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Newsletter February 2026

Thank you for following our journey and what God is doing in and through the Tiale people.

3 ๐Ÿ™๐Ÿป Specific prayer requests:

  1. We have (as of now) 6 Sundays available (that are not already filled) for new church partners, please pray that churches contact us back, and that there are those who advocate on our behalf to connect us for those meetings.
  2. There are about 10-20 churches we have visited in the past, that have expressed the desire to partner with us, but have yet to follow through with their commitment. Pray God stirs in them to consider us as their next partnership.
  3. Over our now 13 years of preaching and promoting missions, there have been at least another 40-50 churches that we have shared with, but at that time they were unable to partner with us. Please pray God brings us to remembrance in their minds when considering their next candidate.

We believe that with your prayer, filling in those 6 open slots, and God reminding the churches where we previously shared, that we can finish the task of raising the support level to 100%. Thank you for your taking the time to read our update!

We covet your prayers, we always intend to keep regular updates, keep current prayer requests, and share videos with our supporters in order to feel apart of the ministry. Thank you for every second that you give to us.

There are still several opportunities to partner with one of the many needs of the Tiale ministries. Please click the link to see how you could be partnered directly. ๐Ÿ‘‡

Lastly, there are still a few items on our own personal needs list, please feel free to peruse for an opportunity to bless us and the ministry God gave us. Please click the link below.๐Ÿ‘‡

Thank you for everything, your feet to the Tiale people and the country of Vanuatu. Seth, Nicole, & Selah Stokes.

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What is Fruit?

Jesus teaches on the topic of โ€œfruitโ€ several times throughout the course of His ministry.

Several interesting observations about fruit is that; it takes time, not all trees bear fruit, you have to care for the seedling much earlier on in the process rather than later, and lastly, the fruit is for โ€˜othersโ€™ to enjoy. The tree does not enjoy its own fruit.

This July marks 10 years that we have served the Tiale people! God is truly growing many strong trees that produce โ€œmuch fruitโ€.

Last week the Tiale leaders were able to complete the second part of the marriage course teaching in another Tiale village.

This week, the Tiale leaders saw the opportunity to do ministry at a local school, now they are presenting course 1 to several students every day.

It is encouraging to see the Tiale leaders take ownership on both sharing the Gospel to people who have never heard a full Gospel and then following up to provide key teachings to develop mature believers.

Continue to pray for the Tiale leaders as they are seeing the need for both their people and their neighboring villages. Whether it is giving the full Gospel or a specific teaching to correct misunderstandings that those believers may haveโ€ฆ God is using these men greatly.

{p.s. Yes, those are photos of some of the trees we planted (avocado & orange) from seedlingsโ€ฆ this is one of the many proofs of our tenure in Vanuatu}

https://youtu.be/EM6amfbxZew?feature=shared

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

Be on the lookout for our latest update this Sunday at 5pm! We will be sharing 3 specific prayer requests about our time in the states! Thank you and God bless.

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The Gospel Transforms

For this weeks update, like last week, we wanted to share a testimony that we sometimes present at churches of one of the men that Seth has been discipling for over 7 years.

This brief story is an example and testament of the radical and transformative power of the Gospel. We all too often relegate the miraculous power of the Gospel into some type of ticket to go to a magical place (Heaven), but Godโ€™s salvation is much more than that insufficient teaching.

It is our privilege to teach and witness these transformations in Tiale land.

Continue to pray for the various ministries in Tiale land. In addition, over the next couple of weeks the leaders will conduct another course teaching in the local town.

Please continue to pray for safety as Seth drives place to place on the weekends, and that God provides us the right partners (your part).

Thank you as always. God bless!

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

https://youtu.be/ZDIptYOFK1k?feature=shared

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A Tiale ministry update

Tiale ministry update!

This week we wanted to give an overview of the ministry. Seth does this type of snippet at churches, but we thought we would post one here as well to give you all a feel for what God has been doing these past 1-2 years.

Pray for the Tiale people. This week they will finish the second part of the marriage seminar in a neighboring village.

Also pray for us, as we make new connections and Seth drives almost every weekend, as he is away speaking at new churches. Pray we fill up the remaining schedule before heading back.

