Fellowship Bentonville will take a spring break mission trip into the coastal jungles of Panama to share the Gospel with the Ngobe people group. The overall purpose is 1) to mature and grow the Ngobe church, and 2) to mature the participating students with a powerful mission experience in a New Testament environment.
The Ngobe are an indigenous people group in Panama that, in partnership with the Bugle people, have a semi-autonomous reservation (the Ngobe-Bugle Comarca). The Comarca is sparsely populated and generally has high rates of poverty and infrastructure combined with low rates of education and income. Much of the living in the Comarca is subsistence based. The parts of the Comarca near other provinces have more infrastructure and more churches. The coastal region is especially sparse and churches there have only had about a decade to mature. Mamatata (local animistic and ancestral worship) is still the prevailing religion in the coastal region.
Who are we partnering with? About a dozen small churches between Tobobe and Playa Tigre. The local leaders (Pastor Leonardo Wilson and elders) are mature and have benefited from joint US/Panamanian training. Primary external churches supporting the ministry have been Arc of Salvation (Panama Chiriqui Grande - Pastor Inoil Alvares), Bahia Church (Comarca Bahia Azul - Pastor Celestino), Bridge Community Church (United States Virginia - Pastor Greg Hackett) and the Fishermen’s Church (United States - Pastor Triagon Cri).
What will we be doing? Team members will be trained to understand the culture and how to convey the Gospel. Students will participate in local worship including offering of testimonies and songs. Groups of students and leaders will visit huts to share the Gospel. Students will convey the love of the Gospel through activities. A one-day student led conference will bless regional church leaders and disciples. Follow-up discipling will be provided by local partners to those who want to begin following Christ. Daily devotionals and debriefs will build team unity and maturation.
Cost per person: $2,350
FSM staff leading this trip: Kyle Plunkett