Dear Friends,

Janice and I send you our greetings from Jakarta. The last few weeks have been a stressful time for us personally and also for the work here in Jakarta. We do appreciate your prayers for us and the work here in Jakarta. We also want you to share the good and the bad of the work here in Indonesia – for there is yet hope. I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

Here's the church, there is no steeple, open the door ...

Our churches here in Jakarta are a mixed bag. Please continue to pray for these churches: Cibubur (Pastor Yusuf), Pelumpang (Pastor Munjait), and Sunter Jaya (Pastor Hadir). All three of these churches are struggling, especially the Sunter Jaya church, but let's continue to pray and work. However, on the bright side are the other churches. The last Sunday of June, we were with Pastor Raso and the folks of Gereja Baptis Independent Kasih Karunia in Cileduk. As you approach the building used by the church, it

.. and see all the people

looks like a small house with some sandals scattered about the front door making it appear like any other small house in the area. Upon entering the door, you will find a congregation of over 75 people engaged in public worship. This church continues to grow despite the opposition. Most of our churches here in Jakarta continue to grow, but the opposition continues to grow. Please continue to remember all of our churches here in Jakarta.

The first Sunday of July, I was in Nias to help the small work in Botolakha that was facing a problem with the local government. The local village leader would not recognize the church even though the church was officially recognized by the government of Indonesia. This little work is a joy! These folks have built a small building, have a good Sunday school, regularly gather to read and discuss the scriptures, and have visibly grown spiritually over the past year. To deal with the problem, the little Botolakha church invited the village leader along with the whole village to attend their first year anniversary service. During the service, I was asked to explain what a Baptist church believes, and then I was asked to present a Bible to the village head. Everything seemed to go well, and Lord willing the village head will accept the little church. For sure, the gospel was preached, and my heart was touched anew to see the boldness the gospel has given to this little group of people in Botolakha.

After the service in Botolakha, we headed to Gomo (a town in South Nias) to meet with a group of people that are interested in starting a new church in that town. Due to stormed felled trees, downed power poles and drunks who tried to prevent us from clearing the roads, we were several hours late in reaching Gomo. When we finally arrived, the folks regathered and we held a service. At the end of the service, several adult men publicly professed Christ. We then settled in to a long session where I answered their many questions. To start the question session, one of the leaders handed me a note book with over 150 families that had signed up to be members of the new church. I tried to patiently explain that membership was not just signing up but involved salvation first and then each person presenting oneself for baptism. A long period of discussion followed in which it become apparent that these folks knew little of the gospel and were Biblically illiterate. Finally, a man who had carefully followed the discussion without taking part, took the floor, introduced himself as the former village head, and summed up what the village really desired. He said if I would provide them with a big church building, provide education for their children, and provide jobs for the community then they would be glad to name their church Baptist and follow Baptist teachings. The problem, he explained was simple, We are spiritually poor because we are financially poor. I thanked the man for his frankness, then explained that we would not be able to fulfill the desire of a big church building, education for their children and jobs for the community. However, I explained that if they would allow us to come, we would endeavor to build their faith so they would be spiritually rich. The discussion basically ended at that point with the agreement that we would start holding regular Sunday services. Over the past couple of weeks, six adults have presented themselves for baptism.

Sadly, the real problem in Nias is workers. Nine of our Bible school graduates have gone to Nias, however, only four of those men are faithfully serving the Lord. The two men who are in North Nias are basically worthless. Neither will make the trip to Botolakha to help that wonderful little church. Both the main church in Gunung Sitoli and the little Botolakha work are growing because they are developing leadership from within the membership. The situation in South Nias is even more critical as we have many new works with folks that desperately need leadership. Pray the Lord of the harvest will send forth more workers. I continue to make the trip to Nias, but truthfully, the strength to regularly keep making these trips is a problem.

Our Bible school has started a new semester. We have several new students. I do enjoy the give and take of teaching and training these young people. Yesterday, I started teaching my classes. Pray for the students and the teachers that the Lord will use this time to prepare valuable laborers for the work here in Indonesia.

As I write this letter, I have no roof over my head. We have re contracted our house for five years. Part of the contract was that we would fix the termite infected roof that leaked like a sieve. Naturally, the first night without a roof we had a big rain storm. Although the workers had covered the roof with a big tarp, we still had several major leaks. To say the least Janice and I were a bit discouraged as we were looking at a whole month without the roof. The next day we flew upon the spoils, arranged things the best we could, got stuff covered with plastic and have settled in to having the workers working over our heads for the next month. (We both just jumped as one of the workers dropped something above our heads.)

Another problem that we are facing right now is Janice's sister. Last year in November, Janice briefly returned to the States to donate stem cells to her sister who is suffering from leukemia. Janice's sister is now telling her that she needs more stem cells. Janice's experience last year was extremely difficult and she is not excited about going through the process of donating the stem cells again. Being the good husband that I am (no laughing please), I have been coerced into making the trip with my wife. Please pray that the Lord will work out the details concerning this trip. Time wise, it could not come at a worse moment.

For your faithful prayers and financial support we are truly thankful.

In Christ,