Time for a tune up

Ang runs an engine repair business on a small island just off the coast of a Indonesia. Although not many people in this nation are Christian, most people on the island where Ang lives are nominal Christians. He was raised in a Christian home, yet never had an intimate experience with Jesus Christ. “My life was instead characterized by the works of the flesh, including dishonesty, irreverence, and self-indulgence,” Ang explains.

Still, Ang was open to Christianity, and when a friend invited him to an evangelical church service, he accepted. “I felt out of place and embarrassed," Ang says. "I could not keep up with the songs or relate to the worship, so I left before the service ended.”

Hunger for God

But the experience stayed with him. He was moved by the way the people in the evangelical church prayed directly to Jesus, not through other people. “The smiles and joy that people wore and the intense way they worshipped touched off a spiritual fervor in me and a swelling hunger for God,” Ang says “The next Sunday, I went back to that church to worship and sing praises to the Lord”

After the service, Ang began going to a Bible study. "This is where my understanding and practical knowlege really took off," Ang smiles. "After a few months, I was leading Bible studies, and I became both a Sunday school teacher and youth leader at the church."

Planting Churches

The pastor recognized his leadership gifts, and chose Ang to attend one of our church planter training classes. We train church leaders to establish new churches, many in areas with noprevious evangelical presence. In Ang’s country, more than 80% of the population is Muslim, and less than 9% is Christian. When people are brought into fellowship with Christ, they often have no place to join together in worship. Ang’s ability to lead worship services will enhance the faith of Christ followers, and help transform his community.

“With this training, I was able to establish a church on this island,” Ang rejoices. “My vision is to share the Good News with every person on this island and help new Christians grow in their faith.”