“He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.”
~ 2 Corinthians 1:4 ~

Transformation Leads to Discipleship

When you think of Jesus commanding us to make disciples, you probably think of verses like the Great Commission from Matthew 28, “go and make disciples…”. But how are we to actually make disciples?! The answer? By living it out ourselves.

The Lord has been teaching us this crucial lesson, and showing us that discipleship is about so much more than teaching somebody to study the Bible and to pray. These are important and vital aspects to the Christian life, but ultimately, discipleship is about transformation! Which is where the verse about “comforting others” comes into the picture.

You see, we cannot comfort others unless we ourselves have received comfort from the Lord. In the same way, we cannot effectively disciple others in areas in which we ourselves have not been discipled and transformed! Another word to describe discipleship would be “apprenticeship”.

If I want to be apprenticed, I would find somebody who was a master of their trade: a living, breathing, and experienced example of what it means to be a blacksmith, surgeon, or other profession.

In the same way, Jesus calls us to disciple others! First, He invites us to be transformed by the renewal of our minds, healing of our hearts, and living out the things He is teaching us: experiencing the life-changing work of the Holy Spirit! Then, He calls us to emulate this for others, and invite them along for the journey: to be transparent and humble about our misgivings and struggles, showing others that it’s ok to struggle and even fail sometimes; to share passionately what the Lord has done in our lives, bearing witness to the testimonies that we have seen, heard, and experienced; to be a living, breathing example of the love of Christ and the heart of the Father to those around us.

Discipleship in Bible Translation

Discipleship is also crucial in the work of Bible translation! How can you effectively translate God’s Word without knowing Jesus for yourself?

Nafian is a translator in the Gwahatike language group of Papua New Guinea (PNG).

He attended a number of training courses that I taught while we were in PNG, and also works as a translation advisor and consultant.

In this video, he shares about the critical impact that discipleship made on their translation work.

“Establish spiritual relationship first… build people up spiritually… and people will be transformed” – Nafian Saremo (Bible translator).

What a beautiful example of how Jesus transforms lives for the sake of His Kingdom, and to reach many with His life-giving words!

Financial Update

God has provided powerfully for our Wycliffe ministry since our last update! Many of you gave one-time gifts in December and January, which helped offset our shortfall from last year. THANK YOU!! We also have had some new financial partners join our team, reducing our monthly need! We still have a ways to go before reaching 100% of the ministry budget Wycliffe has set for us, but we are grateful for the ways God has continued to provide.

Interested in Financial Partnership?

If you feel God leading you to partner with us in our Wycliffe ministry, there are a few options:

Sign up online: www.wycliffe.org/partner/ThePosts

Call Wycliffe: 800-992-5433 (our ministry number is 240439)

Mail a check with a separate note saying, “Preference for the Wycliffe ministry of James and Christina Post (240439)” to:

Wycliffe Bible Translators
c/o Receipts Dept
PO Box 628200
Orlando, Florida 32862

Please also contact us so we can thank you (and update our records)!!

Prayer & Praise ????????

• Prayer: That God would continue to transform us, and teach us to disciple others.
• Prayer: Listing and selling our house in PNG.
• Prayer: Purchasing a house closer to our church.
• Prayer/Praise: For continued and increased financial provision for our Wycliffe ministry.

Your prayers and financial partnership are enabling discipleship throughout the world. Thank you!

In Him,

James and Christina

Family Photo Highlights

Click the collage images to see recent family photo highlights.

“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” ~ Hebrews 4:12 ~

Onobasulu New Testament Milestone!

The Bible translation process can be a long and challenging road. Much prayer, hard work, and reliance upon the Lord is required to translate God’s Word. Then there are numerous checks to make sure it communicates accurately to their people. This road is also marked with encouraging milestones and God-moments.

One such moment just recently came for the Onobasulu translation team as they FINISHED the “advisor check” of their New Testament. This means the full New Testament has been translated and reviewed by a qualified advisor. That’s worth celebrating!

While we were in Papua New Guinea (PNG) James worked with a number of the people involved in the Onobasulu translation. Seeing the Onobasulu interacting with God’s Word warms our hearts!

What Would You Do Without God’s Word??

The Word of God is invaluable, powerful, and sharper than any double-edged sword. It cuts us to the heart, speaks life to our weary bones, tells us of the love and compassion that Jesus has for His people, and provides crucial instruction for our lives.

Watch this powerful video of an evangelist who was imprisoned, without access to God’s Word, for years!

