FAITH NEWS SERVICE – Jim Ward’s fascinating biography will inspire Christians across the globe to look into their own lives and see what talents they may have for the Kingdom. Becoming a missionary may only be for a select few, but in Jim’s case, it is hardly surprising.
Jim is the son of pioneer missionaries of the Borneo Evangelical Mission, James and Laura Ward, who, during the early 1950’s, worked in the rugged interior of Sabah, near Ranau.
Jim’s remarkable new book, Gospel Blaze in Borneo, sparks into his fascinating life by exploring the miraculous work of God’s Spirit in bringing a whole people out of subsistence, animistic practices, within just a few generations, to know and love the Lord Jesus and establish viable settlements like Bonkhud.
In 1936 an exploratory trip discovered that the Dusun tribes living in isolated long house groups knew very little of who Jesus was. Missionaries came after the Second World War and the gospel blazed into avid circulation such that by the end of the century, over 60 healthy, biblically based churches existed.
This wonder is set against the salutary backdrop of the Sandakan death marches and massacres perpetrated by the Japanese at the end of the Second World War. These ended in Ranau on the very spot where the new church was born. Much grief and misery was replaced by miracles of massive life transformations.
This book starts with a traveller’s tale, as Jim takes his wife back to Ranau in 2013, where he once learned to walk on the now-disused airstrip. The aim was to investigate his missionary roots. The couple were delighted to find authentic faith flaming brightly throughout the whole area.
Church folk warmly welcomed them with intense respect and gratitude for the work of the pioneers in helping their indigenous SIB church to mature to a point where it now has much to teach and encourage the west. The exciting freshness and zest for sincere, edifying relationships that were experienced is reminiscent of the early church.
The expatriate missionaries were forced to leave Borneo by the early 1970s, but SIB / BEM faith-based churches were well established with excellent biblical translations and effective pastor training situations. New converts simply focused on applying the scriptures and they multiplied with an astounding blaze that was no less than an inspiring proclamation that this is all truly God’s story and not ours.
As Jim studied the old mission archives and fellowshipped with missionary families and spoke with local Christians, he became aware of a six stage outreach pattern that has repeated itself in world mission since the days of Paul’s great outreach journeys.
The Borneo outreach exemplifies the stages of: Calling, Contact, Consolidation, Commitment, Correction and finally the joyful exultation of Celebration, which is happening now. On 21 December 2024, there will be ceremonies in Ranau to commemorate 85 years since the Gospel came to that area.
Descendants of the pioneer missionaries have all been invited. All this is reflected in this little book, which is flavoured with exciting stories and reminders of the desperate early struggles against witch doctors, howling dogs and disease.
Innovations abound, such as the skilful use HF radio and light aircraft that predate today’s fleet of the global Missionary Aviation Fellowship planes. In fact the BEM pilots helped to establish the Australian branch of the MAF that has been so vital to opening up Papua New Guinea and Arnhem Land to effective outreach.
What is perhaps most exquisite is the way this book demonstrates the intricate and often surprising strategies of the Holy Spirit ensuring that just the right people came together with the right backgrounds, experience, gifts and expertise at just the right time to be really effective. The incredible undergirding of the outreach by fervent global prayer is another crucial perspective in what is a truly heavenly mix.
Gospel Blaze in Borneo will make you yearn for the great heavenly feast to come, when we will be able to swap with great joy the rich outreach stories of brave witness that has united brothers and sisters throughout the entire world ever since the resurrection mandate. This book shows just what it is like to commit to following the Firstborn towards His triumphant, eternal Kingdom, where evil no more will trouble His precious flock. Then, totally fulfilled, we are invited to rest deep in peace amidst green pastures beyond compare.
Gospel Blaze in Borneo, published by Ark House, is now available globally.
