In 2008, while on a construction trip for the Hope House in Ecuador, Missionary Joil Marbut carefully aimed a question at me, “Matt, would you consider coming down here, I need your help, there are 600 Shuar villages that have never heard the gospel”? (the gospel is simply, the good news of God’s love) That question hit a bullseye deep in my heart. Yes, I felt the conviction and urgency, but how in the world does one take on that challenge?!

While passing thru New Mexico two years later, God began orchestrating His plan in the form of a little solar powered box called a Proclaimer. It’s an audio New Testament produced by an amazing company called, “Faith Comes By Hearing”. We  ‘just happened’ to meet and they ‘just happened’ to be working on the very language of the indigenous people we were going to work with! What’s the odds of that – 6,000 languages, Ecuador jungle, Albuquerque desert & the Shuar?! We joined arms with FCBH and now, after 4 years of praying it thru, the Shuar Proclaimer is a reality. We have ‘planted’ forty in villages throughout the jungle and fifty more will be arriving any day. Eventually, we will reach our goal of planting a Proclaimer in all 600 Shuar villages.

Why is this a big deal? For most of them, this will be the first time ever that they hear God’s message of love, hope, peace, & eternal life – in their language! An entire generation of elderly Shuar are quickly passing on, most aren’t able to read and many don’t understand Spanish. We must reach them now. I wish you could personally see how they huddle around it, so mesmerized by hearing their language come out of a little box. And to think, the first words they are hearing is God’s Word! Please pray for the safety of our team and for a warm welcome (that’s kind of important!). We’re in the process of teaming up with Speed The Light to see this project through. They will help us purchase the Proclaimers, then it’s just a matter of about $150. for our team to deliver it to each village. Message, call, or email us if you would like more information about sponsoring a village. They would be very excited to know someone in a whole different hemisphere cares about them. Also, if you would like to see a Proclaimer in person, it would be an honor to visit you while we’re in the States. We’ll be available from this July until Spring 2015.

ALSO, great news – the Proclaimer is now ready in Achuar! They are an indigenous people that have entrenched themselves deep into the jungle beyond Shuar territory. They are are even more solitary and resistant to the outside world than the Shuar, but divine connections are being made and our Shuar Pastors are anxious to visit them. You may have read the story of an Achuar man named Bolivar and his daughter, Dominga. (Click here if you haven’t.) We’ll keep you updated on how that story continues to unfold. THANK YOU for your interest and concern. May this Easter stir your heart in a new & deeper way – God bless!