What would you do if you did NOT have a copy of God’s Word?

Our Financial Need

God is good! He has provided additional financial partners, as well as increasing the giving from other financial partners. We are grateful.

While we are still quite far below 100% of our Wycliffe ministry budget, we continue to trust that God will provide. Please continue to pray with us for the financial provision we need.

Prayer & Praise ????????

• Major praise! God healed James of Tourette’s! We are in awe!
• Praise: Significant improvement in Christina’s health over the past 6 months.
• Praise: Mikayla, Laurel, and Timothy got baptized!
• Prayer: For affordable flights to Michigan for Christmas!
• Prayer: For James and Christina as we attend two conferences next week in North Carolina and Georgia, and for our kids as they stay in Washington state with family.
• Prayer: For continued and increased financial provision for our Wycliffe ministry.

Thank you for the ways you have partnered and prayed with us to see God’s Word made known throughout the nations.

In Him,

James and Christina

Family Photo Highlights

Below are some recent photo highlights from our family. ? Click the collage to see more.

“After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb.”
~ Revelation 7:9a ~

Training is Essential!

In June, James had the chance to help teach in an online training workshop for Bible translators and others involved in Bible translation. This was a beginner course for people just getting started in using Paratext, which is powerful and essential Bible translation software. People from a number of different countries participated, which is becoming the new norm as he and his team host online training sessions. The training went well and the participants are ready to use their newfound skills to further the work of Bible translation. One participant shared this encouraging note after they took this workshop last November:

Thank you! Obrigada! Gracias! Abea unga mekajaliá! All of you who taught and coordinated and planned this [workshop] have been a blessing to me and to so many, equipping us to do the work Jesus has called us to, with more skills and effectiveness, and with less frustration. :) May the Lord strengthen your hands and hearts and minds for the work He has called each of you to. May He bless you and keep you, and make His face shine upon you, be gracious to you, and give you peace!

James also revised the ~250-page training manual for a 2-week Paratext workshop that was run in Papua New Guinea (PNG) about 2 months ago. Around 15 Papua New Guineans came to learn to use the new and improved version of Paratext.

It’s pretty special to continue to be involved in training Papua New Guineans and Bible translators in other countries for the work of Bible translation, all without always needing to travel around the world!

God’s Word to Their Hearts

It’s an honor to be a part of a worldwide movement to bring God’s Word into the heart-language of everybody that needs it! We are encouraged to know that 17 different language groups have received a New Testament in just the first half of this year! That represents over 4.6 MILLION people from Asia, Africa, and South America that now have access to God’s Word in a language that speaks to their hearts. 

Please praise God for His work in these language groups and remember them in prayer: Warka, Diama, Bahah, Tennet, Gbaya-Bossangoa, Kaba, Ngbugu, Mountain Choco, Headwater Choco, Dakani, Gubli, Jadasir, Obopar, Obundum, Oraja, Umbangala, Vee.

(*name changed to protect the people group).

Check out this one minute video to learn about the remaining need for God’s Word to go out among the nations.

Our Financial Need

Since our last newsletter, God has blessed us with two additional financial partners. This brings us closer to our goal of reaching 100% of our Wycliffe ministry budget, but we are still quite a ways off and recent donations have actually been lower than expected. We trust that God will lead and bring the people that He wants to be a part of our team. He has always provided!

Would you pray about whether God is calling you to partner with us to help share His Word with the nations? If you feel the Lord is leading you, we would love to talk more about this opportunity with you!

Interested in Financial Partnership?

If you feel God leading you to partner with us in our Wycliffe ministry, there are a few options:

Sign up online: www.wycliffe.org/partner/ThePosts

Call Wycliffe: 800-992-5433 (our ministry number is 240439)

Mail a check with a separate note saying, “Preference for the Wycliffe ministry of James and Christina Post (240439)” to:

Wycliffe Bible Translators
c/o Receipts Dept
PO Box 628200
Orlando, Florida 32862

Please also contact us so we can thank you (and update our records)!!

Prayer & Praise ????????

• Prayer: James’ department is planning an in person training in PNG in Oct, and he is planning on going!
• Praise: James got to connect with many colleagues during the Language Technology Conference in Dallas.
• Prayer: For God to provide the financial partners we need.
• Praise: For the transformative power of the Gospel!!

Thank you for praying for and supporting the work of Bible translation throughout the world.

In Him,

James and Christina

Family Photo Highlights

Click the collage to see recent family photo highlights.

