As many of you know, I (Seth) am currently in Vanuatu ordaining our first Tiale born leader. One of the things that you may not know is his testimony. I will try to summarize it as briefly as I can in order that you may get to know him a little better.
Imagine if you would, that when you were born your mother dies in labor. Continue with this thought of living in a context of a people group that is ravaged by Satan and animistic beliefs, and with a father, unwilling to look after his child. When this man was born, he fell partially into a local river, with part of his body being submerged into the cold river. By the grace of God, his aunt was nearby, and saw that the mother had died in childbirth, and the father had run away. This aunt having compassion quickly snatched up the child and did the best they could to feed him, even though she was not producing milk at that time.
As time went by his aunt and uncle adopted him, but unlike the culture of western society, even when one is adopted, they never treated him fully as a natural born child. Typically these adopted children become relegated to a form of a servant-like house member, yes, they are given food, and looked after to some extent, but they are never fully engaged as a biological child because of all of the ramifications that would entail as it is tied to ground and inheritances, etc.
As this young man grew up, he began to integrate himself with the local cult leaders, both in the animistic society, and with the prevailing Catholic belief system. He is one of the few Tiale people to have seen ritual sacrifices performed by the witch doctor, as this is something typically done behind closed doors and reserved for those who are already in that practice. This young man was adept at learning deception, both by the occult, and by the local Catholic priests, so much so that they were encouraged and wanting him to become a catechist, and eventually the next leader of their village congregation.
One day, a distant family member came and encouraged him to listen to a local pastor, and when he heard John 14:6 for the first time in his life, he knew immediately that his whole life had just changed, and he had gotten saved. At the behest of another family member, he began to pursue coming to Bible school. At this time he did not know the path that God would be leading him down.
As he grew in his walk with the Lord, and as I began to disciple him, he took his walk with God, more seriously, and he slowly felt God leading him into full-time ministry. He has now started a church that opposes both the strongest witch doctor on the whole island, as well as the largest (building in the bush) occult in the whole country.
Over these past seven years, he has been stricken with many illnesses due to his health, but each time he realized it was an opportunity to praise God, as God was slowly healed him of each and everyone of those sicknesses. He began to see his marriage with his wife grow moreclosely, he began to see his kids listen to him more, and throughout this time, all of them would come to a saving faith in God and then he and his wife had the privilege of baptizing them.
It is not a understatement to say that where he ministers is easily the most spiritually dark place amongst all of the Tiale people, with constant oppression and persecution of his faith, to the extent that even his own family members do not help him in the garden because he decided to oppose both the witch doctor and the occult. There is a lot of culture to unravel, but praise God he has remained faithful throughout all of these trials.
He is thankful for the opportunity to serve God, and about 3 years ago he saw God stirring his heart to become a full-time teacher at the Bible school. He has seen many come to the Lord over the years of his ministry already. Last week he had the opportunity to lead the witch doctor’s son to saving faith, and now that very son of the witch doctor opposes his own father.
The gospel is overwhelming and can change the lives of anyone, even if they were thrown away into a nearby river, it doesn’t matter how, or where we are born, if we follow God‘s plan for our lives, He will be faithful to perform his part of the promises.
Hear more about the upcoming weekend events…
Video Link: https://youtu.be/jMsR_JpltDQ?si=NrWMp4YX9OFJR7Md
Thank you for your prayers for Seth & the events he gets to be apart of. It is very exciting! Stay tuned to hear more about it soon…
Your feet to the Tiale people & the country of Vanuatu,
~Seth & Nicole Stokes
Stoking The Fires 