Faith Comes by Hearing

Dec 25, 2020

Faith Comes by Hearing

The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light.
And for those who lived in the land where death casts its shadow, a light has shined.
Matthew 4:16

Ends of the Earth Ministries - Taposa Village, South Sudan

Today, as we sit in our offices with stacks of bibles, commentaries, and devotions, at least 2000 languages are still without one word of Scripture. God has revealed His character, His plan, and His promises to us through His Word, but for more than 1.5 billion people around the world, access to reading or hearing about this God of love in a language they can understand is not yet possible.

We are thrilled to announce that this will change forever as we launch our new Bible translation project for the Taposa people of South Sudan in the new year.

Ends of the Earth Ministries - Taposa Man, Medical Clinic, South Sudan

After a decade of persevering, unconditional love, our national missionaries have laid a firm foundation of trust and respect, developing the relationships to make this new work possible. Preparations have been made for a translation team of tribal elders, educated youth, and outside language advisors to begin co-laboring on the Gospel of Luke.

Because the Taposa have no written history and no value for literacy, they rely on oral stories to pass down traditions and impart wisdom throughout the generations. This would make a written Bible translation totally inaccessible to most of the elders, who lead their communities and shape their entire culture.

Thankfully, through the tireless self-sacrifice of our missionary parents, God has been preparing a handful of discipled teenagers who are highly literate and devoted to serving Jesus with their education. After we create a written Taposa text of the book of Luke, these teens will read it to the elders, who will be recorded reciting the scriptures.

For the first time in history, the Taposa will have an audio Bible spoken in their own heart language. This new audio Bible will be put onto solar charged devices that can be carried around and listened to in hundreds of villages, home to some 250,000 Taposa people scattered throughout a vast unreached desert. As God’s Word breaks through the darkness, cultures and communities will be forever changed.

To complete this exciting new work, we will need to build a handful of rooms for the translation and recording project, along with a half-dozen huts to accommodate the translation team while they are working out in the village. The book of Luke will be our first priority, then we will begin translating hundreds of key stories in the Old Testament.
Our vision is to have the entire Bible translated in 10 years or less. For the first year, the estimated project cost of $25,000 will cover the equipment, salaries, and room and board for our team of 25 people.

The magnitude of this project is a new step of faith for us, so we ask you to stand with us and our translation team in constant prayer and financial partnership as we endeavor to bring God’s word to an unreached people group waiting to hear for the first time.

We wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Pastor Rob Douglass

Give to the Bible Translation

Please write “Bible Translation” in the Notes

Prayer Requests

Jun 12, 2020

Prayer Requests

Ends of the Earth Ministries

In South Sudan:

Please continue to pray for the nation of South Sudan. Decades of Civil War have collapsed the economy, resulting in mass starvation and desperation. Hopelessness and violence run rampant throughout communities.

Pray for our 500 students that are being daily discipled in the love of God and His Word, so they may lead their nation Into a new season of hope.

Pray for the 75 children and young adults in our children’s home and for the Missionary parents that are laying down their lives to provide peace and unconditional love to these precious ones.

Please pray for the new churches in the Tauso & Taposa villages. Pray that the pastors and medical staff will have the spiritual and physical tenacity to handle the countless challenges while living amongst Stone-Age tribes.

In Kenya:

Pray for the refugee students in our missionary training college in the Kakuma Refugee Camp. They are fasting and praying as they prepare to return to South Sudan to begin reaching cities across the border in North Sudan, with hopes to plant churches amongst Muslim peoples in 2020-21.

In USA:

Pray for the Missions Equip Training Programs. We are in the throws of launching two new schools this year.

The first – International School, will be used in Bible Colleges as a complete missions training course.

The second – Transformation, is a cross-cultural immersion training program, equipping missionaries to assimilate into their new culture while learning the language and world view.

Pray that God would continue to empower, envision and sustain us as we seek to establish nationally led, culturally relevant, biblical-based churches among unreached peoples.

Yours for the unreached,

Pastor Rob Douglass

Abigail Nyika

Mar 21, 2019

Abigail Nyika

As I entered the house and embraced Jane, I was unable to control my sorrow. We all sat weeping for quite a long time. Amidst the tears, I did my best to communicate how many of their church family in America are continuously praying and sending their deepest condolences.

As I sat next to Jane, James began recounting the events of the last few days. He explained how Abigail had an uncommon passion to know more about Jesus. During their family devotions she would pray with the wisdom of a mature Christian even though she was only eight years old. A few weeks ago she told her family that they must begin studying the gospel of John. So they did. James said, “Abigail made statements and asked questions more profound than any I had heard in seminary.“

On Monday James took Abigail to the hospital when she began to show signs of a sickness. The Doctor found an infection in her blood and was treating her with a injection each day. On Friday, she began the day feeling weaker than normal but seemed to be stable. Near lunchtime, she became too weak to stand on her own and her parents called the doctor and rushed her to the hospital. During the drive Abigail was communicating clearly and praying for Jesus to make a way through the traffic to get to the hospital on time. As they approached the heaviest traffic, miraculously a lane opened and they were able to get to the hospital quickly. Upon arriving, they found the doctors and nurses were ready for her. Within moments Abigail’s body began to fail. With her mom on one side and her father on the other the doctors did everything they could to save her but were unable to.

