A Prayer Request from Mibu: Connectivity & Continued Ministry

Dear friends,

I wanted to send a brief update and ask for your prayers regarding an important situation affecting the ministry in Mibu.

While I've been gaining momentum on developing the Revelation lessons, one significant challenge has arisen: the internet connection in Mibu was lost recently and without warning. Because of some ongoing security concerns in the area, we've intentionally kept this issue off of social media, but we felt it appropriate to share it here with you as a trusted group of prayer partners.

We believe the internet has played an important role in maintaining both community safety and stability over the past year. The ability to communicate quickly with leadership, authorities, and one another has mattered greatly, and its absence is deeply felt.

From a ministry perspective, this has also been difficult. Internet access is my primary means of continuing to serve the church in Mibu from afar. I normally meet regularly with church leaders for discipleship, training, and counsel. As I've been working through the Revelation lessons, my hope was to involve teachers in Mibu directly in the process—both to strengthen the lessons and to deepen discipleship. Losing that connection has been discouraging.

That said, we are thankful that the community does still have an emergency beacon, which allows for short text communication when necessary. While limited, it does provide a basic lifeline.

We are currently working with our IT department and mission leadership to explore a solution for restoring internet service. At this point, the timeline is uncertain. Resolving the issue will require travel into and out of Mibu by someone with the right technical expertise, which involves additional logistics and expense. There is also the possibility that the solution may not be immediately implementable, potentially requiring follow-up trips. This is the challenge of maintaining technical equipment in such remote locations.

We are asking you to pray specifically for:

      •     wisdom and clarity as plans are made

      •     provision for the finances needed to address this issue

      •     safety for the community

      •     discernment for the right people involved

      •     patience and trust as we wait on the Lord's timing

We know that God sees and knows all of this. He is in control. He is our sustainer and provider, and we are choosing to rest in our dependence on Him, even when solutions feel uncertain from our perspective.

Thank you, as always, for standing with us through prayer and generous support. We are continually humbled by your faithfulness and encouragement, and we thank God for you often.

With gratitude,

Geoff (for the Husa family)

Mibu Ministry

Finished Scripture, Ongoing Hope - A Christmas Update

Dear friends,

Merry Christmas from our family to yours! We hope this season finds you remembering the faithfulness of God and the great hope we have in Christ. Thank you for continuing to walk with us through prayer, encouragement, and financial partnership. We truly could not do this work without you. (By the way, if you're wondering who the 7th person is in the picture, that's Caleb, Skyler's boyfriend!)

We're excited to share some really encouraging news from the ministry.

📖 A Translation Milestone

After far too long, I've officially completed all remaining corrections for 1 & 2 Thessalonians and Revelation. These books are now finished—a huge answer to prayer! I've now formatted them into booklet form, created a simple cover, and ordered proof copies. Once final formatting tweaks are done, we'll be ready to print about 150 copies and work out how best to get them into Mibu.

If you'd like to help with this very tangible next step, printing costs are estimated at $600, with shipping possibly up to $400. Gifts toward this can be designated "Printing" through the Donate Now button. Thank you for considering being part of getting these Scriptures into the hands of the Mibu church.

📝 Next Phase: Revelation Lessons

With Revelation complete, I've begun working again on lesson development for Revelation. This has been challenging—finding the balance between giving a helpful overview without getting lost in the details—but it's moving forward. There will likely be 22–24 lessons, and I'm praying for clarity, discernment, and wisdom (and maybe less overthinking!).

I'm also hoping to begin working more closely with some of the teachers in Mibu on this material. Doing this together not only strengthens the lessons but serves as an important discipleship opportunity.

🙏 Ongoing Challenges in Mibu

We continue to see some of the fallout from Chris's sudden departure. Discouragement is real, and at least one church leader has stepped back somewhat from active involvement. Please pray for renewed encouragement and strength.

There is also continued tension related to a road project Chris had been promoting. With the project now halted, some surrounding communities—including a few believers—are expressing frustration toward the leaders in Mibu. Pray for unity, wisdom, and Christ-centered humility as these relationships are tested.

