Manado - "Nover and family are returning to God"

Nover is a son of a mother named Aplona, whom had been recovered not long after visited by the Caring Team of Bitung Church. He and his wife, Stemy came to visited mid week service. A number of member of Bitung Church held a family service twice a week in the house of Nover. It is attended by more than 10 members of their family. Nover and Stemy then study the bible.

After finished their study Bible, Nover and Stemy got baptized and become a disciple of Christ. Not long after that, Herdy, his brother, also got baptized and become disciple of Christ.

Nover is a national athlete of KEMPO and has a kind of institution for training people. After become disciple of Christ, he can control himself much better than before, even far more loving his brother, Herdy who hate him in the past.

Surabaya - "Our Bible Talk"

We started a Bible Talk in married ministry. Amazingly, at the first time we have seven (7) visitors. We encourage all church members by sharing good news and convinced them that is very easy to bring a friend to come to the Bible Talk. Why? Because, people actually like the truth and love as what we have in our community.

Praise the Lord and all glory for our Jesus Christ, now, we have 12 regular Bible Talk with about 56 people who routinely come to the Bible Talk. We never quit giving inspiration to leaders and keep praying... Everyone now is excited to hold a Bible Talk twice a month. Hopefully, by this Bible Talk more people will know about our community and also more people can be helped and saved for the glory of God. Amen.

Manado - "The Family Conversion"

“Now, you are my brother!” That’s what Iwan Lagonah and his wife Joice, said to their eldest son, who was baptized during the Manado church’s retreat last December 31, 2006.

We have shared this good news with you last year, but the it was continued because last year the second son of this couple, Ando, had been baptized. Iwan and Joyce, the parents, are old Christian. Their heart remained the same zeal until today. Now Frio, their oldest son served as a guitarist in our song ministry. Joyce mother is studying the Bible and she is being helped in her repentance and we hope that she will be baptized soon.

Manado - "Landy"

His name is Immanuel Rolandy Wilar, he’s usually called Landy. He became a disciple on February 24, 2008, in Manado. Landy first attended a service with disciples on Manado church celebration of Christmas, December 2007. He was invited by a sister who happened to be his close friend before they both became disciples.

Few months before attending his first service, Landy has already met with some brothers and sisters when he visited a sister who was ill that was his close friend. From his early encounters with bros and sis’, Landy has already become interested with the close relationship between the disciples, from the caring and the friendliness of the disciples, that’s why he happily accepted the offer to study the bible although he was having a time consuming job because he often had to go out of the city. Less than a month of studying the bible, Landy took the decision of becoming a disciple.

With his joy Landy kept on growing where he took the responsibility to become the leader of the prayer team, also to be a part of the song ministry, he was even started training to become a song leader. And of course, the spirit to seek and save the lost kept on burning in his heart, that made him willing to learn how to study the bible with others, even as a young Christian he has studied the Bible with Mesakh and baptized him last month. Now, he even has declared his readiness to be sent on a mission team that are being prepared to be started later this year.

Manado - "Maria Maharani"

Maria Maharani Kalangit is a sister who became a disciple on October 23, 2006, she became a disciple after her older sister also became a Christian. On her early attendances in the services, Rani, so she used to be called, was very interested witnessing the fellowship of the brothers and sisters, and got even more interested when she heard the Word preached. Living the life of a disciple, troubles and obstacles are surely to come, in Rani’s early christian’s life, it was when she had a job transfer to out of town that will be very consuming of her time and energy.

Though her job has become a challenge to her, it made her grow even more in her love of God. And so she started taking responsibilities in the service and ministries. With another sister she started a ministry of dancers for the service in Manado church, and so this ministry grew to five sisters in the church. On February this year she has become the Bible Talk Leader of campus and teens sisters’ ministry. Another prove of her willingness is her readiness to be sent on with a mission team to start a new church, humbly willing to take advice and are fired up being led directly by the sisters’ church leader. With her willing heart to serve in the Kingdom of God, Rani keeps on growing and being built for the glory of the Lord and for the goodness of others.

Manado - "Barthen"

Because of looking for a job, he has travelled to some areas in the archipelago. But actually he was also still looking for the direction of his life; it’s his search for the truth. It turned out; he found what he was looking for in the city of Manado.

Ferna, a disciple from Manado Church, met him on the street when Barthen was on his way home from his working place and invited him to join our service, there Barthen started to study the Bible and finally became a disciple of Christ. Who would’ve thought that before one year has passed after his decision of becoming a disciple, this young man would bring six new souls to God whose none the less his own co-workers and he kept on growing in God then he become a Bible Talk Leader.

WEAK PHYSICALLY YET HAVING A STRONG HEART

Mrs. Ria Napitupulu is a single mom. She was baptized on 8th December 2002. Her husband had died since 1992 and her 17 years old daughter is also a disciple in the Teens Ministry.

Mrs. Ria is a joyful, faithful and committed person. Through her, both her parents have become Christians. Her father had died 2 years ago. Her sister and sister-in-law have also been won over for Christ. Mrs. Ria actively involved in the Praying Ministry, visiting the sick, discipling partnership and helping others to study the Word of God.

The commitment as a disciple of Jesus is very clearly seen in her life. Even when she got an accident on 21th July last year, she did not loose heart. Her left leg was hit by a collapsing wall struck by a truck in her working place, breaking it and causing her to be hospitalized for about 3 (three) month.

Mrs. Ria is such a good example as a disciple who always appreciate the Church and the fellowship. You will not see any burden on her face, instead there is always a smile and shining joy. “If you are sick physically, you must not let your heart get sick too”, she said when we asked her what makes her so strong and happy living as a disciple.