Author Archives: Stokingthefires

I hope you all prayed last week! Exciting news!!!

Many came to Christ!

Several were baptized!

A few people from other villages and even some from town asked, “can you run this course teaching at our area?”.

And those from the village to who just heard the teachings are asking for, “part 2 and 3”.

On a personal note, a goal of ours is to see courses 1, 2 and 3 taught in all of Vanuatu. But I never wanted it to be done by myself, the “outsider”, but be indigenous run… and after years of training and discipling, we are finally starting this process!

Course 1: Creation to Christ.

Course 2: Security of the Believer.

Course 3: The beginnings of the Church.

The remaining courses (4-5) and supplemental teaching (all of which I have translated and am teaching the Tiale believers how to use), come to about 600 lessons in total; but these all will only be taught at the Bible School so that we can properly disciple and train people.

Finally, after years of work, sweat, tears, and literal near death experiences… the fruit is blossoming across the country.

We now have at least 4 places asking for Course 1, and then those that are interested will be able to hear courses 2 and 3 (like this previous village that asked to hear them).

An amazing yet interesting testimony!

—>

*A local pastor who happened to be in the village (passing by), from another organization that is working in Vanautu said, “I have been working with (another organization)… even though I am a “pastor” for them, I didn’t know this clear Gospel… this is the first time it’s been made clear to me… I might leave them, so that I can come to the Bible School in order that I can hear a clear and full message of the Bible”.

This is a testimony from a local person, who is working with another ‘Christian’ organization in Vanuatu, and this is the typical case found within the country, due to lack of good curriculum, training, and faithful discipleship.

We are excited for this next chapter in the Tiale ministry and what God is doing in and through His work.

This season is not meant to be busy with presents, pictures, concerts, or other “good things”, but this season is meant to praise God for His Ultimate gift: Jesus Christ.

Are you proud of gifting others unique and expensive gifts? Or are you excited that others got the opportunity to hear a clear Gospel for the first time (in history)?

Your feet to the Tiale people and country of Vanuatu, Seth Nicole and Selah Stokes.

https://youtu.be/FB0vd9tFoec?feature=shared

Happy Thanksgiving and God bless!

Course 1 reflections; Final interview from our students.

During this week, missionaries and organizations make a push to ask for funds for various projects, and do we have projects that need supported as well? Absolutely. But we would rather bring to attention the need for prayer as God is working in the Tiale people.

When we first brought the Course teaching to Vanuatu back in 2016, we prayed that one day it would impact the whole country; being led by indigenous preachers taking the curriculum from village to village and language group to language group.

Next week, God fulfills that answer to prayer. The Tiale evangelists will be going to a sister language, and to a village that has never heard a “pure Gospel” yet. This will be the first fully-indigenous run outreach to present the course teaching. We are praying for this model to be replicated all over Vanuatu. Please pray with us! We are in historic times!

Thank you for your prayers and partnership in this process! God is truly answering prayer and growing His church.

Your feet to the Tiale people and the country of Vanuatu. Seth, Nicole & Selah Stokes

https://youtu.be/5tMLRTdN9NQ?feature=shared

Course 1 reflections; part 7 of 8 from our students.

Missionaries have been coming to Vanuatu since 1839 (Williams & Harris were eaten), but sadly a “pure Gospel” can barely be found in the country. The country is rooted in animism (spirit worship, etc) and is riddled with syncretism; mixing ancestral worship, a false Jesus (whether thru the occults, prosperity propaganda (which is pushed heavily in “town”), or just a lack of information). This is why we put such an emphasis on the course teaching and to train the Tiale evangelists.

*Please pray for the Tiale evangelists, in less than a month they will be going to a sister language, and to a village that has never heard a “pure Gospel” yet. This will be the first fully-indigenous run outreach to present the course teaching. We are praying for this model to be replicated all over Vanuatu. Please pray with us!

*Please pray for the students as they are now back in their respective villages and have to stay faithful to what they learned.

*Please pray for the 3 pastors-in-training as we see them teach course 1 in various settings in Vanuatu.

*Please pray the pastors and leaders of the Tiale church(es), as they desire to emulate the Christ-like model to their people.

Thank you for your prayers and partnership in this process!

https://youtu.be/H5xNHJpqZsA?feature=shared

Your feet the Tiale people and the country of Vanuatu, Seth, Nicole & Selah Stokes.

One more week hiatus from our video series. We still have episodes 6,7 and 8, stay tuned!

This will be the last update FROM Vanuatu directly for a brief moment.

We just wanted to give you an update and things to pray for with the Tiale people directly.

Please pray for:

*an upcoming 2-week Gospel presentation (35 lessons: Creation to Christ) to a sister language group that has never heard a full-Gospel.

*part 2 of the marriage seminar from one Tiale village to another.

*another youth conference, where the Gospel will be shared to many Tiale youth.

*a kids program to cultivate a Godward focus and remove the chains of animism.

*early spring, the Tiale men will finish part 2 of the marriage seminar for the people in town.

The men stay constantly busy teaching and sharing God’s Word.

Our 3 churches are currently going through…

Main church; First Peter

Church plant; Second Corinthians

Church restart; Course 1

Each of the Tiale churches are in different phases of growth, please pray for them as they mature through God’s Word and use the lessons that Seth wrote for them.

Thank you for following the journey!

Your feet to the Tiale people and the country of Vanuatu. Seth, Nicole & Selah Stokes

https://youtu.be/oVoopA4_dak?feature=shared