INDONESIA - A FERTILE FIELD FOR THE GOSPEL

-John Lo-

"Do you not say, 'There are yet four months, then comes the harvest'?  I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see how the fields are already white for harvest.  He who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together.  "--Jn 4.-35-36-

Thank God for His wonderful arrangement and guidance.  On April 18-May 5, 1985, 1 was able to visit a few churches in Indonesia and participate in the holy work.  According to the initial International Assembly plans, I was scheduled to work in Indonesia for two months.  Owing to the abundance of divine work in the United States, and also my wife's poor health, my stay in Indonesia had to be shortened to only 18 days.  Within this short period, what I learned and experienced, was something I will never forget as long as I live.

The sincere love of the ministers, brothers and sisters deeply moved me. On my arrival at the JakartaAirport, we were met by over 50 church members.  More than 20 of them had to drive for about four hours to come to greet us.  They waited patiently, enduring hunger, because our plane was delayed for three and a half hours.  The love of the churches was indeed remarkable.  During the Spiritual Convocations and Evangelical Services, many members sacrificed their time and effort in order to study the Truth, pursue spiritual grace, and serve the brothers and sisters, and seekers of the Truth.  Many showed their concern for the divine work in Africa by making generous offerings.  The fellow-workers of the Indonesian General Assembly did their utmost to help.  The Church Board members and ministers of different churches also assisted with all their might.  The holy work was thus able to run smoothly, and was greatly blessed by God.

During the first eight days, a short-term Theological Seminar was held in Jakarta.  Ten to twelve students attended.  They rose at 5:30 a.m. each morning.  At 6:00 a.m., morning prayer session began, followed by three lecture classes.  In the afternoon, two lecture classes and a prayer session were held.  In the evenings, after the church service, there was an hour-long workshop.  The themes of the studies included: Doctrinal Problems, Spiritual Leadership, Imitation of Christ, Standing Strong in the Tide, Church Pasturing and Evangelism, Preparation for Preaching.  During the prayer sessions, the students learned how a minister should invigorate his life of prayer from the prayer examples in the Bible to become men of prayer.  I treasure the precious experience of studying with these young theological students.  We learned with an attitude of reverence and humility, and prayed with one accord.  The prayers offered each day were profound and long, thus the Holy Spirit worked among us.

Spiritual Convocations and Evangelical Services were held in our churches in the cities of Banjarmasin, Cianjur, Bandung, and Jakarta during my last ten days in Indonesia.  Even though they were informed only a week or two prior to my arrival, the members of every church worked zealously to distribute gospel tracts, witness for the Lord and offered earnest prayers.  Therefore, God blessed the Spiritual Convocation and Evangelical Services abundantly.

The total attendance of believers and truth seekers at Banjarmasin Cianjur and Bandung Evangelical Services were between two to three hundred.  The Chapel was crowded, many had to stand outside or in the corridors.  During the Evangelical Convocation in Jakarta, the participants were about 550-600.  The Chapel passage way and empty spaces were all occupied due to the multitude of truth-seekers that came.  A strong desire to pray prevailed in all the Spiritual and Evangelical Convocations.  Those who wanted to pray for the infilling of the Holy Spirit and the grace of God were all rushing forward.  There was not enough room for all of them even though many rows of pews had been removed.  They prayed with importunity even for a period of 50 minutes, and the Holy Spirit descended mightily.  During one prayer session, there were 19 people who received the Holy Spirit, 10 experienced visions.  Many repented bitterly.  God opened up the door of grace, for some who had not been participating in the church services for a long time, they too received the Holy Spirit, and their faith was revived.  During this missionary trip to Indonesia, a total of 88 were baptized, 114 received the Holy Spirit, 77 visions were seen glory light, angels, Jesus being crucified on the cross, water turned into blood during baptism.  Everyone felt extremely joyous, and was filled with gratitude toward God, praising and glorifying Him.  During the Holy Communion Sacraments in various churches, many brothers and sisters were moved to tears by the love of the Lord Jesus.  At the last farewell, everyone shed tears and were unwilling to part from each other.

About one hundred brothers and sisters came to the airport to see me off.  Thirty of them came specially, driving for four hours.  I was not worthy to receive this kind of love from them.  Recalling my past, what a great sinner I was, and today I am able to participate in the divine work, great indeed is the Lord's love.  How can I repay Him? (I Tim 1: 13-16; 1 Cor 15: 10).

May the Lord sustain the work of the Indonesian churches, and greatly bless the believers.  May the door of salvation be opened wide in every corner in Indonesia, enabling the churches to be fishers of men.  Indonesia is indeed a piece of fertile field for the gospel.  We pray that the Lord will choose many faithful servants who will work with one accord, diligently sow and water, so that the harvest of a hundred fold can be reaped.