Hidden among tribal cultures are practices that can be called “redemptive analogies,” illustrations that help contextualize the incarnation of Jesus and the meaning of the gospel. Don Richardson’s missionary journey to the Sawi of Papua New Guinea is a powerful example. In 1962, Don, his wife Carol, and their 7‑month‑old son traveled to Dutch New Guinea to minister among the Sawi, a tribe of cannibalistic headhunters. Unaware that arriving with an infant signaled peace, they later saw how this gesture would, through unfolding events, transform the tribe.
Don immersed himself in the complex Sawi language and began teaching about salvation in Jesus, but cultural barriers seemed insurmountable. The Sawi prized treachery and deception, and as Don learned their worldview, he realized how distant it was from Christianity. To them, Judas—not Jesus—was the hero of the Gospels, and Jesus was a foolish victim. Eventually, Richardson discovered what he called a “redemptive analogy” that pointed to Christ more clearly than any direct biblical explanation: the Sawi concept of the Peace Child.
During this time, Don’s village came under attack from an enemy tribe, and weeks of fighting led the Richardsons to consider leaving. Seeking to end the conflict, the Sawi chief made a profound sacrifice. In a solemn ceremony, he gave his own infant son to the enemy tribe, where the child would live for the rest of their life as a guarantee of lasting peace. Don explained that if a man would give his son to his enemies, he could be trusted—just as God gave His Son, the ultimate Peace Child, who would never die. Through this analogy, the Sawi grasped the gospel, the New Testament was translated, and many believed in Christ.
Fifty years later, at age 77, Don and his three sons returned to the Sawi in West Papua and found them still faithfully following Christ. After a Sunday service, Don and the elders entered the river to baptize 50 new believers. However, God had a different plan in store. As they were being baptized, approximately 200 additional individuals who were being guided by the Lord approached and expressed their desire to be baptized as
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