James then went on to speak of the comfort they are receiving from the Lord and the Scriptures in the days following Abigail’s earthly death. I was in awe as he quoted the exact scriptures that I felt God wanted me to share with him. James continued to share about the very specific challenges that we will face in these times of overwhelming loss. It was as though he was reading from my notes that I had prepared to encourage him with. Instead, he was encouraging all of us to stand strong in our faith and view this earthly tragedy in light of eternity. James said, “We will not see our precious Abigail again on this earth. Abigail is now with Jesus and is experiencing eternal life and will never die.”

It’s almost impossible to describe the faith and hope that James and Jane are walking in. Only Jesus can accomplish this amidst such loss.

Please continue to pray for the Nyika family. Friends and relatives are arriving to their home in waves. As each group enters the tears and grief well up and the process is repeated again and again. James and Jane cannot sustain this amount of emotional and physical exhaustion much longer.

The days, weeks and months ahead will be filled with countless emotional and spiritual highs and lows. Please continue to pray for James and Jane and their five children as they daily embrace God’s plan for their family and ministry.

Abigail’s earthly body has been laid to rest next to her grandfather in the refugee camp.

Saturday we will celebrate Abigail‘s life. James asked that we all pray that this funeral will be a time where believers will find encouragement in Jesus and nonbelievers will be awakened to the finality of death and the eternal life that can be found in Christ.

On behalf of James, Jane, Fiona, Jeff, Blessing, Jonathan and Joel

We are deeply grateful for your love and encouragement…
Rob Douglass

Urgent Prayer Request – Devastation and Revival in South Sudan

Apr 9, 2017

Emergency Prayer Request- Civilians are being raped and used as human shields

Jul 27, 2016

South Sudan Crisis Update Wednesday, July 27

South Sudanese civilians are trapped in Juba and being used as human shields. These innocent people are afraid that the rebels will attack the capital tonight or tomorrow so they are staging a protest to plead for their lives.

In the chaos of war, women and young girls are particularly targeted for acts of violence. Government soldiers raped dozens of women that have taken shelter in the U.N. camp in the capital city. Thousands are beginning to starve because the U.N. food storage was looted and supplies were lost. Women are forced to leave the safety of the U.N. Camp and search for food outside. CBS News reported, “Two armed South Sudanese soldiers in uniform dragged away a woman who was less than a few hundred yards from the U.N. camp’s western gate while armed U.N. peacekeepers on foot, in an armored vehicle and in a watchtower looked on. One witness estimated that 30 peacekeepers from Nepalese and Chinese battalions saw the incident.” For the full article see CBS News link below.

The children in our sponsorship program are currently safe as they live 250 miles from the Capitol and have enough meals to last them the next month. It is possible that this crisis could escalate at any moment triggering an evacuation. In light of this, we have established a South Sudan Crisis Fund. This fund will help provide whatever is needed to stabilize our children. These gifts may be used for emergency rescue, relocation, housing, food, or any other necessities to provide a safe environment for our missionary team and the children. 100% of every donation to this account will go toward caring for the children and people of South Sudan.

If you would like to donate towards the South Sudan crisis please click on the support link at the top or bottom of this page. Be sure to write “South Sudan Crisis” in the comment box.

Prayer Points

– Please pray that the rebels do not attack the capital and that 35,000 innocent civilians will be spared.
– Please pray that women and girls would be protected against these horrific acts of violence. Pray that those who have been abused will find emotional healing in Jesus.

CBS News link:

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/witnesses-say-south-sudan-soldiers-raped-dozens-near-united-nations-camp/

South Sudan Crisis Update Monday, July 25

Jul 25, 2016

The past two weeks have proven to be our most trying time this year. In South Sudan’s capital city, Juba, the government forces and rebel soldiers have clashed bringing violence, instability and widespread chaos throughout the entire country. There is very little chance of peace on the horizon. We are overwhelmed that God has provided safe passage for James Nyika and the vehicle loaded with 30 days of food and supplies for the children in our sponsorship program. This has allowed us to postpone evacuation for the time being.

Our african village is an assortment of grass huts and usually filled with the noise of drums and loud music throughout the night. This week, the community has been so nervous that the town is almost completely silent from sundown to sunrise. Our missionaries and children begin their evenings with bible study followed by all 50 children raising their voices in worship to God. The local unreached people have stopped our missionaries along the road, saying, “When we listen to you sing to your God we feel a sense of calm and hope, thank you.” Please pray that God uses this to open many hearts to the Gospel.

Though the children in our sponsorship program are currently safe and have enough meals to last them the next month, we are not out of the woods yet. We are expecting this crisis to take a turn for the worst at any moment. In light of this, we have established a South Sudan Crisis Fund. This fund will help provide whatever is needed to stabilize our children. These gifts may be used for emergency rescue, relocation, housing, food, or any other necessities to provide a safe environment for our missionary team and the children. 100% of every donation to this account will go toward caring for the children and people of South Sudan.

If you would like to donate towards the South Sudan crisis please click on the support link at the top or bottom of this page. Be sure to write “South Sudan Crisis” in the comment box.

Prayer Points

– Please pray that the Kenyan border police continue to allow us to bring in relief supplies for our kids and missionaries. If they close the border we will be forced to evacuate.

– Please continue to pray for the 35,000 innocent civilians trying to escape the fighting in South Sudan’s capital Juba.

– Please pray that we will be able to continue to communicate with James and assist everyone in South Sudan during this crisis.