In the West, Christians often take for granted the availability of the Gospel and Biblical resources. Churches are readily visible, Bibles are readily available, and religious freedom, though changing, is still a basic right. Secret gatherings aren’t necessary and believers can sing boldly and loudly without fear of consequences. 

When I moved to Indonesia, I realized how much I really had taken for granted. I can’t remember a time when I hadn’t heard of what Jesus Christ did on the cross for me. And I definitely can’t remember a time where I wasn’t able to find at least one follower of Jesus in any city. And yet, in the fourth most populated country in the world where about 90% of the population identifies as Muslim, I feel the burden for the lost more than ever before.

I specifically remember feeling impacted by our first train ride through our island. The train passed through countless villages and towns that have likely never had someone tell them about Jesus. Would someone ever make it to these towns? Who will go? These towns are hours away from my town by train, longer by car. And months later, this feeling has been reinforced by travel to other islands. From a plane or boat you can see many smaller islands, far from the mainland, with clusters of houses on them. Has the name of Jesus ever made it to these islands? Who will brave the long journey to get there and tell them their sins have been forgiven through Christ?

Why We Stay

So this is why we stay. Even when days are hard and culture kicks our rear ends. Even through endless battles of mold and rats and insects. Even when it feels like the harvest is not plentiful. We stay in a country where hundreds of people groups are still unreached and many of those don’t even have the Bible in their own language. We remember Paul’s reminder in Romans 10 that someone must tell of Jesus so that people can hear and believe. We cling to the promise of Isaiah 55:11 that His Word does not return empty when it goes out. We remember stories where groups came to faith years after someone initially told them about the gift of salvation. And we hope. We hope in the promise of Revelation 7:9-10 and trust God that EVERY tribe, tongue, and nation will be represented before the throne of the Almighty and praise God that we get to play a small part of that promise. 

Final thought: If you think God may be calling you overseas, please do not hesitate to follow His call! The harvest truly is plentiful and the workers really are few. No matter where He leads, He is faithful to equip and provide.

“How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!’” Romans 10:14-15

Prayer Requests:

• Pray that Indonesian Christians would reach out to the unreached
• Pray that every people group would hear the name of Jesus in this lifetime
• Pray that that the Holy Spirit will work in the hearts of those who have heard and will hear the Gospel
• Pray that God’s word will not return void
• Pray for a movement in Indonesia with millions of people believing in the name of Jesus