Dear Friends,
Janice and I send you greetings from Jakarta. We trust this letter finds you folks all doing well. As far as we can tell, all is fine here. Although there are daily protests decrying United States aggression toward Islam, we continue to go about our daily activities without feeling threatened. There are several things that we want to report to you folks.

On January 18, 2003, Pastor Hadir and Vera were married at the Sunter Jaya Baptist Church. Pastor Hadir’s neighbors (many decked out in their finest Islamic dress), fellow pastors and his church members all gathered to witness Pastor Hadir and Vera exchange vows. After exchanging vows, a big celebration followed that spilled out of the church and filled the road in front of the church. It was a joyful occasion. Please continue to pray for Pastor Hadir and Vera as they minister to the folks there in the Sunter Jaya area.

As you have so faithful prayed for Pastor Hadir to find a wife, I would like to ask you to remember another of our pastors in prayer. Pastor Munjait (moon ji it) leads the church in Pelumpang. A couple of weeks ago he sent me a letter filled with his woes that are naturally money related. Some of the woes concern finishing up his building, but his other woe is related to his family. Although I am sympathetic concerning his building, I was upset concerning his family woe, as it is a continuation of Pastor Munjait’s inability to trust God in his life and his ministry. The problem of getting men with whom you minister to trust God and not continually look to you is not a new problem for me, it has been a continual problem here in Indonesia. However, Pastor Munjait is a brilliant man, a fine preacher, and a Bible scholar. All three of his sons are fine young men who desire to serve God and are ministering in various ministries here in Jakarta. Of all the men I have worked with over the years, he has the most ability, but all my efforts to help him have turned out the same, … another letter of financial woe. For the most part, I have tried to provide things that would build his own confidence that God would provide in his life (one time I helped him start a cricket farm). Alas, the man is still dirt poor! However, the work has done well. A good group of folks have been saved and baptized, and they have a large Sunday school. So will you pray for Munjait and his wife? On February 23, 2003, I will be at his work and I will talk with them. Pray the Lord will touch this pastor and his wife in such a way, that I can really help them.

The last week in January we attended our annual national fellowship of Indonesian Independent Baptist churches in Lembang, West Java. We had a wonderful meeting. Over 130 pastors, missionaries and church workers attended the meeting. Officially there are now 70 Independent Baptist churches which minister to over 5,000 members. The theme of the meeting was missions and it is our desire that this small group of churches will increase their effort to reach out to the millions of lost souls here in Indonesia.

The first of February, the Bible school here in Jakarta opened for a new semester. There were at least 12 new students that started my classes. I am teaching a full schedule of classes. It is a joy to be back working with the students again. I do appreciate those churches that gave toward purchasing more land for the Bible school. The land has been purchased and cleared for use, but we will need more help in building a new building. I would appreciate it if several more churches would give a special offering toward this need. Please mark the gift as a special offering for the Bible school in Jakarta.

I do want to thank you for your prayers in my behalf over the past couple of months. I suffered a viral infection in December, but thanks to your faithful prayers, I am feeling fine now. Janice and I spent Christmas in Bali with our son and his new wife. While we were there we were able to attend Brother John Malanowski’s work and fellowship with John and his wife, Marge.

Thank you for your faithful prayers and financial support.

In Christ,