“For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son”
~ Col 1:13 ~

Around the World and Close to Home

Below is a picture of our dear friends Jerry and Sue Pfaff. While we were in Papua New Guinea, “Grandpa” Jerry and “Grandma” Sue were close like family. We played frisbee golf, enjoyed meals together, and over the years, James helped them many times with their Bible translation work in the Nali language. James also got to travel out to Manus island, home of the Nali people, to help Jerry and multiple translation teams transition to a new version of Paratext (the Bible translation software James supports). It’s exciting to know that Jerry and Sue recently dedicated 1/2 of the New Testament in the Nali language!

For over 30 years, Jerry worked as the main translation coordinator for the Nali translation, but recently he went to be with Jesus…  Tears well up in my (James’) eyes as I write this. He was such a dear friend who set an example of what it meant to love and serve Jesus.

With Jerry’s passing, Sue has taken up the role of helping manage the translation team. Because Sue knew James was involved in Paratext support, she reached out to him for help in setting up her new computer. Through a remote consulting session, he was able to help get her up and running on the new computer! Then she said:

“I was thinking I might have to fly to Washington for you to do my computer switch, but you did this really well for me [remotely].”

Through various remote training/support opportunities, James has been able to serve Bible translators, like Sue, from many countries around the world. Here’s just some of the countries that have been impacted recently by our Wycliffe ministry:

It’s very encouraging to be able to help these translators in their work!

From Darkness to Light: God’s Word Transforms Communities! ?

The work is not always easy, and our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against a very real spiritual enemy. He’s constantly prowling like a lion, looking for someone to devour. He accuses the saints day and night, whispering lies that can keep us from intimacy with Jesus, trying to hide the light that Jesus has placed inside of us, and working to prevent lives from being transformed by God and His Word.

BUT we “[conquer] him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of [our] testimony” (Rev 12:11), and God’s Word shows us the way!

This video shows a powerful demonstration of how a community can be transformed from serving darkness to serving light, from being enemies of God to being redeemed and friends of the King!

This is why having God’s Word in your own language, the language you live in, pray in, and love in is so important!

Through it, God brings truth, freedom, and transformation to people’s lives and even entire communities.

Our Financial Need

God has always provided, so faithfully, for our family and Wycliffe ministry. Many of you have been faithful financial or prayer partners for many years! Thank you!!

Recently, our Wycliffe ministry budget has increased, and some financial partners are no longer able to give. Would you please join us in praying that God would provide the additional financial partnership that we need, so we can continue the work He has given to us?

Prayer & Praise ????????

• Praise: James can help train and support people from all over the world!
• Praise: God has been growing us in faith and surrender to Him, teaching us to walk more closely with Him. 
• Prayer: For our family, marriage, and ministry as we continue to follow the Lord where He leads.
• Prayer: For God to provide the financial partnership we need.

Your prayers and support help God’s Word reach communities worldwide, transforming them into the image of Christ. Wow!

And THANK you!

In Him,

James and Christina

Family Photo Highlights

We live in the beautiful Pacific Northwest and really enjoy spending time outdoors with our family. Uncle Evan even got to visit for a while!

Jesus: God’s Anointed One

This season, God has been reminding us of Isaiah 61, the very passage that Jesus read about Himself in the synagogue:

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me,
Because the Lord has anointed Me
To preach good tidings to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
To proclaim the [year of the Lord’s favor],
And the day of vengeance of our God;
To comfort all who mourn,
To console those who mourn in Zion,
To give them beauty [instead of] ashes,
The oil of joy [instead of] mourning,
The garment of praise [instead of] the spirit of heaviness;
That they may be called trees of righteousness,
The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”
Isaiah 61:1-3

Jesus truly is the one who heals the hearts of the brokenhearted. He IS the one who sets prisoners free from physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual “imprisonment”. He IS the one who comforts the mourning, who rebuilds what we thought was beyond rebuilding, and who replaces our shame and dishonor with a double portion of honor (verses 4-7).

Jesus: Our Prince of Peace

We invite you to reflect on how Jesus can bring peace and wholeness, even in the midst of the challenges and difficulties of life, as you watch this encouraging Christmas update from Wycliffe.

Financial Need

Thank you for praying with us regarding our needed financial partnership. It’s encouraging to see how God is working in this area! Please continue to pray that He will provide additional partners for our Wycliffe ministry. He is a God who provides!

Prayer and Praise

• Praise: For testimonies of God’s redemptive work in our lives and the lives of others.
• Prayer/Praise: For James’ continued work serving Bible translators around the world.
• Prayer/Praise: For God’s provision for our Wycliffe ministry.