In addition, there are several practical maintenance issues Chris previously handled (even things like keeping community equipment running). We're praying and thinking carefully about how to help in ways that equip long-term local ownership, without creating unhealthy dependency. This is a delicate balance—please pray for discernment.

🌱 Encouraging News

On a brighter note, Sesi—my longtime translation helper and dear friend—recently attended the Team Translation  Workshop in Madang. There, he helped train other national translation helpers and shared testimony of what God has been doing in Mibu. His story was a great encouragement to many, and it was a joy to see how God is using him beyond Mibu as well.

💛 Thank You for Your Partnership

As many of you know, we've been intentionally inviting people to partner with us to help bring our regular monthly support up to 100%. Over the last couple of months, we've seen significant progress, and we are so thankful! Several generous one-time gifts have also been a tremendous help.

We're not quite there yet, but the momentum has been incredibly encouraging. If you've been praying about joining us as a regular partner—or if you're considering an end-of-year gift—this is a meaningful opportunity to invest in a ministry where God is clearly at work, bringing lasting hope through His Word.

Thank you for being part of this journey with us. We thank God for you often, and we are deeply grateful to be serving together as a team.

With love and gratitude,

Geoff & Shannon Husa

Mibu Ministry

Grateful for Your Partnership — and a Few Important Mibu Updates

Hi friends,

I hope you're all doing well. I wanted to send a fresh update, especially after the flurry of social-media posts the last couple of weeks highlighting the importance and details of Bible translation.

First, thank you.

Shannon and I have been deeply encouraged by the response to our recent call to consider partnering with us financially. Several of you began giving regularly, and a number of significant one-time gifts have also come in. These have made a real difference — enough for us to feel solid movement toward our goal of being fully funded each month. We are so grateful. Truly.

We're not at 100% yet — there's still a significant gap before we reach a sustainable level — but seeing this momentum has been a huge encouragement. If you've recently joined us, thank you from the bottom of our hearts. And if you've been prayerfully considering it, we'd love for you to join our team and help us finish this translation project well.

Translation Progress

If you've seen the latest updates online, you know I've been pushing hard on going back and finalizing some revisions on 1 and 2 Thessalonians and Revelation, and also being sure to update our key terms across the entire NT translation. A longstanding technical issue with our translation software (Paratext) was finally resolved, which required adding a second refurbished computer to handle the load — but now things are running smoothly again. Praise the Lord!

All this behind-the-scenes work is unglamorous, but it is essential. We're getting very close to having these letters ready to print (booklet form) — a huge milestone.

A Serious Prayer Need: Trouble in Mibu

We also need to ask for your prayers for a serious situation in Mibu right now. A young man — loosely connected to the notorious Hetwara gang — has been causing increasing trouble in the community. Recently he attacked one family by destroying their garden, burning their house, and causing further damage.

The Mibu believers feel stuck. They fear retaliation from the gang if they take action, and police involvement is extremely difficult because of both the remoteness and the shortage of police personnel in the region.

Please pray for:

      •     protection and safety for the community

      •     true justice

      •     wisdom for the church leaders

      •     God to move in the hearts of the right people to bring lasting law and order

This is a heavy burden for them.

Another Tension: Road Project Fallout

We also ask for prayer regarding a second issue. Before leaving, Chris had been spearheading early discussions about a proposed road from the coast up into the mountains. The idea generated excitement in many communities. Now that he's gone, some of those communities are becoming "bel hevi" (upset), frustrated that the project will not be moving forward.

What's especially heartbreaking is that one of the church plants — a group of believers whom the Mibu church has discipled for years — is expressing frustration toward the leaders in Mibu rather than toward the source of the problem. They're struggling to trust. This could easily become a relational wound if the Lord doesn't intervene.

Please pray that:

      •     both groups would be able to reason together with humility

      •     the enemy would not gain a foothold

      •     unity in Christ would prevail

      •     the gospel itself would shine even brighter through reconciliation

Moving Forward

These situations — combined with the fallout from losing my coworker — make it all the more urgent that I am able to devote as much time as possible to translation and essential lesson development. We're asking the Lord to continue moving hearts to help us reach full support so that I can focus on the ministry.

