Go: A 40-Day Journey To The Never ReachedSample

Beyond Naguragum

By: Bryan Webb 

As a new missionary to Vanuatu, I trekked up the Ora river to visit a new church among a never reached tribe. Twenty-eight times we swam the Ora. By evening, I was exhausted. At sundown, a chief welcomed us into a tiny village. His wives spread leaves on the dirt floor for our bed and boiled a slimy soup. 

Early next morning, we set out. Within the first hour, we encountered a towering waterfall. A narrow path led up the razor-sharp ridge beside it. A third of the way up, my legs trembled. Halfway up, I gasped for breath. Near the top, black spots floated in front of my eyes.

I dropped my backpack, took one last desperate swig at my empty water bottle, and collapsed. “This is it.” I told my trail mates. “I can go no further.” They encouraged me, telling me of a clear cold spring just ahead and assuring me Naguragum was just a bit further, but I was done. 

Eventually I moved on. The climb was nearly over, the spring was delicious. Naguragum was not, just a bit further. A friend pointed to a ridgetop black with distance. “That’s Naguragum.”

I noticed a thick tangle of jagged mountains beyond Naguragum. "What about there?” My guide shook his head. “Missionary, it’s much worse than this.” 

Standing in the cold spring, exhausted and totally spent, I knew I would climb those peaks and preach the gospel to their villages. The Spirit of Christ always propels us to go further. It's his nature. 

When Jesus met with two disciples on the road to Emmaus, they were heartbroken and confused. When they reached their stopping place, he acted as if he were going further. 

Why? That’s his nature. Christ always goes further. All of us reach our stopping place. Notice that Christ didn’t condemn them. He broke bread with them revealing his identity. 

Earlier they insisted, “it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” Yet upon recognizing Christ, they immediately began the seven-mile journey back to Jerusalem. They discovered they too could, go further. 

Go Further

Prayerfully determine what going one step further would look like in your Christian walk and mission and take it—today.

Pray for Never Reached People Group: The Nabangalas of Vanuatu

Ask God to reveal himself to the Nabangalas people through dreams and visions.