Guns to Bibles: How MAF supports life-transforming teaching

Story by Matt Painter

“I am a man who carried a gun and held up boats on the river.” 

These were the words of a man attending a Scripture Application and Leadership Training (SALT) course, who testified that he used to carry a pistol and an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle – and had been involved in many crimes.

“Some people gave me a SALT book and shared a little bit of the teaching with me,” he said. “It wasn’t long before the Holy Spirit gripped my heart. I told my brother, ‘I am going to hike all the way up to Dundrom to attend the next SALT course!’ Here I am. Satan has been holding me in bondage, but now the Holy Spirit has set me free!”

Pastor Fred Igami, course team leader, recalled: “The well-known criminal gave his life to Christ. During graduation, he stood up and shared how the SALT course transformed his life.”

The SALT program is a ministry under SIL Papua New Guinea, explained Luke Aubrey. He and his wife Marjan are scripture engagement workers.

“We bring Bible teaching from God’s Word all over this country. We serve with the local churches, and we also serve with translators,” Luke said. 

“It's been a huge blessing for us in the last several years to partner with MAF, because, up until then, we would go to these remote places and they might have, you know, the Gospel of Luke in their mother tongue, or they might have just the New Testament – they might not have anything. 

“And the few Bibles that were there – that we were teaching the people from – were tattered, ripped up, falling apart, well-used – and they didn't have any access to more Bibles. 

“But since we’ve begun partnering with MAF, they’ve been providing us with subsidised Bibles, which has been huge. When we bring these Bibles to a place, people are just rushing to buy them. They’re so hungry to get God’s Word,” Luke said.

“Last year, our team went out to a place. The team sold 93 Bibles in a couple of days, and the people were begging for more, but unfortunately, we didn’t have space.

“Many of the places we go, it’s the same case. People are at the aeroplane trying to shove money into our hands. ‘Please, do you have more copies?’ It’s like, ‘Sorry, all we have has been sold out.’”

SIL focuses on Bible translation into the mother tongue, but as Luke explained, often only portions of vernacular Scripture are available. Meanwhile, the widespread language Tok Pisin is used heavily, and therefore copies of the MAF-supplied Tok Pisin ‘Buk Baibel’ are cherished.

The nondenominational SALT ministry is invited by churches and translators to come and offer one or two-week courses that teach basic Bible lessons and truths. 

“We have a desk full of requests from people begging for Bible teaching all over the country. Word of mouth travels. One village will get a course, and then another language group will say, ‘Please come teach us.’ You know, the harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few.

“The Bible is the key workbook we go to,” said Luke. “If they weren't subsidised, we would not be able to reach as many people with God’s Word.”

Luke described how some people are so remote they have no way of getting income. 

“Being able to buy a copy of God’s Word for five, six, or seven dollars is just game-changing. They will still put a big portion of their year’s income towards that – because they want it,” he said.

“One place we went, there was a man addicted to alcohol. During the course, he came to faith in Christ. And our team went back two years later and went to another region about two days away, requested by the local church. And this guy said, ‘Hey, you can stay in my house. I travelled for two days to that first course two years ago, and God changed my life completely. I’m a new man. I want to host you.’ So, he became the host for the team for the two weeks of Bible training in that village.

“It's just a joy to see God changing and transforming lives through His Word.”