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.

7 people were baptized on Nusantara Conference

The church conference which was held on April 17-19, 2009 in Medan was a big success! It is started with a Leader's Meeting on the first day until the last service on Sunday evening at 6.30 pm.

Numbers of event, service and training class were held during the conference. The church also provide free tours around North Sumatera to Tongging, Si Piso Piso Water Fall, and to Berastagi. All charges for the tours were covered by brothers and sisters from Campus Ministry who have given their heart on getting the money by selling used clothes a few days before the conference. Awesome!

“This conference in Medan is one of the friendliest conferences that I've ever attended!” says Harliem Salim, lifting up the Medan Church. Budi Hartono, also stated the same thing. He said that the conference in Medan is more than just an event because the love and hospitality from the brothers and sisters can be felt by other participants from outside Medan City. “ Medan Conference has achieved more beyond our expectation and estimation...” says Budi Hartono.

The opening ceremony was great and awesome.. It blew out more than 2000 attendants on that evening, April 18 in Yang Lim Plaza. The performances included Traditional Dance, Drama and Choir by Consolasio group who won the first place in Beijing and three gold medals in Australia. Plus numbers of song performed by national artist Ria Warna at the end of the show.

As the core of the event, the Leader of Medan Church, Suwandi was appointed as an Evangelist together with his wife, Wernita as a Woman Ministry Leader. At the same time, as a closing to the conference, Harliem Salim officially announced 5 ( five ) mission teams plan to Pekan Baru, Bangka, Manokwari, Solo and Ujung Pandang. And as an addition to the event, 7 ( seven ) people were baptized after they repented and made commitment as Jesus' disciples.

To God be the glory!

Nusantara Conference, Medan, Sat 18, 2009

IN ALL SEASONS
Lyrics by Vania Salim
Song by Rita Maspaitella

I sing You praises in all seasons
You are marvelous and holy
You are my strength, my rock of salvation
I want to worship You forever

I exalt your name in all the earth
You are majestic, full of glory
Died on the cross and conquered death
Gave me life and made me holy

Lord my God, you are my only reason
You reign forever majestic and holy
You are faithful in all the seasons
You are awesome in all glory
I want to worship You forever more
You are my sanctuary
You are my hiding place


MATAKU TELAH MELIHAT KEMULIAAN
Lirik oleh Rita Maspaitella
Vokal oleh Ria Warna dan Boy Clement

MINE EYES HAVE SEEN THE GLORY
Translated by Karen Louis

Sukacita tiada terbilang, melihat kerjaMu sungguh nyata
Kemilau jiwa-jiwa, yang t'lah Kau anugrahkan
Mataku tlah melihat kemuliaan

There's a joy that goes beyond what word can say
When I see the way your power works today
We see souls saved through your grace
That's what helps us run the race
Yes our eyes have seen the glory of the Lord

Waktu berjalan tanpa terasa, air mata keringat bercucuran
Tapi kuasaMu nyata, janjiMu Kau genapkan
Mataku tlah melihat kemuliaan

Times goes by and we don't realize
All the time and tears that we have sacrificed
Cause your power is so real
And your promises fulfilled
Yes our eyes have seen the glory of the Lord

Reff:
PujiHu Tuhan, nusantara Kau layakkan
SyukurHu Tuhan, nyata sungguh janjiMu
Oh Tuhan biarlah api ini terus berkobar
Mataku tlah melihat kemuliaan

O...Praise the Lord
You displayed your pow'r among us
O...thank you Lord
For your promises are true
Our God, keep the fire within us burning on and on
Yes our eyes have seen the glory of our Lord

FirmanMu yang tlah ditaburkan, biji sesawi kecil jadi besar
Manusia meremehkan, tapi Tuhan berkuasa
Mataku tlah melihat kemuliaan

You have given Lord your precious word to me
So the mustard seed can growin' to a tree
Men may not appreciate, what your passion demonstrates
Yes our eyes have seen the glory of the Lord