If you've already joined our team or increased your giving: thank you so much.

If you've been meaning to jump in: now is a genuinely meaningful time to do so.

We love you, are grateful for you, and are continually encouraged knowing we're not walking this journey alone.

In Christ,

Geoff (for the whole family)

International Translation Day & Mibu Ministry

Dear friends,

This past week, leading up to International Translation Day (September 30), I've been sharing some thoughts on social media about Bible translation. Why? Because translation isn't just a scholarly project—it's at the very heart of God's character. 

God has always been the One who steps toward us, making Himself known. He didn't reveal His Word in some "special" language that only the elite could access. Instead, He spoke through ordinary people, in the everyday language of their time and place. Translation reflects that very same heart of God—His willingness to meet people where they are so they can know Him.

In English, we are blessed with more translations than we can easily count. Yet in Mibu, the Ma-speaking people still don't have even one complete translation of the Bible. Right now, only about 35% of the New Testament and portions of the Old Testament are available. And yet—already the impact has been profound. The Mibu church has been able to grow strong in God's Word precisely because they can hear it in their own language.

But this work is far from done. And right now, it's in a fragile place. With no remaining co-workers and support levels running low, it has become increasingly difficult to give translation and lesson development the full focus they need. We're trusting the Lord to raise up financial partners so that this vital work can continue moving forward.

👉 Would you prayerfully consider becoming a monthly supporter of Mibu Ministry? Your partnership allows me to focus fully on translation and equipping, ensuring the Ma people will one day hold the entire Bible in their language. Click the "Donate Now" button at the top of this email for a simple way to start giving. Easy-peasy!

We are deeply grateful for the faithful prayers and financial support that so many of you have given over the years. Truly, you have made it possible for the Mibu people to experience God's Word in their own tongue. Together, let's press on toward the finish line.

By the way, if you've not seen any of my social media posts this week on social media, be sure to see the links at the top of this email. Go ahead and check those out, and give me a follow!

In Christ,

Geoff & Shannon Husa

Mibu Ministry

Mibu Ministry Needs Your Help

With the recent shake-up in Mibu Ministry, we're facing a real challenge. For quite some time now, our monthly support levels have been far below what's needed. We've managed by adding other income-generating activities on top of ministry work just to make ends meet.

But with no remaining co-workers, the weight of the work falls entirely on me, only in God's strength of course. If I'm going to have any hope of finishing the Bible translation project for Mibu, I need to devote the majority of my time and energy to ministry—not to side jobs.

This means we urgently need to get our support back up to sustainable levels. Would you prayerfully consider becoming a regular monthly partner with us?

If you've ever thought about supporting a grass roots church planting ministry, the church planting effort in Mibu has a long history of God doing phenomenal things in that remote corner of the world, among a people who had previously not known God. Your partnership would directly help keep the work moving forward—Bible translation, discipleship, and equipping the Mibu church for generations to come.

👉 If you're interested, tax deductible donations can be made by clicking the "DONATE NOW" button at the top of this email.

👉 Or if you have questions, please feel free to reach out.

We'd be so grateful for your partnership in this ongoing work!

Geoff and Shannon Husa

Moving Forward in Mibu Ministry

Dear friends,

I've returned home after my recent visit to Mibu, PNG. Thank you to everyone who continues to partner with us through your finances and prayers. It was a blessed time with our brothers and sisters in Mibu, and I experienced God's many mercies during my travels!

Now begins the hard work. One of the difficult realities of this situation is that there is no way I can pick up all the slack that has been left. The best and most strategic way for me to continue serving is to give my full attention to keeping the translation and lesson development project moving forward.

At the same time, there are a number of necessities of ministry that still need to be covered. For example, we have several computers in Mibu that church leaders use to create post-literacy materials, prepare lessons, and communicate. These require ongoing maintenance. Another area is ordering literacy materials, which typically one of us expats has organized. These and other responsibilities are now being evaluated as we consider how best to move forward. We're asking who, on the field, might be able to help meet some of these needs.

