Dear Friends,

Janice and I send you greetings from Jakarta. Over the past two months, we have had the normal ups and downs in the ministry here in Jakarta. For the most part the news from here is good, but we do want you folks to be aware of the problems that the ministry here faces. Your prayers are greatly needed and appreciated.

Most of the churches here in Jakarta are doing fine. We would ask you to continue praying for the Sunter Jaya church (Pastor Hadir and his wife Vera) and the Pelumpang church (Pastor Munjait). Both of these churches are struggling, in truth, both of them have stagnated, although for different reasons. Pray that the Lord will renew these works.

We would also ask you to remember Pastor Yusuf and the Cibubur church as they try to finish their building. They have got the building up but are facing opposition from certain individuals that live close to their building. Likewise, Pastor Raso and the folks at the Cileduk church have faced organized efforts to close down their church over the past few weeks. On the 19th of June, the Cileduk church had their third anniversary service which also marked the start of their new building program. Pastor Raso ask me to preach a sermon on the responsibility of a New Testament Church. This church is a joy as it continues to grow each week. Pray for them as fanatical groups in the area are seeking to close down this work.

The sham of religious freedom here in Indonesia was once again vividly demonstrated this past week as ten thousand fanatics gathered to force the closing of a moderate Islamic group's facilities on the outskirts of Jakarta. The police finally had to evacuate the members of this moderate Islamic group from their own facility when the fanatic group set a deadline to destroy the facility. Afterwards, the local government moved to officially close down the organization, while none of the fanatics were arrested even though they had resorted to violence. Our president and vice-president regretted the use of violence to solve a religious problem, but neither of them gave the slightest indication that they believed in religious freedom for the people of Indonesia. Today, our Attorney General tells us that he will decide if the moderate Islamic group teaches tenets opposed to Islam! Our government preaches tolerance, but is this tolerance?

I have just returned from a two week trip to Nias with pastor Markus from the Mampang church. We now have a good church started in the North Nias city of Gunung Sitoli. While we were there the Gereja Baptist Independent Indonesia Jemaat Eksodus baptized over 45 new adult members; broke ground for a building; opened two new missions and had a good number of people profess faith in Christ. For the ground breaking service the church invited all the important officials from North Nias that they might explain their reasons for establishing their new church. One of the main men in the church gave a detailed five page explanation concerning the starting of the new church: their religious yearnings, their coming to faith in Christ, the Biblical tenets of Baptists down through the ages, and finally an appeal for religious tolerance based on the individual responsibility of every person to his God. The point of religious tolerance for these folks was poignant as the Sunday before their former church had a ceremony removing them not only from the church, but also declaring that they had left the Christian faith. Could it be that many Christians also have a problem with religious freedom?

From Gunung Sitoli we moved on to South Nias and the city of Teluk Dalam. Just before our arrival the main church in Soono Geu had baptized over 40 new adults. Over the past couple of months folks have been pouring into the services. Their church building was totally destroyed in the earthquake, but they have got up a temporary building (more like a shed) that they are now using to try and accommodate the overflow crowds. Each evening we held evangelistic services in different areas with many professing Christ at each service. I was especially touched the evening that I preached to the folks from the Pasir Putih area of Teluk Dalam. We first started working with these folks after the first tsunami, providing aid. After the earthquake their area was hit by an even larger tsunami and these folks have been living in tents on a hill about one kilometer from their destroyed homes. Over the past few months Pastor Formil has started a Sunday school among the children. On the evening I preached, over 60 children gathered among the makeshift shelters to hear the Bible story and color a handout sheet. Then, in pitch darkness, over 200 folks gathered for a preaching service. It was my joy to see over 20 adults respond to receive Christ that evening. Most of these folks have lost everything and they are discouraged. They have heard lots of bad theology, shallow emotionalism and empty promises. It is my desire that they hear the gospel of Jesus Christ, and that we can share with them your generous gifts. Thank you for the gifts you have given to help the folks in Nias. It is our aim that we will not only provide physical aid, but give the most precious gift of really knowing Christ to the people of Nias. Any offerings marked for the Nias project will be used to provide aid and help our churches in Nias.

I will be off to Nias again the first couple weeks of August. Brother Jan Milton of Operation Renewed Hope will be meeting me in Medan, North Sumatra. Brother Milton would like to do some projects on Nias. Pray for us as we travel that the Lord will open the doors that need to be opened and close those where we should not go.

On the personal front, we are all fine. Jana, our second daughter, spent a couple of weeks with us in June. We had a wonderful time, didn't do a lot, but just enjoyed our time together. I would appreciate your continued prayers for my health as I continue to travel to Nias.

For your faithful prayers and financial support we are truly thankful.

In Christ,