THE PEARL CALLED PALAU
When most people think of Palau, they think of a very remote island paradise with crystal blue waters and absolute tranquility. Yet the vision that most people have of a coconut tree and a beach chair on a lonely empty island is far from the reality. The population is about 20,000 people, but the islands are always bustling with an average of almost 10,000 tourists a month! Over 15,000 of the people of Palau reside in the island of Koror which is only 1 mile wide by 3 miles long.

The people of Palau are very warm and unforgettable. They love life, love to sing and really love to eat. Food is plenteous in Palau due to the tropical climate, fertile ocean and relatively good import shipping. The average income of a Palauan family is under $10,000 (U.S.), yet they are very content with what they have.

The Republic of Palau is a very small, but yet is a surprisingly advancing nation. It is in a very critical time in its young life with an amazing amount of change taking place. The country is still extremely proud and committed to its ancient customs and practices. Yet, in the midst of that desire to maintain the traditional lifestyle, many are pushing hard for technological advance. This has created a great deal of frustration for the average Palauan.

In the midst of all of the cultural influences, there also has been an unbelievable amount of religious influences as well. The Palauan religion Modekngei has a very strong influence in the minds of most Palauans. The religion is very focused on the spirits of the dead and sacred animals and places. From birth many of the Palauans have been taught the "way" that things must be done so as to not bring harm to the family. As a result, the fear of the creation causes them not to truly fear the Creator. Other strong religious influences in Palau are the major cults. They have effectively used the same terminology as the Bible yet with their own twist and are daily, diligently spreading the false teachings of their "prophets." As a result, many people are unaware of how to experience a truly changed heart. There are many who have the knowledge of the Creator yet deny the power to live for Him!

A VISION FOR PALAU
In January of 2006, God allowed Biblical Ministries Worldwide to enter Palau with a vision for evangelism, discipleship and leadership development and the vision of establishing dynamic, contagious Bible-centered and God-focused churches. Currently, the Lord has drawn together a group of Palauan's who are meeting in the hamlet of Ngerbodel, Koror. They meet together for a time of Bible study, worship and fellowship. The group is informally called "Omekulel a Biblia" - "anchored in the Bible."

It is the overall goal of BMW-Palau to plant new churches in each state of Palau. The most important part of church planting in Palau is relationship building with the goal of helping each person deepen in their relationship with Jesus Christ. It is a very slow process and as a result patience is vital! "A reched eoud - eoud a reched" is a very true Palauan saying that holds a great deal of wisdom for the church-planter. It translates, "if you hurry, you will end up going slow but if you go slowly you will end up going fast!"

The Palau Team believes that respect and trust are earned. We are committed to learning the Palauan language, learning the customs and practices in order to enhance our ability to share Jesus Christ in a way that affects the heart and not just the head. John and JamieZimmer began ministry in Palau on January of 2006. Jon and HeatherClapp entered Palau in June of 2007. Jim and Dana Towberman minister during June and July holding youth outreaches and other ministry endeavors. It is our prayer that God would provide at least one more family to join the team to reach this country for Jesus Christ. If you are interested in more information about Palau, contact BMW's Area Director for Asia & Pacific, Bill Lake, in Lawrenceville, Georgia.