Pekanbaru - Grow in HIM

Greetings from the Church in Pekanbaru!

Christmas Celebration
On December 24, 2009, the church held a Christmas Eve celebration with the congregation and friends who were studying the Bible in A & W Plaza Senampelan. We hope, celebrating Christmas Eve together with them, we can better acquainted, and those studies can be won in January next year.

Reaching Married Couples
In November, Asiong & Shelly, married couples from church in Batam moved to Pekanbaru. Shelly genuine and eager to Pekanbaru to saved her family here. Their presence was an opportunity to reach out to other married couples. We are now reaching Shelly cousin, Hartono family, owners of Aston where we worship. Also Yuliana & Edy Ong, Kasim & his wife and some married couples from different backgrounds. One of the resolutions of the church this year, we will immediately begin the married ministry in Pekanbaru.

Reaching Campus
Some people who were studying the Bible today comes from the campus, Jhonson Simamora, UNRI students majoring in fisheries, was studying the Bible with Jhonson Purba, former campus ministry in Medan. Sari, a student from the same campus with Steven also was studying the Bible with one of the sisters in the church. We pray this year we will immediately begin Campus ministry.

Reaching Single
In last December, Sugino, one member of mission team appointed as the Master of Ceremony and also coaches of drama in the celebration of Christmas in Pekanbaru Department Store that is attended by more than 200 people. The opportunity was used brothers and sisters in the congregation held a missionary there. From the Christmas Event in that Department Store, there are some people who study the Bible: Lastri've learned until “the baptism”. June also had to learn until “sin”. We continue to pray for the congregation in Pekanbaru.

Every Sunday night, at the RRI Pekanbaru, there is Batak singles gatherings in Pekanbaru, and in turn, brothers and sisters in church attend and reach singles out there. Romy is one of them that reached out in RRI and now studying the Bible until Discipleship. Currently there are 13 people who were studying the Bible. Please pray we continue to grow in God and they soon became a disciple of Jesus.

Bangka - "One More Baptism Plus 9 Studies"

On November 28, 2009, we baptize one more person named A Siu. A Siu is the aunt of one of our brothers, a spiritual teen named Jojo. A Siu follow bible study about a month. She was enthusiastic in bible study and did not hesitate in taking the decision to be baptized. There are 6 more people who were studying with the sisters and 3 learn with brothers. We continue to pray that there will be many more souls to be won for Christ. This month we are also visited by 5 single brothers and sisters from Jakarta. Some of them born in Bangka. They give us encouragement and introduced many family members and their friends to attend worship and bible study in our Church. To God be the Glory!

Medan - "Fruitful Spiritual Birthday"

James Nainggolan is a single brother – born in Medan, July 13, 1981. He is known as a member of the Song Ministry - self-taught drummer in the Medan church. In addition, he also was known as having the spirit alive of helping others.

A months ago, exactly on October 9, 2009, he evangelized two of his relatives and his family relatives that is Richard & Polma. They just come from the village and going to college in Medan. Not long after arriving there, James and their disciple invited them to discuss and study the word of God and thank God they were greeted with a very well. They even study the Bible up to three times a week.

Richard and Polma then decided to be disciples of Christ, repented and were baptized on 15 November 2009 that is exactly on the same date with James spiritual birthday.

Manado - "God's Call to Become a Disciple"

From her name, we may have clear about Nurul background of religion. He was born in non-Christian religious family background. Her mother was a Christian before marriage.

When she was about 8 years old, her mother suffered a mental disorder because she said that her mother received a vision of Jesus who called her back to be Christian. Since then her mother would be angry and talking to herself when not driven to the church. Nurul started to accompany her mother to church. There, the Lord Jesus began to catch the attention of Nurul. Until second grade of junior high school, Nurul was increasingly active in church activities.

But it seems that the Lord Jesus who loves Nurul wanted her to know completely about the truth of His Kingdom. One night, after work she was invited by a sister to attend the Special Service several months ago. She was immediately attracted to come and study the Bible.

