Dear Friends,
Janice and I send you greetings from Massachusetts. Over the past couple of months we have spent our time visiting our churches while dealing with many questions about death. A good portion of our time has been spent around the Washington, D.C. area where the fear of death from an unknown assailant has paralyzed a huge area. The bomb that took many lives in Bali, has caused people to ask about our safety in Jakarta. But, death is not always bad, as my father, George Crawford, found the doors of death to be a home going to heaven on October 15, 2002. My father had suffered the ravaging effects of Alzheimer’s for several years. Early in September, I was able to spend a few days with him. Personally, I did not feel that he knew me, but the shell still carried the many characteristics that made him special in my life. A good father, now present with the Lord.

The news from Jakarta is mostly good, no real problems with the security and the work is continuing to flourish. The churches are all doing well and the Bible school is continuing to grow. We are asking our churches to consider giving an offering to help purchase some more land and buildings for the school. I recently received a letter from Pastor Tambunan, the head of our Bible school in Jakarta, addressed to my supporting churches. Below is the letter just as he wrote it:

Dear beloved brethren in the Lord,

I am Pastor Maringan Tambunan, married with 2 children. I was saved through the ministry of American missionary to Indonesia, Oct. 1971. I was ordained as a pastor 27 years ago.

By God’s grace, Rev. Tom Crawford and I have been working together to start a Bible School in Jakarta since 26 years ago. First we borrowed a place of First Independent Baptist Church in Jakarta, and since 15 years ago, we have been growing and many nationals have been trained and graduated and sent by local Independent Baptist church as missionaries to many places in Indonesia and one to Malaysia. The students are active to evangelize and many souls have been saved. Every month, through the ministry of our students about 20 people are saved and same of them are baptized.

In the last two years, our Bible School received many young men and young ladies. We thank God that although situation in Indonesia is not stable yet, but God’s love and grace are poured to our churches and Bible school. This semester we have 38 full time students who stay in our dorm and we have also 9 part time students. This is exclude in our branches in Pela Mampang and Pondok Aren (about 25- 30 students).

Because of the growth of the Bible School, we need more spaces for classes, office and dorm. Last month, someone whose house are close to our Bible School offer to sell his land about 80 m2 with the price Rp. 62 million (USD 7,800). By God’s grace, we have paid the down payment about Rp. 15 million (almost USD 2,000). We may pay the rest in these three months. So before Christmas, the owner wants us to pay all. We plan, after the land is paid, to build in 2003. God willing we will build a 2 stories building and we need about Rp. 150 million (USD 16,500).

Please pray for our Bible School and for this project.

May God continue to bless you all.

Your brother in Christ,
Pastor M. Tambunan

Pray that the Lord will lead many of our supporting churches to have a part in getting this land and building a new building.

We will be busy visiting churches during the next couple of weeks. However, the next big event for us will be the marriage of Samuel and Alyssa. Lord willing, they will be married on November 16th in Connecticut. I will be officiating at the ceremony. Finally, Lord willing, Janice and I will be returning to Jakarta on the 28th of November. We do appreciate your prayers for us during these next few weeks.

We thank for your prayers and interest in the ministry in Jakarta.

In Christ,