Pas Benjamin

Peter Lim

Steven Choo

Joo Tatt

Pastor Gordon

 
16 April, Friday - We gathered at church at 7 am and Bro Dick Khoo sent us off to KLIA. We reached Polonia airport, Medan at about 9:45am and Pastor Gordon was waiting for us there with a giant smile. He drove us up to Berastagi where we prayed over the town from a hilltop and then had a late lunch. We had a devotion together followed by a practice. At 8pm there was a KKR (revival meeting) at the church. We presented a song and dance item entitled 'Mazmur 133' (Psalm 133 about the beauty of unity). Everyone enjoyed it thoroughly especially the dancing - like folk dancing with arms linked together. There was much laughter and joy of the faces of everyone - exactly as the Psalm says that blessing comes upon us when we live in unity.

Bro Peter shared about faithfulness in tithing and Bro Joo Tatt shared a message on faith. Pastor Gordon gave an altar call and many came forward weeping to commit their lives to God. A movie about Jesus' death was then screened and the congregation wept seeing our Lord's suffering. The service ended at midnight but we prayed and shared till about 1 am.

KKR at Gereja Trinity, Berastagi

17 April, Saturday - At 4:55 am, Bro Joo Tatt broke his right lens on his spectacles but remembered that our faith should not be shaken by circumstances. We met for devotion at 5 am with the Pastor Gordon, his wife, Ibu Junita, and the people of the School of Missions. The devotion included praise and worship, prayer for personal needs and prayer for the church. It ended with bible reading (reading the bible in 1 year) with some chapters of Old Testament and New Testament. The devotion ended at 7 am.

Peter & Steven at Paribun

After breakfast, Pastor Gordon took us to Paribun. We passed by a village, Tongke, which now has small church started by Gereja Trinity. At Paribun, we met with 3 leaders - Esti, Ibu Cok Cing and Dewi. When we arrived back at Berastagi, Pastor Gordon sent us to an optician for Joo Tatt's glasses. Since the power for his eyes was quite large and needed about a week in Seremban to make the glasses, we wondered how it was in this small town. Praise the Lord! The optician had stock of a lens of nearly the power needed and could do the job in 2 hours only! After a delicious lunch by our host, Ibu Junita, we collected the glasses and bought some fruits for our host.

KKR at Batu Karang

We were asked to preach at the youth service for the evening and at an outreach point at Batu Karang. After a time of prayer, the team (Pastor Benjamin and Steven) for Batu Karang left at about 7 pm. There Bro Steven shared a testimony of God's protection in a terrible accident. Near the end of the testimony, there was a power cut and Pastor Benjamin preached about the power of the gospel using candles. Pastor also shared the testimony of how his mother received Jesus into her life. The sermon ended with an altar call.

Meanwhile, at the youth service in the church, Peter shared that God has a wonderful plan for us and we should not think that we cannot be used by the Lord. Joo Tatt shared about how to overcome hurts using the life of Joseph as a person who overcame a lot of difficulties and hurts. The youth service ended about 10pm but the other team ended reached home at about 11:30pm.

Sunday School

Sermon

18 April, Sunday - We again had devotion at 5am. At 8am, Steven and Joo Tatt were at the Children's Church to teach them to sing and dance 'Mazmur 133' (Psalm 133 about the beauty of unity). At 8:40am, Steven and Joo Tatt joined the morning youth service where a student from the School of Missions (Ani Beru Sembiring) taught from Prov 4:23-27 about guarding our hearts and keeping a pure life.

Presenting "Kar'na KasihNya"

At 10am, all of us joined the main service. The tambourine dancers danced beautifully while we praised and worshipped God. We presented the song, "Kar'na KasihNya" about why Jesus came to this earth to suffer - because of His love for us. Pastor Benjamin then shared about faith - how we should look at our problems in faith that God would help us solve them. Pastor Gordon gave the altar call and many came forward to be prayed for.

From L-R: Steven, Ibu Junita and Gary, Danial, Yohanes, Pastor Gordon, Pastor Benjamin, Peter, Joo Tatt

We gave a lunch treat to Pastor Gordon and family at a restaurant. At 3pm the students of SOM had started going to Paribun for the KKR (revival meeting) at 8pm. We had a time of prayer together before reaching Paribun at 7:30pm. There Ibu Cok Cing invited us for dinner. After dinner, we prayed a prayer of blessing for the family.

Dinner at Paribun

KKR at Paribun

The KKR started at 8pm with songs for children. It was held in the open village square. The guys from SOM presented a beautiful Batak song sung in harmony. Joo Tatt shared a message from Psalm 23 about God being our Good Shepherd. After the altar call, a movie was screened.

19 April, Monday - The next morning, only Joo Tatt joined in the 5am devotion since the rest were to go back that day. After a prayer of blessings at 5:45am the team left for Medan together with Pastor Benjamin. Joo Tatt stayed for another 5 days to teach at the School of Missions. He attended a cell group prayer meeting and a cell group meeting. He was also given a delicious dinner with a special grilled fish (Ikan Nila Bakar) from Danau Toba by the cell members.

The students of SOM from L-R: Frensian Manalu, Junior Ginting, Jonson Silalahi, Ani Sembiring & Putri Keliat

The graduates of SOM from L-R: Salmon Barasa, Tetty Sihombing, Hendra Sinuhaji & Andus Sihombing

Cell group prayer meeting at house of Kislon Sipahutar

Dinner given by Ratna's cell members

Ratna's cell members who hosted the dinner