Meet the Wayana and Trio peoples of Suriname, who are getting ready to harness radio for Christ.
Before the 1960s, the Wayana and the Trio had little contact with the outside world. They were shrinking in number. But then God used Ivan and Doris Schoen and their family to bring the good news of Jesus.
Today, the Wayana and Trio want other tribes like them to meet Jesus, too. Trans World Radio (TWR) is partnering with Tom Schoen, who continues to serve alongside these tribes.
"The work in the jungles is ongoing," explains Clay Perry with TWR. "Our partnership with Tom Schoen is to build radio stations for the Wayana and Trio indigenous tribes that are still in the jungles today, in order to disciple their own people and to evangelize other people groups."
The Wayana and Trio’s homeland in Suriname is part of the greater Amazon Rainforest, in which more than 100 uncontacted tribes are thought to still exist. They are uniquely positioned to reach these other tribes.
"They’re going to use these radio stations to tape their own messages to then disciple their people who are in further away places. So as the tribe disperses, they’ll have these little transistor radios, be able to tune in and hear preaching in their mother tongue," Perry says.
"Then [in] the longer-term need, we want to be able to provide whatever financial means we can for the [Wayana and Trio] to continue this ministry as their, Lord willing, discipleship expands, churches expand, [as] they find these other people groups."
Here’s how people can pray with the Wayana and Trio people.
"As society changes, their tribe has been forced to change as the modern world kind of encroaches upon them. They need prayer for the gospel to keep going forth among their people," says Perry.
"As the tribes disperse deeper into the jungle, they need prayer for the elders to continue to shepherd their people well. They also need prayer for guidance, discernment, and health as they’re trying to share the gospel with tribes deeper into the jungles. They’ll certainly need the Lord’s protection there."
To watch the full documentary of the Wayana and Trio’s stories and to learn how to partner with them in gospel ministry to the unreached, people can visit twr.org/lifted.
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This story originally appeared at Mission Network News and is republished here with permission.