Dear Friends,
Janice and I send you greetings from Jakarta. During the last couple of weeks, Jakarta has been engulfed with anti-war demonstrations. Outrage over the war in Iraq has totally obliterated all other concerns faced by this nation as they solidify in demanding an end to the war in Iraq. Yet, among all this outrage, we continue to go about our daily lives and ministry. We do appreciate your faithful prayers for our safety during these crazy times.

We also appreciate your prayers for the churches here in Jakarta. For the most part the works continue to flourish. We had a good service with Pastor Munjait’s church the other day and I promised to help him get some things on the building finished up. However, I urged him to look to the Lord on his own personal finances. Please continue to pray for this man and his family.

At the same time, we would like to ask you to pray for Pastor Yusuf, who pastors the church in Cibubur. Pastor Yusuf and his family are experiencing some difficult times. The church seems to be doing fine with the members helping as much as possible, but we know they would really appreciate your intercession for Pastor Yusuf and his family at this time.

The Bible school is doing fine. My classes are keeping me quite busy, but it is one of my great joys to have a part in training these students. Working with the many students keeps me excited each day.

However, one of the things that I always struggle with is the tragedy of life here in Jakarta. This past month Fernando, who was the second son of a faithful member of the Sunter Jaya church, passed away. Fernando was raised in the Sunter Jaya church, faithfully attending the Sunday school when he was young, learning the Bible, and being one of the better students at memorizing scripture. However, during his high school years he fell in with a bad crowd which eventually ended with a dirty needle while taking intravenous drugs. Over the past few months his family struggled to do everything possible as they watched Fernando’s body slowly deteriorate. Then late one night, Pastor Hadir called to tell me that Fernando had passed away and he asked me to come and help with the funeral. Truthfully, I tried to get out of it, but Pastor Hadir felt he needed my help, and so finally, late at night, I rode my motorcycle down to Fernando’s house. During that night and the following day, I was reminded of some important things that every missionary needs to know.

I was reminded that God does change people. As I talked with Mr. & Mrs. Siregar, Fernando’s parents, I realized that these folks really believed that Fernando was in a far better place. They had peace, but I was dubious. While mourners would come in and fill the small room with dreadful mourning, Pak Siregar quietly told me about Fernando’s last days. Right after Fernando found out about his condition he became very morose. For several nights in a row he would awaken his father, grab his father’s hand and place it on his head while pleading, “Father, please put your blessing on me.” Pak Siregar, deeply moved by his son’s desire, would quietly remove his son’s hand and tell him, “Nando, I cannot bless you, only the Lord Jesus Christ can help you.” As Pak Siregar told me how time after time, he pointed his son to the Lord Jesus Christ, I remembered that 25 years ago, I had seen this man come to Christ himself. Over the years, I had often wondered about Pak Siregar’s faith, had it changed the man? Had the man really believed? That night as we sat on the floor by Fernando’s mortal remains, I realized that God had changed this man, for when his son’s soul hung in the balance, Pak Siregar had no doubts about who could really help a wayward son.

Then also, I was reminded that God’s word does not return in vain. Dubious as I was about Fernando’s salvation, I grabbed Pastor Hadir and asked him about Fernando. It seems that during Fernando’s sickness, he spent a good deal of time with Pastor Hadir. Fernando would not allow Pastor Hadir to shake him from his belief, that as a young person, he had truly trusted Christ, but had allowed himself to be side tracked by the world. Now, Fernando wanted to follow the Lord in believer’s baptism, something he had not done years ago out of fear. Pastor Hadir, steadfastly refused to bring the matter to the church, feeling that Fernando believed baptism was necessary for salvation. A couple weeks before his death, Fernando had come to the church with Maria, the finance of Fernando’s brother, who was planning to be baptized the following Sunday. As Pastor Hadir instructed Maria, Fernando broke in and asked again why he couldn’t be baptized. Pastor Hadir replied, “Fernando, you are sick, your brother has to help you to the bathroom, if you are truly saved you don’t need to be baptized.” Fernando’s passionate reply was, “I know baptism doesn’t save, I am only trusting the Lord Jesus Christ for my salvation, what prevents me from being baptized?” The following Sunday, Fernando and Maria were baptized. The church folks prepared a feast and rejoiced in those two young people that wanted to be obedient to God’s word.

As an aside, please remember to pray for Pastor Hadir and his wife Vera. It has been tough going for them, especially for Pastor Hadir, in learning to truly love his wife. Vera, pregnant and sick would like to kill him at times! Remember to pray for them and the ministry at Gereja Baptis Sunter Jaya.

For your love, prayers and faithful financial support, Janice and I are truly thankful.

In Christ,