal life).
From a tribe of cannibals and headhunters, they became a group of God-fearing people who served and love God with all their heart and soul. They built their own church, even having missionaries and pastors emerging from among the Sawi people. What an encouraging experience!
The story strike me that there is no fix way to communicate about Christ with others, and God can use anything and show His power and grace through almost anyway, anhywhere, anyhow. As long as we are willing to answer His calling, we too can make a difference and be a channel for God’s work for us. This book is a good read, not only for those who inspire to one day enter the mission field, but to all of us Christian as an inspiring true story to strengthen our faith and see God at work. You see, people can come to God in many way, so we should never give up hope when we are being turn down, because we plant the seed and God is the one who can make the seed grow. As long as we are willing to take the first step.
So, are you willing to go reach out to the world and bring back God’s lost sheep?