May Jesus bring Isaiah 61 to life for you this Christmas season, as you celebrate His coming. He is indeed Emmanuel, God with us!

In Him,

James and Christina

Christmas Season Highlights

We enjoy the Christmas season and all the fun it brings! Here are a few of our favorite things…

Click below for highlight photos.

“Do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live.”
~ Deut 4:9a ~

A Story of God’s Provision

Over the last several years, we have had the joy of watching God work in the midst of numerous challenging circumstances. Our recent trip to the east coast was no exception. With visiting JAARS (a Wycliffe support center in North Carolina), attending James’ brother’s wedding in Maryland, touring Washington DC, and seeing family and friends along the way, we needed a rental vehicle large enough for 8 people PLUS luggage. Challenge accepted!

When a rental company said the best they could offer us was TWO vehicles ($$$$!!), we started looking into other options. Christina found a 15 passenger van from a private party for a reasonable price… in Atlanta. So, Christina flew to North Carolina (alone with all the kids) and James flew to Atlanta to pick up the rental van.

Shortly after arriving, James found the rental was unavailable. ARGH!! Shock!! Stress!! Pray… Search… Guess what?! God ended up providing an even more affordable vehicle!

In the meantime, Christina and the kids were delayed due to weather and they missed their flight, even after running through the airport. The airline graciously put them up in a Hilton Garden hotel and provided more meal vouchers than they could possibly use! Enter yummy hamburgers, fries, and even some specialty chocolates and candies to share with Daddy. What an unexpected blessing!

Meanwhile, God caused a young man to cross paths with James in Atlanta. God provided the opportunity for James to share a few meals with him, as well as lodging for the night. And He opened the door for James to share how God has been working in our lives (including the provisions on this trip), begin developing a friendship, share the Gospel, and pray with him. Without the “diversion” to Atlanta and the “delay” in renting a vehicle, James would never have met this man, or been able to share Jesus with him. Isn’t He good?!?!

Experiences like these encourage us and grow our faith, allow us to declare His faithfulness, and remind us that God is with us and that He will provide for us no matter where we go.

“For what great nation has a god as near to them as the LORD our God is near to us whenever we call on him?”
~ Deut 4:7 ~

Training Translators for Global Impact

James has been making training materials more accessible to Bible translators around the world, enabling them to work more efficiently and effectively in translating God’s Word. His supervisor recently said,

“I can’t think of a better role for [James] to be in… [his] high motivation and willingness to dig in and help, combined with the perspective of what our users need, is a great asset.”

We are so encouraged that God has provided this role! It is a great fit for James and a blessing for our family.

Financial Need

Please pray with us for needed financial partnership. We’ve recently heard from some of our partners who need to decrease/discontinue giving to our Wycliffe ministry. God has always shown Himself faithful and we trust that He will provide what we need.

Prayer and Praise

• Praise: For the numerous ways God has provided on this trip, and all the memories!
• Praise: For a beautiful and fun wedding.
• Prayer/Praise: For safety and quality time as a family and with others as we travel.
• Prayer: For God to provide needed financial partnership.

Thank you for partnering with us in this work!

In Him,

James and Christina

East Coast Trip Highlights

We’ve had a great time touring the East Coast and seeing friends and family!

Click below for highlight photos.

“Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart…. my heart stands in awe of your words.”
~ Psalm 119:111, 161b ~

So Much Has Happened in 3 Months!

It’s hard to believe that it’s been over 3 months since James started working remotely supporting Bible translators. It’s been very encouraging for him to work with and support translators from around the world through email, remote support calls, and making training materials available to them.

During a remote call from Switzerland, one translator shared this encouragement with James:

“I worried about going on furlough. Who would help me? … It’s a real blessing to know that you’re around and able to help… Your efforts are really bearing fruit in the most remote villages of the Pinai-Hagahai people.”

~ Translator serving in Papau New Guinea (PNG) ~

How encouraging that, with your partnership, we are able to help the people of PNG (and beyond) have God’s Word in their language.

God’s Word Speaks to Hearts and Changes Lives

How often does God’s Word speak straight to YOUR heart? All over the world, people like the Pinai-Hagahai above are hearing God speak to them through His written Word. Watch this video to catch a glimpse of what these people experience as they hear/read of God’s heart and love for them through His Word in their language.

