Bible School started back up this week!

Hear part of the testimony from one of the local Tiale pastors, who was the first student to graduate from the program.

“Before the Bible school did not look like this… it had no curriculum… but now, it’s a place you do not want to leave… and you grow like you are in a nursery (garden)”.

“The Bible school is like a resort, it blesses me, my family, and all the surrounding villages… it impacts all those nearby”.

There are countless stories like this, that shows how the Bible school is impacting others… individuals… families… villages… language groups…

When it feels like there is no place to be taught… loved and encouraged… God provided a place in the deepest reaches of the jungles.

The Bible school in many ways is an oasis in the country, with many occults, syncretism, animism, and a lack of contextualizations of the Scriptures… in many ways , it might be the “only one”.

*Please pray for the teachers. This year we intentionally delayed coming back during the opening as to provide them with an opportunity to take more of an “ownership” role in the School.

*Please pray for the students. Not all returned… which is to be expected… but some are still deciding. Pray that those who are supposed to be there commit to join and finish the year strong. Pray for the teachers, that we are faithful to disciple them.

https://youtu.be/7oYT5wmvD5M?feature=shared

Thank you for watching!

On personal news, heading back in a just a few weeks, speaking at several new churches between now and then… life gets busy with moments feeling like you don’t have time to sit down and breathe.

We have some various needs before heading back 👇

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

There are still various project with which you can partner with the Tiale people directly 👇

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

And if you are looking to join our team 👇

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

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

Discipleship is something most western Christians misunderstand… it gets relegated to an hour function at a neutral site, going through a book that may not be relevant to the disciple.

The concept of teaching the full counsel of God (Matt. 28:20, Acts 20:27) seems like a goal that is almost unobtainable to Americans. How could they ever accomplish that task when their kids are involved in so many programs, so many TV shows to watch, and the mandatory “me time”? If the almighty Google calendar says it’s not feasible then it is not… or maybe, just maybe, the priorities are not in proper alignment?

In Tiale land, many of the first generation disciples, have their own disciples, and some of them even started the process of discipleship with the next generation. Since day one, I have stressed to them, that discipleship is a lengthy process, sometimes 10 years, and for some a lifetime.

Though we have been in Vanautu for nearly 10 years, there has been 2 medical evacuations, language learning, culture acquisition, and much traveling… just to name a few things, and yet the first generation of disciples have gone through nearly 800+ lessons. The multiplication process we see occurring is not accidental, but implemented through strategic effort.

The Bible School is becoming a breeding ground for the first and second generation disciples, to disciple many more generations for Christ. To disciple you must give the person: the model, the tools, some opportunities, and your time. We see God using these 4 tenets to expand a lasting work.

Please continue to pray for:

*The teachers.

*The pastors-in-training.

*The students.

*Future disciples.

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

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

Can you believe it is already May?! Time is always so fleeting and that is why it is so important to invest in things that matter.

We find it our blessing and privilege to serve the Tiale people, and to be a part of the Bible School. As we see God taking a hold of the Tiale people, evangelizing other Tiale villages (as seen in the post this week), reaching other language groups, and even other islands… God is using these remote people to reach a nation.

The Bible School is becoming a place to grow leaders, training them and discipling them to be able to continue the work on their own.

In many ways, it is easy to share the Gospel, but to teach a model that will last for generations, to give tools and training that will go beyond your own reach, progressing even in your absence… that takes work. Sadly, a task most won’t take upon themselves.

Do not do something when it is “convenient”, or when your Google calendar says you can… serve until there is nothing left of “you”, then only Jesus will remain.

Please pray for the students and teachers as school starts back up this month. We are wanting to establish a work that will continue until our Savior comes back.

https://youtu.be/UT6iZbg0eow?feature=shared

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

This past weekend, we waited for an update from a Tiale pastor as to see how God worked through him and the outreach.

The Tiale people are always striving to reach every one of the 41 villages that speak the Tiale language, as well as going into other language groups.

