Tribal leaders choose truth
over promises of worldly gain
The Trio Indians at the remote village of Kwamalasamutu were experiencing a crisis. Their crops were overrun with caterpillars and not producing. News of their plight had reached Suriname’s capital city, Paramaribo, and was well known throughout the country.
One day, a large plane flew into the village unannounced and unexpected. It was loaded with bags of rice and tools for working in the gardens. Seven men got out of the plane and explained to the Trios that they had come to help. They distributed the rice and tools among the grateful people.
The chief of the tribe invited the men to the house where they receive government officials and visitors to the village to express their appreciation. The visitors told the Indians that they wanted to help in other ways. They asked, “Do you need a generator for lights in the village? Freezers to keep your meat from spoiling? A school building?”
“Yes, yes, yes!” the Indians replied. “We need all of those things.”
“We can help you, but first we want to build a house to our god.”
“Oh, we have God’s House here”, the Indians said and began to tell them about Jesus and what He had done in their lives.
“But Jesus is dead”, the visitors responded. “We are here and we can help you now.”
As soon as the Indians heard the men say that Jesus is dead, the Spirit of truth within them raised flags of caution in their hearts and minds. Although they did not understand who these men were, they knew that they were not speaking the truth.
The chief quickly sent the men on a tour of the village with several Indians as guides. While they were gone, the chief called the elders of the church together and told them, “We’ve got false prophets in our midst and we must decide how to deal with them.”
When the visitors returned from touring the village, the chief thanked them for their generosity and told them they were free to go. “But we want to talk with you about building a house to our god”, they insisted.
The chief firmly replied that they were finished and began to escort them back to the plane. They tried again, “Give us two of your young men and we will train them.”
“Out!” the chief commanded.
“Okay, we’ll go. But we’ll be back.” The visitors boarded their plane and left.
As soon as the plane was out of sight, the chief called me on the sideband radio and told me the story. “Who are these men?” he asked. “They said that Jesus is dead and we know that He is not. Who are these false teachers?”
Living isolated deep within the jungles of Suriname and with very little contact with the outside world, the Trio Indians did not know that the visitors were Muslims who had come to build a mosque in their village.
As soon as I could, I flew to their village along with a national pastor. For a week we opened the Scriptures together and studied what God’s Word says about those who teach that Jesus is dead. The services were packed out, tape recorders were running, and many Trios were taking notes. They were eager to know about the false teachers who had visited their village, about their teaching and how they should respond.
Roy and Margaret Lytle have served among the tribal peoples of Suriname for more than 30 years. During that time, the majority of the Trio and Wayana Indians have come to know and love the Lord. They have even travelled to Guyana, French Guyana and Brazil to share the Good news with tribes beyond the reach of western missionaries.
Further leadership development is still needed among the Trio and Wayana churches. Pray for new missionaries to continue to this important ministry once the Lytles return to the US. Learn more.
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