Prayer and Praise

• Praise: Being settled in one place has been a great blessing for our family!
• Prayer: For deepening relationships with God, coworkers, family, and friends.
• Praise: Christina’s energy levels have greatly improved!
• Prayer: For James’ weariness and energy levels.
• Praise: We recently got baby chicks and started a garden (pictures below!!)

Your prayers and support are helping God’s Word reach the hearts of people around the world. Thank you!

In Him,

James and Christina

Family Fun on the Farm!!

The house we are renting has lots of land where we can play, explore, and have fun outside. We even started a garden and got baby chicks! What a blessing to enjoy these adventures together as a family!

Baby Chicks

Family Garden

We are well supplied… the gifts you sent are a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. Philippians 4:18b

God Provides!

God is so good! He has fully provided for our Wycliffe ministry and James started his new role this week! We are thankful for the prayer and financial partners that have made this happen, and we are grateful for the chance to support Bible translators around the world through the wonders of technology.

God’s Leading

It’s also exciting and encouraging that God continues to confirm this new path. He knew this would happen long before we did:

“Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.” Psalm 139:16

Last year, we had the opportunity to share our “story” (how God has led us throughout our lives and ministry). Even though we still had plans to return to PNG at that time, God gently led us to this new role. Looking back at our story, we see God’s handiwork all around us in our lives and work in missions.

You can read our story here: Coming Full Circle: Computers in Missions.

Prayer and Praise

• Praise/Prayer: God has provided the prayer and financial partners we need!
• Prayer: For James in starting his new role.
  
• Prayer: For protection from the enemy for our family as we transition together.
• Praise: James is able to continue using his skills to serve Bibleless people around the world!
• Praise: This tropical family got to play in the snow (pictures below!!). A rare treat!

Thank you for all of the ways you all have prayed for us, encouraged us, and supported us!

In Him,

James and Christina

Family Fun in the Snow!!

We had a blast going sledding and building a snowman recently. James and Christina also got to go skiing (our first time in 12 years). After living in the tropics for years, this was SO MUCH FUN!!

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“they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’ Matthew 1:23b

God is WITH Us

Through the challenges and trials of this last year, God has made one thing abundantly clear: He is WITH us (Immanuel) through the trials, He is WITH us (Immanuel) through the challenges, He is WITH us (Immanuel) in the darkest of valleys, He is WITH us (Immanuel) regardless of our circumstances. And Immanuel is the very same promise that He gave us before He left this earth:

“surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:20b

And that is the beauty of Jesus’ coming to earth some 2000 years ago: to have a dynamic, intimate, and meaningful relationship with His “beloved children” (1 John 3:2). Because of our faith in Christ, that’s you and that’s me!

We are so grateful for this season when we set time aside to remember why Jesus came: to set spiritual captives free, to give sight to the spiritually blind, and to give new life to the spiritually dead:

“He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free”
Luke 4:18b

What a gift God has given us in Jesus Christ!!

God is Faithful

God has made Matthew 6:33 become a reality for us this year:

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:33

As we have sought to put Him and our relationship WITH Him first and foremost, He has given us what we need: deep healing, spiritual growth, and provision for our Wycliffe ministry as well!

Getting Closer!

In our last newsletter, we shared about James’ new role with Wycliffe (supporting Bible translators around the world) and about the shortfall in the ministry budget that Wycliffe has set for us.

Thank you for praying for God’s provision in this! He is providing!!

Since we last wrote, God has reduced our monthly shortfall by almost $750! We currently only need about $560/month more (updated Jan 5) in order to be released to this new role (Lord willing in January).

If God is leading you to help fill this financial gap, please see the options below.

Interested in Financial Partnership?

If you would like to financially partner with us in our Wycliffe ministry, there are a few options:

Sign up online: www.wycliffe.org/partner/ThePosts

Call Wycliffe: 800-992-5433 (our ministry number is 240439)

Mail a check with a separate note saying, “Preference for the Wycliffe ministry of James and Christina Post (240439)” to:

Wycliffe Bible Translators
c/o Receipts Dept
PO Box 628200
Orlando, Florida 32862

Please also contact us so we can thank you (and update our records)!!

Prayer and Praise

• Praise/Prayer: God continues to provide new prayer and financial partners!
• Prayer: For James as he starts his new role (Lord willing in January).
• Prayer: For our family saying “goodbye” to PNG and adjusting to this new “normal”.
  
• Praise: James will be able to continue using his skills to serve Bibleless people!
• Praise: We get to stay and live near our church, family, and friends.

May the peace of Christ be with you and your family.

In Him,

James and Christina