The compulsion to share the gospel with those around, lays heavy on the hearts of the men, knowing that they have the Gospel and so many have yet to hear.

The local pastor took his family, as well as some of the disciples from his church to go check up on one of our strategic partners, in a village about four hour hike away.

We currently have two functioning churches amongst the Tiale people, but we have several groups of believers who meet regularly across many of the villages, as well as other language groups, which were products of the outreaches.

One of the aspects of our ministry is that we create word-for-word lessons, and if we find faithful people in those villages, we leave them with materials so that they can continue to go through them on a weekly basis and continue to feed themselves spiritually.

In this village, we were pleasantly surprised to find that the small group of believers were faithfully going through the lessons, and they were already on lesson 30. We are excited to give them part 2 and part 3 as they continue to study God‘s Word.

Not every village immediately produces a prospective Pastor, as part of the Tiale ministry, shepherding those flocks and encouraging them until a pastor arises from their village is the model we currently employ.

Continue to pray, as there is always a balance of maturing and shepherding your own flock, while also caring for the needs of others in the surrounding areas. There’s much work that needs to be done here in Tiale land but God is blessing the ministry and continuing to build His church in Vanuatu.

https://youtu.be/14iVxyxWc2U?feature=shared

We still have 2 Sundays available before heading back, please pray that God will allow us to makes new connections for partnership.

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

What is enough to hinder you from going to church? From visiting your neighbor? From sharing the Gospel with your coworker? Rain? Snow? The flu?

Having been affected by; multiple earthquakes, volcanic activity and even a cyclone, the Tiale leaders were able to complete the process of sharing Course 1.

Teaching 35 lessons, preaching extra messages that were applicable for the people to hear, fellowshipping and praying with them… the men worked tirelessly for the Gospel this past week.

Many came to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, and those with a clear testimony were baptized.

One of the main organizers of the event realized he was not saved. A major issue in the country is hearing sporadic lessons and “popcorn sermons”, they do not aid to a proper foundation, and typically mislead people into a false sense of security and misunderstanding of the Gospel. This man finally was able to hear the clear Gospel in a systematic way, and is now trusting in Jesus alone for his salvation.

Teaching Course 1 has to be done in a group setting and in a condensed manner by indigenous believers in order for the lessons to be more impactful to the audience.

One chapter closes, the next one opens. Another outreach will be conducted to a Tiale village this weekend or next… please pray for that trip.

And in the not too distant future, Bible School opens back up and the second year of studies will be underway for the students. Please continue to pray for the leaders/teachers and the students.

https://youtu.be/7y4Jm_oZqiQ?feature=shared

On a personal note, we have 2, maybe 3 Sundays available left to share at new churches and share what God is doing. Please pray that we can make new connections.

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

Pressing prayer request!!!

We normally post on the weekend, but this is too urgent!

If you receive our updates, you know the Tiale leaders are presenting Course One (full Gospel: 35 lessons) to a sister language group this week.

But what you may not have heard, in about a week span, the country with the most inclement weather patterns has been hit with:

• a 7+ magnitude earthquake

• a 5+ magnitude earthquake

• a volcano erupting

• and now a category 2 cyclone, growing into a category 3

All that to say, this is the prayer request.

2 days down! 3 days to go! Pray that all of these natural disasters do NOT hinder people from coming to the lessons.

People are by nature fickle… ready to make any excuse… please pray God works in the heart of the Tiale leaders to persevere, and then the people coming to hear the lessons.

God works through prayer, do NOT miss your opportunity in playing YOUR part in this event!

Thank you for your prayers!!!

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

https://youtu.be/esgIAuIk4rI?feature=shared

Happy Resurrection Day from our family to yours!

If you are watching this video, that means you are receiving our updates, thank you!

We are excited to see what God will do this week, as the Tiale ministry team share the Gospel to a new language group.

God bless you all!

https://youtu.be/rUcXSbs3lSw?feature=shared