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A Word About Finances

For the last several years, our support level has hovered around 60–65% of what is recommended. We are grateful for God's provision that has sustained us, but the reality is that this shortfall has meant splitting my focus—pursuing other income-generating activities just to make ends meet. Even with that, we've struggled to keep up with basic needs. Dental and health care have been put off for example. Costs are rising quickly, and at times we've even had to lean on debt to cover larger expenses.

All of this has slowed progress in translation and lesson development, because the time and energy needed for ministry has often been divided. Yet now, more than ever, this ministry needs my undivided attention. The work in Mibu is at a critical stage, and the church desperately needs continued discipleship, resources, and translated Scripture.

We are praying for the Lord's provision to bring our support back up to where it needs to be so that I can devote myself more fully to the ministry He has called us to. Would you prayerfully consider joining us as a financial partner—or, if you are already giving, consider increasing your monthly support? Every gift makes a real difference in strengthening this ministry and helping me focus where it matters most. Click the "Donate Now" button at the top of this email to see several easy ways to contribute monthly.

We trust God's faithfulness to finish the good work He has begun in Mibu, and we are so thankful for your ongoing prayers and encouragement.

In Christ,

Geoff and Shannon Husa

Walking Together Through a Difficult Time

The news this week of Chris' sudden departure hit hard in the church in Mibu. I was thankful for BJ Sanders and Levi Lenz, who accompanied me into Mibu, representing NTM leadership and providing additional support. Levi stayed with me the rest of the week after BJ departed at the end of that first day.

The fallout is vast and will be long-lasting. I was so very glad to have been able to spend time with the church—to cry with them, meet and talk through concerns and potential logistics, and just begin to figure out what adapting to these new circumstances might look like. There are so many uncertainties.

In many ways, we're in ministry triage… trying to discern what "limbs" we don't have to amputate. The Evil One has many ways of trying to cripple, sow doubt, and use shame to make God's people in Mibu ineffective. But this week I also saw that the church in Mibu is rooted enough in God's Word, and dependent enough on Him, to keep moving forward through uncertainty—and even to experience joy in their suffering.

It is praiseworthy to note that what I witnessed during my time in Mibu affirmed their maturity as a church. Despite the difficulty and uncertainty, I saw godly wisdom, thoughtfulness, and especially graciousness as we all scrambled to assess the situation. I am so very proud of my brothers and sisters there!

We met every day about different matters, with lots of side discussions as well. There were many reminders that Chris' leaving does not change the fact that Jesus is the head of the church, and that the on-the-ground work of the church has never depended on Chris, or Geoff, or anyone else—but on God working through His people. And while some of the physical things Chris provided will no longer continue (things which perhaps added convenience, and even created a bit of unhealthy dependency), their absence does not change the reality that we are the redeemed of God, the bride of Christ, here to reflect who He is and to share His Good News for the duration of our sojourning in this world.

If I felt inadequate and ineffective before all this, imagine how much more so now. I've struggled in recent years to keep up even with a partner in ministry. Now that partner of over 21 years is suddenly gone—leaving not only unfinished work, but also much of the resulting mess to sort through. To say I feel overwhelmed is an understatement. This is my next phase of anxiety to work through. I KNOW I can't do all that is needed. God's Spirit keeps reminding me of my conviction that, indeed, everything is going to be alright. I am deeply thankful for those within NTM PNG who are stepping up to take on tasks that would otherwise be impossible—or overwhelming—for me alone.

The additional challenges are just beginning. There is a lot we will have to figure out, a little at a time. One thing is certain: I've got my work cut out if I'm going to trim back things that pull me away from ministry and prioritize enough time to make significant progress in translation and lesson development, which continue to be the heart of my focus in ministry. There is still much to be done.

For several years now, our support has been low enough that I've had to split time with income-generating work just to make ends meet. It's clear that one of the things we must trust the Lord for is raising our support back up to where it should be so that I don't need to split my time so much, and can devote more time to ministry. Would you prayerfully consider whether God might be leading you to be a part of that going forward? If you feel so inclined, there is a link/button included at the top of this email which makes it super easy to give.

As always we appreciate your continued partnership through prayer and finances.