Peace Child

This book recounts the true story of the Sawi tribe, who were still living in the stone age, and held treachery as their highest virtue. When in 1962 a missionary couple, named Don and Carol Richardson began to live among them. (The Sawi had never seen a blonde woman before)

Graduates of Prairie Bible College in Three Hills, Alberta, Canada (my alma mater) they became missionaries to reach the Sawi people with the gospel. The Sawi lived among four hundred other distinct tribes in Irian Jaya, between the Indian Ocean and the Coral Sea. The Richardson’s soon discovered they were living among cannibals who used their victim’s skulls as pillows. To the Sawi people, treachery was more than a way of life; it was an ideal which they had perfected.

When Don was able to translate one of the Gospels and read it to them in their own language, the tribe burst out laughing when they heard that Judas betrayed Christ. To them Judas was the hero of the Gospel. Now Don and Carol were worried, how can you reach people who hold treachery as their highest ideal?

After the Sawi leaders had fattened up a man from another tribe with friendship, they killed the man while he was eating with them and ate his brains. Once the other tribe found out, they declared war on the Sawi and said, they will not rest until all are like their friend. At this threat, the Richardsons told the Sawi people that they would leave, unless there was peace between the two tribes.

The only way the two tribes could be at peace was through a heart-breaking ritual. The last baby born of the Sawi would be given to the other Chief to raise as his own, and as long as the child lived there would be peace between them. This gave Don an idea, and he was able to explain the gospel in a way the Sawi could understand. He said, we all are at war with God, but God sent His Son, Jesus, to make peace, and as long as the Son of God lives there is peace between God and us. Of course, it was much more involved, and all the details of the Gospel were explained, but you need to read the book!

What was the result? Ten years later in 1972, hundreds upon hundreds of tribe’s men, women and children came to know Christ as their Lord. They built a huge “Sawi-dome” as their Church, which could seat 1,000 people!

There is much still to do around this world for Christ, consider giving to missionary groups who are dedicated to go to the “regions beyond” with the Gospel of Christ.

Soli Deo Gloria,

John