Servants for Christ's Sake

by Clint Vernoy

“Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man’s foundation: But as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand.” (Rom. 15:20, 21)

We find these verses to be very relevant to the ministry among the tribal people here in the headwaters of the Orinoco River of Venezuela. We are literally preaching the Gospel to a people who have not heard or seen and do not understand the blessed hope of our Redeemer.

For two and a half years now we have been involved in this ministry, and we have done survey work among three different tribes. Many times we are frustrated by the inability to be in more than one place at a time. We are only one family, but we could place ten missionary couples into that many isolated villages immediately. “Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not.” (II Cor. 4:1)

After eight months of difficult travel and survey in the jungle work, we were led to begin our outreach ministry in the Maquritare village of Chajudana. We have been here nearly two years, and we see the Lord raising up a work among these people. We are learning their language and culture; however, our hearts are always burdened for the thousands of Indians hidden in the vastness of these river regions.

Our eyes were opened even further to the work among these very needy, primitive people when our village hosted a tribal convention. Chajudana doubled in population as we had 1,000 to 1,200 Indians representing two tribes (Sanoma and Maquritare) come to the convention. Fifteen villages sent delegations of chiefs, witch doctors and powerful men in leadership positions among the tribes.

In early November we began to hear rumors of threats to call upon the “Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man’s foundation: But as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand.” (Rom. 15:20, 21)

In early November we began to hear rumors of threats to call upon the Venezuelan National Guard to remove all non-Indians from the area. The only non-Indians crazy enough to live in this isolated, malaria, hepatitis, yellow fever, tuberculosis, infested area are, of course, missionaries, namely the Vernoys. We took this matter to the Lord in much prayer as we were informed of some outside groups who had been invited to “advise” the tribe on these matters. We were well aware that each one was very “anti” religious and “anti” North American. All we could do was trust the Lord.

During the meetings held with the Indians, each group was offered a chance to present their goals and purpose-of-interest in the tribe. I was one of the last to be able to do this. As the days wore on, it became obvious to all the Indians that the only ones willing to live with them were the missionaries, and much discussion began among the people of our village and those of the other villages who did not know us.

“They really live in a mud house with a palm roof?”

“They even have their small children here?”

“They actually eat our kind of food?”

“Do they really give medicine to the sick?”

“They even pay for sick people to fly out to the city for treatment?”

“They actually fumigate every week to kill mosquitoes?” (Malaria control)

“They help bury the dead?”

“They even let you into their house?”

The questions went on and on.

When I was allowed the chance to present our purpose before this very “prestigious” group of leaders, I was very aware of II Cor. 4:1-6, especially verse 3, “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost.” I found myself presenting the Gospel in Spanish, and it was being translated into the two tribal languages. The Gospel is most powerful, and rather than talk of the work of Clint Vernoy, I knew I must speak of the work of Christ while I had the “ears” of the two tribes. “For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.” (2 Cor. 4:5)

I was able to explain why only missionaries were willing to live with them, eat like them, get their diseases, stay up night after night with their sick, and pray for those under demonic attack. We missionaries are the servants of the lost Indians for Jesus’ sake. The response was immediate. Witch doctors, chiefs and all were showing enthusiasm for this kind of outsiders. We even received invitations to visit all the villages, some for extended visits, and some have expressed a desire for missionaries to live in their villages. These villages are only accessible by river or airplane.

Although we do use planes from another mission agency for our flights, their base headquarters are two and a half hours in the opposite direction, and this doubles our flight bill and limits our use of planes in evangelism because we have to pay per flight hour.

The Lord has called another BIMI couple to work with us, Keith and Anita Brock. They will be joining us just as soon as they finish their study of the Spanish language. Also, the Lord has called Brother Bryan Baggett, an outstanding missionary pilot, who will be involved in church planting both among the Spanish-speaking Venezuelan people and the tribal people of the jungle. This means that a plane will be based in our area.

We trust that you will join us in prayer for these dear people, and pray that we will see the Gospel of Christ spread as a light that shines in darkness both among the tribes and the Venezuelan people.

“For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2 Cor. 4:6)