Angkat hatimu hai saudaraku, lihat kuasa Tuhan selalu bekerja
Biar badai menentang, Dia takkan tinggalkanmu
Mataku tlah melihat kemuliaan

Full of courage now together we shall band
Having faith we see the working of God's hands
Through the storm and through the rain
God is there to feel our pain
Yes our eyes have seen the glory of the Lord

Songs taken from IN ALL SEASONS music album
Produced by SONG OF SANCTUARY

Nusantara Conference, Medan, Fri 17, 2009

SELIDIKI HATIKU
Lagu oleh Rita Maspaitella
Vokal oleh Karina

SEARCH MY HEART
Lyrics/ song by Rita Maspaitella
Vocal by Karina

Kau mencari lebih dalam
Lebih dalam dari sebuah lagu
Lebih dalam dari barisan puisi
Kau mencari hatiku

Search me Lord
Deeper than a song
Deeper than the poem
Search my heart

Kau mencari lebih dalam
Lebih dalam dari segala hikmat
Lebih dalam dari segala pengetahuan
Kau mencari hatiku

You search me deeper
Deeper than any wisdom
Deeper than any knowledge
Search my heart

Selidiki dan kenal hatiku
Ujilah dan kenal pikiranku
Lihatlah apa jalanku salah
Tuntun aku dijalan yang kekal

Search and know my heart
Test and know my thought
Never make me fail
Guide me to the right path

Kau mencari lebih dalam
Lebih dalam dari segala kekuatan
Lebih dalam dari sgala kekayaan
Kau mencari hatiku

Search me deeper
Deeper than any power
Deeper than any richness
You search my heart

Tuntun aku Tuhan di jalan yang benar (3x)
Lihat hatiku apa jalanku benar

(Lyrics by Rita Maspaitella, inspired by Psalm 139:23-24.
When I (Rita) feel very tired in my trials and struggles. God wants my heart)

Songs taken from IN ALL SEASONS music album
Produced by SONG OF SANCTUARY

Surabaya - "...like Samaritan's woman"

We never know or imagine on how God's way works to fulfill His plans. It's true when the Bible said that we will reap what we sow.

About a year ago, a brother came up introducing his co worker in order to study the Bible with sisters. She is a successful career woman in insurance field, sharp and friendly. But it was hard to study Bible with her because she was not open about her life and she kept a distance in our friendship. After 2 months of studying, she told that she didn't want to go further.

Three months later, we followed up on her. She admitted that she was actually interested in studying the Bible, but she wasn't ready yet to open up her life until she really could trust us. So we met again and that time, she came along with her friend, Tina, to study together with us. We finally decided to have bible talk instead of study with them. It constantly happened once a week.

In the next two months, she started to open her life honestly. She was open about who she really is. She is actually a single mother. She had been in an affair with another woman's husband for ten years already. The man she introduced us once and claimed to be her husband was her boyfriend.

As we continued our study, she made a commitment to repent of all the wrongs of what she was doing in her present life.

Santi ( her name ) made so much progress in her spiritual life. She said she wanted to be like the Samaritan's woman who spread the news about Jesus after she met Him at a well. Santi then brought so many friends to study the Bible with us.

Tina, Santi's friend, turned out to have the same problem as Santi. She is a single mom and having an affair with somebody's husband. Now she is prepared to study Bible. Silvy, has been studying the Word up to Repentance. She brought her grandchild Friscya ( a teens ) to study also. Martha, finished her “Sin” study and took her daughter Erna (single) to the study. Ninik, just started “Seeking God” study and many more will come.. because Santi always convinces people everywhere she goes that the Bible had helped her change.

Coming from Santi, Surabaya church starts having a vision to have a single mom bible talk. Please pray for the people who are studying the bible so that they will be baptized. There is nothing impossible for God. He can use everyone, disciples or non disciples to expand His Kingdom !

BROTHERS IN CHRIST

Location: Church of Christ - Virginia
Song & Lyrics: Pierre Jacobs (NVCOC)
Produced by BEREAN RECORDING

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.