To help you take a closer look at each of our overeas offices, our directors are keeping an ongoing journal with snapshots and stories of the joys and struggles of ministry in their part of the world. From Indonesia, we'd like you to meet Frans Silalahi.
E-mail Updates from Frans--2008
September--The successes that we experienced this month were that we held three seminars in various places. The ministry is going well and we have had good a impact. Through our radio ministry, a Christian Community invited us to give a seminar about "Can we Trust the Bible." God continues to remind me to worship Him first and then do ministry.
August--Tomorrow at 5:00 am, I will fly to North Sumatra and will be there until Sunday. We will have Bible training talking about "Inerrancy of the Bible." There is a movement that says that there is no absolute truth of the Bible since it was written by man. Please pray for this training, and pray for me as I try to help Christian leaders understand the absolute truth of the Bible.
Since last week, all of the computers in our office as well as in studio were attacked by virus. We lost most of our data, Christian songs, pictures and videos. We feel pressure because of this situation. My laptop was also affected. Please pray as we try to recover and find all the data as possible.
Please also pray for the SETIA Theological Seminary in East Jakarta which was attacked on Saturday, July 26. All of the students (150 students) were forced to leave their dorm, and because of this incident 17 students were injured. There is no solution yet for this seminary. Please pray that they can continue to study and run this seminary.
July--I really feel sorrow for Indonesia because we not only face economic crisis but also a leadership crisis and a moral crisis. There is no answer to our problems except the Bible. Unfortunately, it's not only unbelievers who do not believe the Bible, but some who claim themselves as Christians also do not believe the inerrancy of the Bible. They do not believe that the Bible is the absolute truth. I am calling to teach the Bible clearly and bravely.
Meanwhile, the radical Islams are trying to cut Christianity from Indonesia. Last week there were Islamic radicals who forced the Pentecostal church and Methodist church to stop their Sunday services. These churches are only a few hundred meters from my house. The effect of this is closing these two churches. Please continue to pray for this situation in Indonesia.
June--We praise the Lord for the Crusade and listeners rally which we held on Saturday, June 7th. We started this Crusade earlier because the listeners had come at 4:00 p.m. More than 700 listeners attended this crusade which finished at 10:30 p.m. Some of the listeners came by walking because there is no transportation in this place or they have no money to rent a vehicle.
When I spoke, the Lord gave me power and I preached so brave and powerful. My voice was like thunder in the night; all people focused on the preaching. All the pastors who attended this crusade were very thankful for the ministry of Back to the Bible and were praising the Lord. According to them, this is the best Bible teaching they have listened to in this area. After the crusade, one of the pastors asked me if I was willing to preach in his church the next morning at 6:00 a.m. I said I was willing. I was so surprised that most of the listeners who came last night also attended the morning service, although they were not members of this church. This church has two times for the Sunday service, 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. I only preached at 6 a.m. The elders of this church were also surprised to see the people who came to this service. I guess around 600 people attended the morning service which used to be only 200. I can say nothing except "PRAISE THE LORD."May--We are looking at the possibility of opening another radio station in Halmahera Island. I met with the Governor last week and he invited me to visit this island next August. He is willing to give the lot, the building as well as the license, and we are responsibility to build the tower and studio and equipment. I just have no idea yet and pray to seek guidance from the Lord.