Dear Friends,

Janice and I once again send you greetings from Jakarta. Over the past few weeks Indonesia has figured prominently in world news as folks around the world have viewed the horrible devastation wrought by the big earthquake and resulting tsunami off the northwest coast of Sumatra. Many of you folks have written us, concerned about our safety and desiring to help in some aid effort to those affected by the tsunami. Thank you for your concern, we do appreciate you folks who faithfully pray for us and also provide the financial support for the ministry here in Jakarta. Let me review some highlights of the ministry over the past few weeks and also tell you a bit about what we are doing with the aid money several of you have sent.

In December, the Bible school graduated 12 students, eight men and four ladies. As far as I remember this is the largest group we have ever graduated. Moreover, this group of graduates are some of the best trained workers we have ever graduated. They not only completed their studies, but they have all been involved in ministry in our churches here in Jakarta. A few will be staying to continue working in their ministry here in Jakarta, but most of them are headed back to their villages to begin new works. Pray for these young people as they serve the Lord.

With the graduation also came several marriages. All the weddings were beautiful, but the most touching to Janice and I was the marriage of Sukamto and Bibit. Sukamto comes from West Kalimantan (Boreno) and Bibit is a poor Javanese girl from Lampung, South Sumatera. None of their families were able to attend the wedding, so the churches where they ministered here in Jakarta and their fellow students provided the necessary wedding arrangements. From the world's point of view, neither of them has anything, yet they have the Lord and a burning desire to serve Him. Two days after their wedding they set off by boat, all their possessions packed in a couple of backpacks, headed to West Kalimantan where they will start a new ministry. Pray for all the young Bible school couples as they serve the Lord.

Most of our churches here in Jakarta are doing fine. Please continue to pray for Pastor Yusuf and the folks at the Cibubur church as they work on getting up a new building. Also, remember Pastor Hadir and his wife Vera at the Sunter church as they continue to need your prayers.

Also, in December, we traveled to Batam island to be with Pastor Andar and his folks. The Lord has really blessed their work. They now have their own building and a faithful group of believers. We had good services while we were there.

I have just returned from our national fellowship in North Sumatra. We had a good meeting although the attendance was down. About 60 pastors and workers attended the meeting. On the whole, the Independent Baptist churches here in Indonesia have done well over the past year. We have expanded to some new areas, and Lord willing, if the Lord tarries we plan to see many more churches started all over Indonesia within the next few years.

Several churches have sent special offerings to aid the tsunami victims. The money will be used in one of three ways. Some of the money will be donated to the Dompet Bencana Suara Pembaruan , a relief fund run by a Christian newspaper here in Indonesia. They are always accountable for the funds they receive and they always try to place scripture verses on their aid. Secondly, some of the funds will be sent to help Brother Hirose, an Independent Baptist missionary from Japan, who has been taking aid into Aceh. Thirdly, some of the money will be used to help relief efforts through our churches on the island of Nias. Presently, we are involved in trying to get aid into Nias. Please pray that the aid money we receive will be directed in a way that will open doors for the furtherance of the gospel. In our next prayer letter we hope to be able to give you a more complete report on aid efforts.

Personally, Janice and I are fine. We do appreciate you folks.

In Christ,