“I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow”
1 Corinthians 3:6
Last month, I joined a team from the University of Arizona, led by my sister, Erika, and brother-in-law, Drew, on a TEN DAY ministry trip to Indonesia!
I am just in awe of what God is doing in Indonesia! I feel like so much growth has happened in our ministry in Jogja since I left last summer. Not only are our attendance numbers at Chi Alpha and at our church the highest I have ever seen them, but I have also noticed a significant spiritual growth in several of our students. For the sake of these students’ security, names will not be mentioned.
I was really excited to see the transformation that has taken place in the life of one particular friend. This friend already had a decent knowledge of the Bible, and he would give good answers to some of our discussion questions, but by his own admission, he previously did not believe in God. However, just two weeks before Christmas last year, he posted publicly on his Instagram that he had made the life-changing decision to surrender his life to God and get baptized! Today, this student is actively serving on our Chi Alpha leadership team, dedicated to making disciples and spreading the gospel!
I am happy to share that another friend has also come to know Jesus! This particular friend was still a “cousin” when I left Indonesia last year.* Soon after I returned to the U.S. though, this friend gave his life to Jesus and is now serving regularly in our church! The change that I saw in his life during my short visit last month is so evident.
It is so wonderful to watch our students grow in their faith and find ways to use their talents for his glory! I was excited to see that one young girl, who was just starting to get involved in our church when I left Indonesia, is now serving on the worship team!
Soon after I arrived back in Jogja, I sent a message to several of my close friends letting them know that I would be back for a few days and asking if they would be attending Chi Alpha on Friday. One of these friends, who had previously served under me on our Chi Alpha media team, messaged me back and said, “I’m not sure if I can make it to Chi Alpha, but I will be at church on Sunday if you will also be there!” This friend was not attending church when I left, so this was a very exciting message to receive! The team tells me that she has been coming consistently for a while now!
Every Thursday night at 6:30PM, our church family gathers together for a time of prayer. During this prayer meeting, we were each given a sheet of paper with information about a specific unreached people group in Indonesia to pray for. As I was reading about the people group that I received, I read the line, “Currently, there are no known believers among these people.” This line got me really excited because here’s the amazing thing: I do know one! I personally know a believer from this people group that supposedly has no known believers! This means that the gospel of Jesus is beginning to spread into places where it has never gone before!
God is doing amazing things in Indonesia and we get to be a part of it!
I told our team in Indonesia that I will try hard to be back to stay by October. Would you help me make that goal? If you are not already, would you consider being a part of the story that God is writing in Indonesia by becoming one of my monthly support partners?
*“Cousin” is a term that our team uses to refer to our Muslim friends since it is commonly believed that the Islamic prophet Muhammad was a descendant of Abraham’s son, Ishmael and Jesus was a descendant of Abraham’s son, Isaac.