If you know of any new churches for us to potentially share at or partner withโ€ฆ please let us know!

God bless.

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

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

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The Tiale storyโ€ฆ in a brief snapshot.

Today we get to boast on what God is doing in a through the Tiale peopleโ€ฆ having already reached into many of our villages, several of our sister language groups, and even other language groups on separate islands. Truly a miracle of God.

But how did it start? When? As with all things, God does not work through mysticism or unconventional methods, but works within the confines of mankind.

A young manโ€ฆ a boy at the time, left his village and went to school, in a completely different part of the country. He happened to stumble upon someone sharing the Gospel in the national languageโ€ฆ and through this, God sparked a fire that would grow to what it is today.

Fast forward 10-15 years, this boy is now a man, and he sees the need for his people to hear Godโ€™s message. Instead of passing the work onto someone else, he takes ownership, and seeks out trainingโ€ฆ but the availability at that time, was minimal to say at best.

He then saw the need to have outsiders come; translate the Bible in their language, disciple them, and give them curriculumโ€ฆ

And now, after almost 10 years of us serving the Tiale people, this boy, who is now an aged manโ€ฆ who caught a glimpse of what โ€œcould beโ€, is seeing his dream fulfilled nearly 40 years later.

God works through people, people who are faithful to His Wordโ€ฆ things might not come in a day, week, or even a decadeโ€ฆ

The question is, what is your desire? Is it godly like this manโ€™s? He wanted to see all of his peopleโ€ฆ his islandโ€ฆ all of Vanuatu reached with the Gospelโ€ฆ he then made practical steps to do soโ€ฆ you can have a desireโ€ฆ but is it godly? And are you willing to endure for decades to see it come to fruition?

https://youtu.be/qWsKpr1XnDc?feature=shared

Thank you for praying for us!

As of now, we have about 4 more openings from now till May to share our ministry with new churches.

Depending on the timing of the rainy season, the process of getting visas, and strategic planning for the Tiale ministry, our exact return date is โ€œfluidโ€. Depending on the pace of new connections and the timing God allows, our plan is to head back as early as May, or at the latest, July. If July, that gives us a window of 8 more opportunities to connect with new partners. Please pray for us as our goal is to share the NEED of Unreached people group ministries, while also bragging on what God is doing in and through the Tiale ministry.

Please pray we get closer to that 100% support, as we have the opportunity to share at new churches and connect with more individuals.

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

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The cost of traveling

This week, the post will be a little bit different.

We hope you all had a chance to read our update that we posted a few days ago, if you did NOT get that, that means you are NOT subscribed. If you would like to receive our updates, please go to our website and sign up so you can be more in tune with what God is doing in and through the Tiale ministry.

There are many times, where I (Seth) will be driving in the jungles of Vanautu, crossing rapids in rivers leaving only a few hours before hopping on a plane to head back to America. Several times, upon arrival, I have had to drive through a snow storm.

If one were to look at church history and statisticsโ€ฆ

*persecution

*disease

*and now automobiles

..are the top 3 killers of missionaries. From reaching these remote locations to traveling through the night to make meetings at churchesโ€ฆ missionaries sure rack up the miles (kilometers).

Overtime, I am sure that traveling will take first placeโ€ฆ in saying that, make sure you pray for the missionaries you knowโ€ฆ some travel for financial gain, some travel for pleasure, some travel for filial piety. There are those that travel to make His name known amongst the nations, and those to make Him renown in the States.

Thank you for following our journey!

https://youtu.be/VWJuy1r4zsM?feature=shared

Thank you so much for following our journey! We hope you are encouraged as you see God work through the Tiale people. 

๐Ÿ‘‡

If you are interested in one of the many projects for our personal needs, click the link below 

https://stokingthefires.com/stokes-needs-list-2026/

๐Ÿ‘‡

If you are interested in one of the many projects for the Tiale projects, click the link below 

https://stokingthefires.com/tiale-projects-2026/

๐Ÿ‘‡

To give, click on the link below 

https://stokingthefires.com/join-our-team/

Please contact us as we are looking to speak at new churches and have them partner with us. We have about 4-5 available Sundays between now and May. Thank you!!! Please help us fill up those opportunities in order to get closer to 100% and brag on what God is doing in and through the Tiale people. 

