Monday, December 16, 2013

Bees Under the Crescent

This bee hive weighs hundreds of pounds. It’s on the main dome of a newly remodeled mosque. Certainly the people in the community are not happy with this development, but there is a certain amount of fear that people will get injured as they try to remove these unwelcome neighbors. Eventually the job will be done.

Believers living under the crescent of Islam are often seen, like the bees, as unwanted pests to be removed. Because of this, believers try to stay out of sight. They certainly don’t want high visibility for fear of negative reactions from their neighbors. Unfortunately, many believers allow this fear of community reaction to keep them from sharing the Gospel. If all the peoples on Sumatra are ever going to be reached with the Gospel, believers need to overcome their fears and get busy like bees!
The Words of God are sweeter than honey. Pray that all the peoples on Sumatra will be able to hear God’s Word.

The Gospel is Good News that transforms lives. Pray that the Gospel will become like a buzz in the air that reaches every corner of Sumatra.
God’s plan for the Gospel to go forth is for believers to be bold witnesses. Pray for the Holy Spirit to stir up believers on Sumatra to go forth in boldness to proclaim the Good News. Pray for training that will equip believers to share in a way that is effective and culturally sensitive.

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Sumatra Plugged-in

This photo is of a university student in Padang, Sumatra. It’s not unusual to see college students with lap-top computers, which is a big change from just five years ago. Likely, in another 20 years home computers and access to the internet will be common enough to make on-line evangelism, discipleship and networking a viable strategy, but most Sumatrans don’t have access to a computer outside of an internet cafĂ©.

The only universal technology that Sumatrans have is the cell phone. Communication with this technology must be brief, but it’s possible to network large numbers of people.
Pray for workers to have wisdom in using available technology to communicate the Gospel and to network believers for focused prayer.

Pray for workers to be open to making regular evaluations of technology with a mind towards strategy.
Pray for workers focused on reaching college students on Sumatra.

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Beautiful Batik

This photo was taken in Jambi, Sumatra. This woman is painting hot wax onto fabric to create a pattern. Next, she will dye the fabric. In the dying process the pattern becomes more distinct as the dye will not adhere to the fabric that has the wax on it. When the dyeing process is completed the fabric will then be made into formal clothing for weddings and other special occasions. The fabric is also used for shawls, table clothes, and wall hangings. This art form is called batik [ba-TEEK].

Batik is popular all over Southeast Asia, and was first developed on Java, Indonesia. The origin of the word “batik” is Javanese and means “painted.” Many areas have their own distinctive pattern of batik. It’s not unusual to see husband and wife wearing matching batik during festive times. It’s often considered appropriate to wear batik when preaching in a Sumatran church or while giving a formal speech in public.
In Matthew 22 there is a story of a King who gave a great banquet. All kinds of people were invited to come. When the banquet hall was finally full the King entered and noticed a man who was not properly clothed. He questioned the man, and when the man had no response the King had him bound and thrown out. So it will be on the last day for all the Sumatrans who will stand before the Great King clothed in anything other than Christ’s righteousness.

Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth’” (Matthew 22:13, ESV).
Pray that every person on Sumatra will have the opportunity to hear the Gospel so that they may be clothed in Christ.

Pray that all the righteousness of religious traditions and good works will be shown to be as filthy rags compared to the righteousness that in given by faith in Jesus.
Pray for Sumatran church goers who are trusting in good works and church attendance to realize the difference between religion and true faith in Jesus Christ.