Put it on Ice

This photo was taken at the docks in the city of Bandar Lampung in Southern Sumatra, Indonesia.  

Fishing is not an unusual occupation for an island nation. These large blocks of ice sitting on the docks are for shipping the catch. Fish from this area are shipped to villages throughout the region. Without the ice the fish would spoil long before they reached market.

There are five Lampungese tribes living in this region. Despite long-time, faithful witness there have been very few believers among these people groups. Thinking in terms of being a fisher of men, it is worth pondering why the Gospel is not bringing in more of a catch. Perhaps it is because believers don’t have the ice ready.

Buyers have ice prepared to receive the catch. They do this so the precious fish don’t spoil before they can be distributed. Perhaps the Lord is waiting until the believers in this area are prepared to receive the new believers and help them to grow to maturity. Many believers are afraid to identify with Lampungese believers because of possible community reaction. This is the same fear that keeps them from sharing the Gospel with the Lampungese.

Pray that:

God will draw the net among the Lampungese people groups.

Believers will trust God with possible community reactions and receive these new believers with the love of Christ.

God will revive His church to be active in reaching out to the Lampungese with the Gospel.