Day 6
The Mind of a Missionary Devotional

The Ultimate Peace Child
Don and Carol Richardson

“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.” — Ephesians 3:20-21

A steady release of arrows pierced the sky, slicing the ground near Don Richardson’s hutted settlement between two warring clans in the dense jungles of New Guinea. Inside the thatch box dwelling, Don’s wife, Carol, sat petrified, cradling their one-year-old son, Stephen. “Carol,” Don shouted, “keep Stephen away from the windows!”

That day, early in 1963, seemed like the end of the Richardsons’ missionary service among the Sawi, a tribe known for its fierce headhunting and cannibalistic practices. Yet, amid the chaos surrounding him, a voice seemed to whisper, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.”

Richardson dashed from behind the hut onto the battleground. He urged the Sawi to stop fighting. Filled with rage and cheeks dripping with the warpaint streaked across their faces, the tribesmen clenched their swords and spears. “We shed each other’s blood, devour each other’s flesh, cut off heads, and save skulls as trophies,” they said. “When these things have happened, making peace is not the simple thing you seem to think it should be.” Resolving the conflicts between the warring clans seemed impossible.

But a remarkable story of faith, redemption, and transformation was about to unfold. The power of the Gospel would transform an entire people group in an unforeseen and unimaginable way.

Less than one year earlier, when the Richardsons’ canoe slid onto the banks of Kamur Village in June 1962, the Sawi welcomed them nervously. The unreached tribe, notorious for their violent lifestyle, valued deceit and treachery; in their culture, the ultimate form of strength was to befriend someone with the sole intention of later betraying them to their death. This cultural backdrop posed a significant challenge for the Richardsons as they sought to introduce the people to a faith centered on the ultimate act of Christ’s love and sacrifice.

Don’s initial evangelistic efforts flailed. Rather than being enamored by Jesus’ sacrificial love, the Sawi were particularly struck by Judas’ betrayal of Jesus. They cheered for Judas the betrayer, a master of treachery; Jesus seemed to them a weak protagonist in the storyline.

The breakthrough came with the discovery of a powerful cultural analogy within the Sawi society—the concept of the “peace child.” In Sawi culture, the only way to establish genuine peace between warring tribes was for one tribe to offer a child to the other. This child, known as the peace child, ensured harmony would be maintained as long as the child lived. Richardson seized this analogy to explain the Gospel, portraying Jesus Christ as the ultimate Peace Child given by God to humanity.

To the surprise of the missionary couple, a truce came the morning after Don dashed between the two warring clans, begging for amity. A young man named Kaiyo kissed his only son for the last time, faced the enemy, and challenged, “Will you accept the peace of Kamur?” He lifted his son as a peace offering. The crowd shrieked in approval as the enemy tribe offered their peace child in return.

Struck by the cultural revelation, Don contextualized his next Gospel presentation. By using a redemptive analogy to clearly communicate the Gospel, he finally struck a chord with the unreached tribe. They were captivated by his modified rendition of God’s salvation story. Jesus, no longer a supporting role, resonated in their hearts and minds. He was the Tarop Tim Kodon, the Perfect Peace Child—the ideal fulfillment of their greatest desires. Don said, “From now on, any Sawi who rejected Christ would see himself not as denying an alien concept but rather as rejecting the Fulfiller of the best in his own culture!”

The impact of Richardson’s ministry was profound. A significant number of the Sawi turned to Christianity, abandoning their practices of headhunting and cannibalism. The Sawi people experienced a dramatic release from spiritual oppression and historic savagery. Education and literacy programs were introduced, leading to a more peaceful and stable society. The Sawi New Testament, translated by Richardson, became a cornerstone of their spiritual life.

The Richardsons spent twelve years communicating the message of Christ in a culturally relevant way among the Sawi, ensuring the Gospel was deeply understood and embraced, not just heard. As a result, the tribe experienced God’s rescue as He transferred them from the darkness into the light of His glorious Kingdom.

– Personal Response –

Passage: Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen. (Ephesians 3:20-21)

Point: God speaks powerfully in and through every culture, revealing Jesus as the fulfillment of every heart’s deepest need.

Ponder: Are there people around you who need to see Jesus through a lens they can understand?

Prayer: Lord, show me the unique ways You’re already at work around me. Help me communicate the Gospel creatively and compassionately. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Proclamation: I will share the good news with confidence, knowing God can use me to bring peace where none exists.

Practice: Learn one cultural or personal story from someone different than you this week, and look for a bridge to Jesus in their story.

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