Are there qualifications or requirements to meet to be apostles of Christ or a missionary or even a national Bible translator? I suppose there are some standards to follow though as I have been reading Luke’s chronicles of Acts there seems to be a different drift.
When they (Sanhedrin) saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished […]. Acts 4:13
The early apostles were no one special. They didn’t have special Bible schooling or a diploma to display on the wall from some Bible College. They were unschooled. Though one could make the case that Peter, John, and the rest were schooled by the headmaster himself, Jesus. There was no teacher assistant or aide. It was Jesus in the flesh giving parables and live illustrations.
Jesus ascended into heaven (Acts 1) and left the begins of the church to his faithful eleven. Peter, rock, received the Holy Spirit and became a man of courage. Peter heals a lame man then starts a preaching crusade (Acts 3). Peter, the man you denied Christ three times and now has been transformed by the Holy Spirit is working miracles and preaching the Gospel. Remember, Peter is an unschooled, ordinary man.
When I think of national translators such as the men PBT typically works with in PNG, they are merely unschooled and ordinary men. Yes some have a grade 10 or grade 12 education though some have grade 3 or 4 level education. Still God uses these ordinary men to do the extraordinary work of Bible translation.
As the Sanhedrin were astonished, I am astonished as well to see God’s handiwork in action as these men work to translate the Good News in their heart language.
(Pictured: Casper, Leo, and Augustine)
Tyler and Emily in PNG 
Great thoughts Tyler! It is neat to see a picture of some of the people you work with. Thank you for sharing.
Good expressions…..ordinary men……extraordinary results. Praise God!
Dad
Sure enjoy these updates Tyler. I pray all is well with you and Emily and the PBT work. How is the work coming along? It is so encouraging to know God can use ordinary people to do His extraordinary work. PTL!!
I just had a similar conversation with someone who works here at the ISC who feels like they are unschooled and ordinary yet I shared your thoughts that God uses us as we give ourselves to the work and He uses the abilities he has given us as we trust Him. This person is contributing a lot, even thought they are not a translator. Thanks for this message and God bless those men in PNG who have the desire to get the Scriptures into their language and have dedicated their lives to do that.
God bless you two in your work there.