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New Tribes Mission (NTM) is an international, theologically evangelical
Christian mission organization based in Sanford, Florida. They have
approximately 3,200 missionaries in more than 18 nations, second only to
Wycliffe Bible Translators/SIL International. David Hesselgrave, Executive
Director of the Evangelical Missiological Society, has said of NTM, "New Tribes
Mission is in the vanguard of Christian missions. NTM sends out trained
missionaries; they send them to the most needy peoples and places on earth; and
they send them equipped with a missionary strategy that is second to none."
NTM has an auxiliary organization called "Friends in Action", formerly "Friends
of NTM".
Mission
NTM's Purpose Statement reads "Motivated by the love of Christ, and empowered by
the Holy Spirit, NTM exists to assist the ministry of the local church through
the mobilizing, equipping, and coordinating of missionaries to evangelize
unreached people groups, translate the Scriptures, and see indigenous New
Testament churches established that truly glorify God."
The organization sends missionaries from local churches around the world to
Latin America, West Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Arctic. Countries include
Brazil, Bolivia, Cambodia, Greenland, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Mozambique, Senegal,
Mongolia, Thailand, Colombia, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Venezuela, Indonesia,
Papua New Guinea, and the Philippines.
Their focus is on speakers of languages in which no translation of the Bible
exists. When such a group is identified, NTM first attempts to make contact and
establish a relationship. Then, missionaries are sent to learn the language and
the culture of the native people, while further developing relationships and
providing humanitarian aid. The missionaries translate biblical literature into
the indigenous language, as well as teach natives how to read and write in their
own language (which is prevalently necessary). The professed goal, however, is
to establish fully functioning churches that operate independently of
missionaries, which "in turn reach out to their own people and to neighboring
tribes."
NTM's purpose statement states that their sole goal is to "evangelize people
groups who have had no access to the Gospel, translate the Scriptures into their
language, and plant a church." Furthermore, NTM is held accountable for their
actions by MinistryWatch and by the International Foreign Missions Association,
and "adheres to the organization's standards."
Early History
NTM was founded by Paul Fleming from Los Angeles in 1942. Fleming in the 1930s
had worked as a missionary in the British colony Malaya. The organization sent
out its first group in November 1942, to Bolivia. Of the ten adults and six
children, six were killed the following year. According to Time Magazine, five
NTM missionaries were killed by aboriginal Bolivians in 1943.
Initially, NTM was based in a former nightclub in Chicago. In 1943, NTM started
publishing its magazine Brown Gold. In 1944/45, NTM moved headquarters to Fouts
Springs, California, where it established its "boot camp".
In June 1950, the first plane bought by NTM crashed in Venezuela, killing all 15
people on board. The second plane bought by NTM crashed in November the same
year at Mount Moran in Grand Teton National Park (Wyoming), while on its way to
bring missionaries abroad, killing all 21 aboard, including spouses, several
children, and founder Paul Fleming. In July 1953, 14 NTM members serving as
volunteer firefighters died in what became known as the Rattlesnake Fire about
25 miles north of Fouts Springs, California in the Mendocino National Forest.
Beliefs
The core belief of the New Tribes Mission is "sola scriptura," accompanied by a
historical-grammatical hermeneutic in interpreting said scripture. This emphasis
on "word by word inspiration" leads to literal belief "in the fall of man,
resulting in his complete and universal separation from God and his need of
salvation;" those who die unsaved go to "unending punishment" (hence the mandate
to evangelize those without access to the gospel). Additionally, NTM is a
strongly dispensational organization, ascribing to the "imminent...pretribulation
and pre-millennial return" of Jesus Christ.
Training Program
New Tribes Mission requires all candidates to complete a training program. The
training program can take up to four years to complete. In the US, this training
culminates in a Bachelor's degree, although it is not accredited. However, major
Bible colleges such as Moody Bible Institute and Columbia International
University generally tend to recognize credits from NTM.
The first phase of the training consists of basic Bible education. This phase
lasts two years. In the US, this training takes place at one of two different
Bible schools in Waukesha, WI or Jackson, MI. These schools are collectively
called the New Tribes Bible Institute. This portion of the training program is
often waived for candidates possessing previous Bible training from accredited
Bible colleges.
The second phase of the program involves extensive study in cross-cultural
communication, church planting, and linguistic analysis. It also lasts two
years, although there is a one-year track for those going into aforementioned
"support" roles. Candidates study advanced linguistic techniques, learning how
to alphabetize unwritten languages and translate the Bible. Formerly called
"Boot Camp", this phase also emphasizes basic living skills necessary for
survival in undeveloped areas of the world (e.g., constructing and cooking from
clay stoves, building jungle shelters, etc.). In the US, this takes place at the
NTM Missionary Training Center in Camdenton, MO.
