Manado - "The Listening Heart"

Kiky is having a hearing problem since he was in grade 3, and when he was in Grade 12 he lost his ability to hear completely. Even with the hearing aid, he could only listen to a soft noise, and because of that his schoolmates always make fun of him. But Kiky perseverence in study and learned only though lips reading brought him to the higher level every year with good grades.

Spiritually Kiky didn't interest to have a relationship with God. He never went to church and read Bible for a long time. Once when he was in high school he went to a service but that doesn't attracted him to study the Word of God. Until last year, after avoid it over and over again, he started to study the Bible with Dolfy, who persevered to teaches him despite his hearing problem.

From time to time, Kiky become more and more excited about studying the Bible, Last February he made a decision to put his sins behind, repent and get baptized into Christ, after 6 months of read the handwriting and the lips of his teacher. He become a new person, from impatient to a very patient man, from a harsh and rebelious, to a wise and forgiving person. All of these only because the power of God's Word he persevere every single day. Now, his family also fired up to come to the service with him.

Manado - "A Recovered Marriage"

The Word of God is powerful enough to change even the worst marriage. This truth has been proved in the marriage of George and Olin, despite the fact they had been married for a long time and have become hopeless due to their unusual way of handling conflict.

George and Olin did not only hurt each other emotionally but also physically. They were on the stage of going for a divorce. But, praise God! A disciple of Jesus invited George to study the bible. He decided to repent, left his sins, and become the true disciple of Jesus.

The marriage relationship was healed. Not only have they become a romantic couple, they are also able to help other people. In February 2009, George and Olin helped two of their brothers and one sister to study the bible and become the disciples of Jesus.

Medan - "Less Salary Yet Fruitful"

Umar Butar Butar is a 45-year-old single man living in Medan. He works as a supervisor in a famous transportation company there called AKAP (Inter State City Bus) and makes a lot of money. Legally and illegally.

Not long ago, a sister invited him to attend a church service in Medan Church. He was also invited to study the Bible. Nevertheless, Umar couldn't go to the church every Sunday because of his job and duties. He couldn't continue the bible study either.

In order to be able to come to church, Umar was willing to be mutated from his position to a doorsmeer (the person who washes the bus) with the salary only Rp. 300.000 a month, equals to US$ 30.

On May 18th, 2008 Umar made a decision to repent of his sins and was baptized into Christ. From a rude, proud and materialistic man, he was changed to an honest and humble man before God.

Not long after his baptism, Umar invited his friend, Brigjen Butar Butar to study the Bible. He became disciple and was baptized on September 28th, 2008. He also invited his friend, Ari Tamba, who was also baptized into Christ on November 23rd, 2008. So it was for Ari Tamba, he invited his friend Dedi to study the Word of God.

Please pray that in the month of March 2009, Dedi will be baptized into Christ also.

Bandung - "Church Update"

Campus Ministry
One of their plans is to have English Day on every Wednesday to help the students grow in their English and at the same time, as an opportunity to invite friends who are interested in English.

One of them, Coko, a student from Telekom campus, felt the burden of seeing so many students have fallen into adulteries, pornography, and free sex. Recently, Coko, Moses and one other brother have helped Febri to repent, left his sins and return to God. This was followed by Edward and Zendri who have finished their basic Bible lessons. By now, there are 11 (eleven) other students who are studying the Bible. Please pray so that Campus Ministry in the Bandung Church will keep growing to bring glory to God.

Single Ministry
Junius and Hetty have recently lost their uncle and grand mother in a relatively short period. The brothers and sisters in Bandung Church went to give encouragement and support although the family’s house was considerably far from the city. Junius and Hetty’s relatives were moved to see the attention from the church and started to study the Word of God.

Married Ministry
Hendra and Ling-Ling are studying the Bible until now. At the beginning, it wasn’t easy for them to accept the lessons given. However, slowly they start to see the love from God and His church in their lives. They started to repent and improve in their marriage life.

Please pray for Hendra and Ling-Ling to keep studying the Word of God and become true disciple of Jesus.

Another couple; Arif and Antykke have been added to the Bandung Church just recently, and also there is Henny who come back after three and half years since the last time she stopped studying the Bible.

Church Sport Activities
In general, the Bandung Church is fired up to help and builds relationship with others. One of the things they do is to hold a badminton games. Through this sport activity 30 friends have studied the bible and become disciple of Jesus between 2004 and 2006.