Please read our latest update! ๐Ÿ‘‡

https://stokingthefires.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/newsletter-1-january-2026-1.pdf

Thank you for everything!

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

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Newsletter-January 2026

Tiale Youth Conference

Continue reading below or click the link ๐Ÿ‘‡

Thank you so much for following our journey! We hope you are encouraged as you see God work through the Tiale people.

If you are interested in one of the many projects for our personal needs, click the link below ๐Ÿ‘‡

https://stokingthefires.com/stokes-needs-list-2026/

If you are interested in one of the many projects for the Tiale projects, click the link below ๐Ÿ‘‡

https://stokingthefires.com/tiale-projects-2026/

To give, click on the link below ๐Ÿ‘‡

https://stokingthefires.com/join-our-team/

Please contact us as we are looking to speak at new churches and have them partner with us. We have most of March and April available as of now. Thank you!!! Please help us fill up those opportunities in order to get closer to 100% and brag on what God is doing in and through the Tiale people.

Thank you for everything!

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

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Tiale youth conference recap 2026

If you were to come to Tiale land and talk with our leaders, you would hear their desire to share the Gospel with those who have never heard the name of Jesus. Their hearts are burdened for people within the Tiale language group, other language groups on their island, and also for the whole country of Vanuatu. They have a passion and desire to share the full Gospel with everyone equally.

If you continued that conversation, shortly thereafter you would see that their hearts yearn for the next generation (the youth), to know their Creator God more personally than they do. They are not wanting them to believe the lies of Satan and fall victim to his tricks in their custom beliefs and animism.

If you looked at the projected Tiale ministry schedule we posted on the latest newsletter, you would see that itโ€™s almost equally divided into 3 parts:

*New outreaches.

*Developing existing works.

*Youth activities.

https://stokingthefires.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/newsletter-1-january-2026-1.pdf

The youth are not something to be remembered after the fact, but they ought to be the focus for today.

โ€œYouths need to be invited, included, involved, before they can be influenced and impactedโ€.

Tane Seow How

โ€œOur youth are desperately searching for purpose and meaning in their lives. They are searching for fulfillmentโ€ฆ I believe that a return to Biblical conversion, faith, and conviction would have a great impact in our day.โ€

-Billy Graham

Our next newsletter drops on Sunday at 5pm, please look for it! If you do NOT get it in your email, please subscribe so you do not miss any updates! God bless!

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

http://www.stokingthefires.com

https://youtu.be/-T6AMi-E0VI?feature=shared

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Tiale Youth Conference 2026

Tiale Youth Conference 2026 started and came to an end!

Even in the midst of heavy rains and flooding, and a cyclone nearly formingโ€ฆ some people chose to still come and swim across the rivers, just to come and be a part of the event!

The 4 teachers are excited to preach about:

^How to be holy and dedicated to God.

^How to find Godโ€™s will for your life.

^How to correct those who sin.

^To be pure until you are married.

^Do not get drunk.

And 6 other messages that spoke specifically to practical topics in the lives of the youthโ€ฆ it was just 3 days and 2 nights, but the leaders wanted to take advantage of the opportunity that God gave them.

The leaders know firsthand the traps that their culture, their own sin nature, and animism try to use to deceive them into not following Godโ€™s Word.

Pray that these 11 lessons and opportunities that God is giving to the leaders to share with the youth, impacts their lives and radically changes them to look more like God and less like the world.

For me (Seth), this event brings joy as I see not just first generation disciples serving God, but second and third

generations serving Godโ€ฆ God is blessing the Tiale ministry.

As one teacher said, โ€œWe must reach the next generation BEFORE Satan does!โ€.

Thank you for your prayers!

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

https://youtu.be/RHMAvZpdfI0?feature=shared

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Newsletter-New Year 2026

2025 brought many opportunities for us, whether it was opportunities to share with new partnering churches, bringing Selah overseas to meet her Tiale family, or to see the Tiale people grow, God has blessed our nearly decade-long ministry in Vanuatu… Please continue reading our update below.

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