A Canadian training center exists in Durham, Ontario. Similar training programs,
adapted to the cultures in which they operate, exist in many other countries,
including Australia, Brazil, Germany, Mexico, and the UK.
Evangelistic Approach
New Tribes Mission's strategy for church planting starts with language
acquisition. NTM believes that individuals should have access to the Bible and
its teachings in their native languages, and refuses to teach in English or
local trade languages. Several unwritten languages on the verge of extinction
have been given new leases on life because of missionary efforts to reduce them
to writing and to teach their speakers in literacy.
After becoming proficient in the local languages, NTM missionaries initiate
in-depth Bible studies with interested parties. Rather than distributing tracts
or showing the "Jesus" film (popular methods among many organizations), NTM
focuses on teaching through the scriptures chronologically. They begin with the
Genesis account and follow the storyline of the Bible through to the story of
Jesus and the teachings of the New Testament. This approach is necessary because
most of the cultures in which they work have no exposure to any biblical
teaching whatsoever, and therefore require solid grounding on the foundational
principles of the Old Testament before they can be introduced to the New
Testament gospel.
This chronological curriculum consists of fifty lessons and is called "Building
on Firm Foundations." It was written by Trevor McIlwain and Nancy Everson,
originally published in 1965.
Paul Humphreys of GoodSeed says: "There is a lot of talk today in 'church'
circles about how little people know about the Bible... Biblical illiteracy is
not a new trend. It has been around a long time. The underlying cause is
explained by the Apostle Paul (Romans 1:18-32)... It seems almost impossible to
have an accurate concept of God apart from the knowledge of certain foundational
biblical stories.
The biblically illiterate need to begin with an understanding of who God is, and
where they are in relationship to their Creator-Owner--truths set forth in the
pages of the Old Testament. They need to know these things before we can expect
an accurate response to what Jesus Christ accomplished on the cross." (GoodSeed
Gleanings, No. 6, Sept. 2000)
Recognition
New Tribes Mission listed by Ministry Watch to the Shining Lights ‘Top 30’
Exemplary Ministries. MinistryWatch.com, in response to requests for a list of
Christian ministries that are among the best to which donors can give with
confidence, has released a “Top 30” list of ministries as the latest
MinistryWatch.com Shining Light profile. New Tribes Mission is one of those Top
30 Shining Lights.
Criticism and Controversy
General Methods
Survival International and other critics have accused New Tribes Mission of
using criminal tactics in their zeal to convert indigenous populations,
including armed manhunts, kidnappings, selling them into forced labour,
imprisonment in Mission camps, and even genocide.
In Paraguay in 1979 and 1986, New Tribes Mission was accused of assisting in the
forcible contact of nomadic Ayoreo Indians, whose unsuccessful attempts to
remain in the forest led to several deaths. Others died soon after being brought
out of the forest. New Tribes Mission was also accused of assisting in policies
of the dictator Alfredo Stroessner against the indigenous population.
Paul Gifford accuses NTM of engaging in industrial espionage and representing US
foreign policy interests in countries where they are active. Because of their
methods in Latin America, NTM has been investigated by the all-party
Parliamentary Human Rights Committee in Britain. A letter of protest signed by
Bishop Trevor Huddleston, Lord Avebury, Chairman of the Parliamentary Human
Rights Group, Rabbi Richard Rosen and Survival International President, Robin
Hanbury-Tenison, called on the Mission to halt its controversial activities and
respect tribal religion and culture.
Political Controversy in Venezuela
In October 2005, the BBC reported that Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez had
announced his intention to expel New Tribes Mission from Venezuela. He accused
New Tribes Mission of imperialism, of collaborating with the US CIA, of
violating Venezuela's national sovereignty, and of violating the country's laws
by making unauthorized flights into and out of the country. He also attacked the
group for building lavish camps in which to live next to poverty-stricken
villages.
Responding to the allegations, NTM said, "Any kind of air travel we do, we
always do within the guidelines of what the government allows. We always file
reports." With respect to "luxury" living, they "live in homes that make it
possible for them to continue the work that they do. The homes that they live in
are very simple."
On November 3rd, 2005, nearly 3,000 Venezuelan tribal people marched in Puerto
Ayacucho protesting against the expulsion of NTM.
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