Due to inability to extend leasing the old badminton court, the Bandung Church rents a new court and since then 6 new friends have joinned.

Please pray for Bandung to be salt and light of the world!

Manado - "A Better Place for the Glory of God"

God has done miraculous thing to Manado Church of Christ. He answered the prayers of those who begged Him for a better place for the Sunday service. Finally, God led them to a place which far much better than the old one, called RRI AUDITORIUM. It's an awesome place with good air conditioning where the church need not to be sweating during the service.

It was truly God's hand, helping the church through one person who recently studied the Bible. He has a relative who happens to be the one that is in charge of the building so the Church could get the best rate within the budget.

Now.. Manado Church is proud to glorify God at a better place where fellowship and conversion also get better..

Medan - "Everywhere Evangelism"

To express their commitment in evangelism, single ministry in Center and West Region of Medan Church of Christ created their own slogan “ Everywhere Evangelism “

It encouraged every disciple in the group. Many of them studied the Bible with their friends and families. Their unity and eagerness were blessed with 6 baptisms. Let's pray for Medan Church of Christ to baptize more people this year. To God be the glory!

Manado - "A Future Filled With Hope"

As a victim of a riot caused by religion issue in Ambon, Engel had to move to a neighboring island, Ternate. But then the riot was expanded there, enforcing Engel to take refuge to Manado City. It never occurred on his mind about what had happened would be God's way for a better future for him. A future with hope. In Manado, he lived as a refugee. He entered a vocational public school there but he had to repeat his junior high level. He lived a tough life, trying to make a living by selling snack before and after school.

In the refuge camp, he met a disciple who studied the Bible with him. It took him only four days to decide to be baptized into Christ. Engel was very fruitful in his early year as a disciple. He baptized his sisters and not very long, his relatives joined his faith as disciple. After he made a list of friend, he started to pray for it .. one of his friends named Jansen was on the list.

Engel worked hard during his college years. He made it through and graduated with his bachelor degree in economic. He got accepted in a local bank named Bank Eksekutif where his friend, Jansen, also worked there. But they didn't share the same building, Jansen was in another branch in other town. Later on, the company needed Engel to handle their branch in a city where there's no church. No other way than a resignation for Engel to handle this matter. But God's way was the best one. The company then decided that there would be no more mutation, in fact, the branch where Jansen was stationed, was shut down and made him come back to Manado.

Jansen's life is a mess. He got married to Kiky when he was only 19 years old. They have a 5 yr-old son now. But the marriage is in ruin. Jansen is very rude to his wife. He often hits her, points a knife to her, even once, he pours out gasoline to her eyes. They were frustrated with their marriage. The think of ending it. But God uses Engel to reach out to them. They make time to study the bible and are willing to change. God transforms their marriage into something beautiful up to the point where Kiky can say that she is now enjoying the real married life.

There is a fact that Jansen was actually being prepared to become an elder in his father's local church. It was a great challenge for him to decide to be a disciple, but his wife Kiky, was totally determined and finally both of them were baptized on December 25.

Jansen and Kiky are put into family trials for many times due to their decision. The church also get threatened from their family. Jansen's family tell the church not to meet up with Jansen and Kiky anymore. But Jansen and Kiky become more fired up as they experience God's love in their live. Two weeks after their baptism, the couple was live on air in a local TV show for Married Couple. They shared how God changed their married life.

Engel is filled with so much joy. The year of 2008 was blessed abundantly by God. The ex – refugee got married with an awesome sister, Liana. He ended that year by witnessing the baptism of someone he enlisted in his dream book 8 years ago but he wasn't alone, because Kiky was there. Engel still serves as the song leader in the church. He and Jansen are now helping their co-workers to become disciples. God has given Engel a future with hope.. Glory be to God, amen.

Surabaya - "Greetings from Surabaya Church"

Dear brothers and sisters of North Virginia Church,

On this special moment, we'd like to thank you for all your kindness and support for us.

We realized that without your help, we all won't be here, knowing the truth and being part of God's Kingdom. We thank God for having you as our brothers and sisters who sacrifice wholeheartedly even during this global economic crisis. Although we never meet physically, surely you all have special place in our hearts. We are sure that you have the same level of love for us as well.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of you. May God bless our hard works in 2009. We are convinced that God will always count even our tiniest effort to be closer to Him. We believe, with the loving hearts of yours, incredible things will happen. We love you all!


Love,



Surabaya Church of Christ