Dear Friends,

Janice and I send you greetings from Jakarta. Over this last month the work has gone well, and we want to share the blessings with you folks. Also, we want to wish all of you a wonderful holiday season. This truly is a wonderful time as we celebrate God's willingness to become man that he might provide eternal salvation for the human race.

The churches here in Jakarta have done well over the past month. However, there are a couple of things I want to ask you folks to remember in prayer concerning our churches here in Jakarta. Pastor Munjait at the Pelumpang work is facing a difficult situation with one of the main families in the church. Pray for this family and that Pastor Munjait will have wisdom in handling the situation. Secondly, I would like to help Pastor Yusuf and his folks at Cibubur with their building project. Pastor Yusuf is the only main pastor that I am working with that does not have a church facility. They have begun to gather finances to build a building and I would like to ask you folks to help with this project. I would like to give $10,000 toward this project. If your church would like to take a part in this project, please mark your offering for the Cibubur church.

Over the past month we have been involved in three weddings with young people that grew up in our churches. Jimmi and Hana, Budi and Ika, Tommy and Maria – pray for these young people as they start new families. Tommy and Maria were a special blessing as they are the first couple to marry from the Sunter Jaya church. Years ago, I was able to lead Tommy's folks to the Lord. Hence, Tommy got his name from me! He has been one of Pastor Hadir's most faithful members.

Last night, the Bible school closed this semester with a graduation service. There were ten graduates, several of whom will be heading off to start new works. Over 55 students took my final tests last week. It is nice to not have any papers to grade, but I will miss being with these students. It is a joy to have a small part in their lives.

Over the next few weeks we will be involved in Christmas services. I love to preach on the incarnation, and I'm working on my sermons. I'm sure the folks in the churches will welcome the change, as they are tired of hearing my sermons on holiness. Hey, the holy month (Ramadan) is past, let's hear about the Holy One becoming flesh. What a joy it is to preach the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ! Thank you for helping us to continue proclaiming the gospel here in Jakarta.

The middle of January 2004, we will go to the States for a short furlough. We will be in the Mid-Atlantic area the last of January and the whole month of February. In March and April we will be visiting our churches in California. While in the States, we can be reached through email (tjcford@gmail.com) or through Great Hope Baptist Church, Chesapeake, Virginia (757-482-1177).

We do appreciate your faithful prayers for the work here in Jakarta.

In Christ,