by Jim Truesdell, Associate Director
Our vehicles turned off the bustling main road down a dusty path. At the end of this path lay a small village of roughly 50 families who are part of a semi-nomadic community of people known as Sapera (“snake charmers”). They have a historical reputation for not only “charming” snakes with their music, but also catching snakes, and were known to be called on by neighboring villages when venomous cobras were sighted. The Sapera are from diverse origins but over the years came together because of their shared abilities and affinity with nature.
Nearly the entire village came out to greet us that day, smiling and curious. Together, we sat in an open courtyard in the shade of some simple homes and livestock pens. Our group gathered around to hear a story shared by one of Frontier Fellowship’s partners from Eastern Wind:
Nabin was the first from his community to qualify for college. He attended university and received a bachelor’s degree in biology. He wanted to use his skills to help villages like his improve their farming techniques.
Nabin’s dream was soon placed on hold when his daughter fell ill with symptoms of blood cancer. All of his resources and energy were spent on helping his daughter get well. Things deteriorated. Options were limited. Nabin began to lose hope. One day, a church planter from Eastern Wind arrived at his village, sharing the Good News. When the partner learned about Nabin’s daughter, he was moved with compassion and offered to pray with their family. Together, they prayed, and over the next few weeks they began to see signs of healing. Miraculously, she became well again! The whole family was transformed—in awe of what God had done in their time of need. Yet, this was just the beginning.
The worker told him, “Go back to your people and tell them what God has done.” Full of joy, Nabin started establishing house fellowships in the surrounding villages, all who are part of his same people group and context. With the help of Eastern Wind, Nabin has established 15 house fellowships in the past couple of years. In that time, 70 members of his community have chosen to follow Jesus! Because of the Good News, Nabin’s vision for flourishing communities extended beyond his own village and toward many others. What began with a miracle for a sick girl has become a miracle for many others.
We sat in awe as we heard this story, and we celebrated together all that God has done. Then, a man came forward with a homemade pipe and began to play a melody. Rather than a song to charm a snake, he was playing a traditional tune.
The Executive Director of Eastern Wind had a huge smile on his face. He said, “This is the same song you heard last night in the spiritual fellowship. A different language, a different instrument, but clearly the same song taking root in a highly contextualized way among these people.” The lyrics go like this:
“The Name of Jesus is peaceful;
it is joyful.
Everybody should worship Jesus.”
Revelation 7:9-10 (ESV) says, “After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb … crying out with a loud voice, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.’”
When Revelation describes the worship of every language, people and tribe, I will now include in my mind’s eyes this snake-charming people group worshiping before the throne and the Lamb.
Please pray for Eastern Wind’s team in South Asia. They have identified 178 villages where Sapera live, and their hearts desire is to reach each village with the Gospel. They are making a plan and, by God’s grace, more Sapera will sing a new song to the Lord!
Learn more about Eastern Wind and their work among least-reached peoples in South Asia at frontierfellowship.com/eastern-wind
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