Nurul is basically a good kid, but even after studying the Bible she could recognize herself before the Lord. She had changed even in small things, to be discipline, and to forgive those who could never been forgiven over the years, no complaining, but a lot of gratitude and she said that she knew the Lord much better.

Her mother and family were happy to see Nurul diligently has her quiet time although in difficult situation. Nurul has now become a disciple of Jesus. Her dream is for all family members to accept Jesus Christ and become His disciples.

To God be the glory

Makassar - "Work, Fruiful and 20 Studies"

One by one member of the mission team found a job but still there are 20 people who were studying the Bible up to the present. And, almost every week there are new people who come to church. Total attendance at the worship services each week from the Makassar church is 24 to 39 people with 13 people disciples of Jesus.

A brother named Roni willing to work as a salesman in charge of selling telephones door to door with a relatively low salary. However, because of his faithful, he was promoted to a higher level of position. Roni invite many friends and family to study the Bible. There are four people who were studying the Bible up to the present. Three of them had learned until "baptism".

The other brother is a single named Barthen, also worked with Roni - evangelizing many people. Most recently he was also considered as a model employee and was promoted to a higher level position as well.

A member of the mission is a sister named Susi, who is very happy & quick. She had just worked two weeks, and she was appointed as a manager. Because of the integrity and her hard working character are high, she was trusted to in charge of 30 employees. Although Susi came from the minorities ethnic there that is Chinese and Christians. Susi has helped her friend Yolda to be disciples of Christ, and she also had two people from the same office are studying the Bible.

Susi and Yolda is a long time friend. Susi has prayed two years ago, long before Susi has a plan to Makassar. Yolda was a single mother who is very insecure at first, was struggling with life, without a true purpose in life, desperate because her boyfriend left her after so long relationship. On her birthday, Susi presented a Bible to Yolda including cake and greeting cards, and two months after Yolda learning the Bible, and got baptized. Yolda children also rejoice together with her and eager to worship God together.

Pekan Baru Mission Team - "Evangelism in The Work Place"

Pekanbaru has become one of the largest city in Sumatra after the city of Medan in the last five years. This is marked by the establishment of grand buildings such as the Governor's Office, Library and hotel Labersa has become a new icon Pekanbaru city. Progress was achieved as the positive impact of economic growth in Riau Province that rely on oil and palm oil. Not surprisingly, many businesses began to grow and to invite the nomads from other regions to try luck in this town. Evangelism in the workplace to be one opportunity not to be missed.

Irvan Hurray, the first baptism of the church Pekanbaru brought some friends to study the Word of God, one of which is the Nius Harefa, coworkers. Nius has the same struggles with Irvan, that is smoking, when challenged to stop smoking, he's a bit heavy at first went along. When there Irvan work place, he does not smoke, but when Irvan not there, he's smoking. Until one day he realized the situation and stop smoking, not because of being challenged, but because he wanted to love God and seriously to repent. Finally after a month studying the Bible, dated October 11, 2009, Nius was baptized and become disciples of Jesus *).

Currently there are 15 people who are studying the Word of God, there are three sisters who study well, two of them named Yani and Lastri've learned "baptism", other study named Love is learning "repentance", please pray for them to be baptized at the beginning of November. Greetings from the congregation of Pekanbaru. To God be the glory!


*) Currently Nius was in Binjai (located near the city of Medan) visits his mother who is sick, please pray for her healing and also the spirituality of our brother Nius.

Manado - "God leads to an awesome life"

Formerly, Ronny and Jeny lived and worked in Papua. Economically they should be fairly steady since Ronny had pretty good job. However, they face serious financial problems because Jeny wasting their money. Finally, Ronny and Jenny together with their children moved to Manado.

In Manado, the Lord led them to a better life, Ronny and Jeny was invited by one of their relatives to the church, and study the Bible. The word of God working in their marriage and their relationships both restored.

Jeny turned into a more mature wives, honor husbands, serving, and diligently quiet time. Ronny was growing into a much better leader of the family.

They were faithful in their marriage even in a simplicity but also really shining. Moreover, they are also keen to share their faith and now one of their relative is studying the Bible. God bless them so much. In early November, they had lived in a better house after mid-October becoming disciples of Christ.