By Emily Hewitt

In 2006, before coming to Papua New Guinea for the first time a friend and I decided to memorize James 1 in preparation.  I never imagined what an impact this challenge would have on my life.  On a daily basis a verse from that chapter crosses my mind.  In the daily struggles against cultural stress or just daily living in a developing country, the words of James 1 apply some way of encouragement.  The past few weeks I have dwelt on the verse:

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

It brings perspective on the daily struggles. What happens when we develop perseverance? We are not lacking anything.

Another verse from this chapter that has deeply affected my ministry is verse 7:

“but when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.”

I have to believe and not doubt, so when I pray for God to start a spiritual revival amongst the Mborena Kam language group here and for it to spread all cultural and language barriers to the Abu, Kire, and Akukem languages to join with what He is doing amongst the Aruamu I must take it to heart that He will hear my prayer and answer in a way that glorifies Him most.  When I pray for more teammates to join our team here in Papua New Guinea to complete the task I must believe and not doubt that He will answers and rejoice when He does.

Friends as you dig in Scripture I challenge you to take it to heart, memorize it, cherish it and believe the truth God has given us through it.  Don’t hold it to yourselves though.  Pray scripture, share scripture with your friends as you discover more and more the greatness of our God, and be challenged by it let it impact your life.  Strive for the development of perseverance, so that it might finish its work making you mature and complete!

Emily serves the branch in many roles. She is the newly elected Director of Support Services as well she maintains her role as Scripture Use.