"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen" (Matthew 28:19-20)
"Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me" (Isaiah 6:8).
"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord" (I Corinthians 15:58).
December 2021 was the fourth month for me to do mission work in Makassar as I elaborate the following:
Distributing the Tracts
I continued to distribute tracts in December 2021. On the last page of each tract there is a phone number included and I reminded those who received them to call that number if they needed further studies. Hopefully through the distribution of these tracts those who receive them will learn the truth and some will be interested in personal study in the future.
Translation Projects
I continued to translate tracts for distribution to local congregations, prospects and acquaintances. Next year will be printed as much as possible to be distributed, and can be a bridge to get the prospect of the gospel. Then, I also translated materials for inaugural marriages and officiating funerals. This material will be very useful for both.
Teaching Prospects
I still continued to teach a prospect in December 2021. The topic we cover in this lesson was about Jesus as God. I started the lesson by asking her concept about God. This prospect who has a Pentecostal denominational background believes that Jesus and God in the Old Testament are the same (one person) as Pentecostals believe. From here, we honorably open the Bible verses to discuss about divinity, that God is one consisting of three persons (Father, Son and Holy Spirit). Although she had seen the evidences in the Bible about the plurality of the Persons of God, it was not easy for her to accept it. She believes that the God of the Old Testament was the same Person who revealed Himself to be Jesus in the New Testament time. In other words, she believes in the doctrine of "The Oneness." I turned to Genesis 1:26; 3:22; 11:7 to prove that God is more than one Person indicated by the pronoun “We” and also at Jesus' baptism there were two other Persons of God besides Jesus (Matthew 3:16-17). However, she could not yet accept that the One God consists of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Checking Online Bible Courses
The registration of new participants continued to grow and I answered all of them, besides checking the answers of the participants who have being studied the lessons and worked on the course questions. Some of the participants wanted to learn face-to-face, so I submitted them to a number of local church evangelists in certain cities. For now, it only serves face-to-face learning for participants in the cities of Bali, Makassar, Manado, Surabaya, Yogyakarta.
Providing Needs of Brethren for Worship Service
I am enthusiastic to encourage our brethren in Christ who live in the city of Makassar to worship, including those who are bound to the rules of government. For those who are studying in university, I always remind them to come to worship with us in a rented place of worship (Confie Co-Working Space), and for one who is bound by the rules, I bring to him unleavened bread and fruit of wine for Lord's Supper so he can worship on his own.
Visitation to East Luwu
My children and I took time to visit my home town, Tawibaru, Pancakarsa, Mangkutana in East Luwu by the end of December 2021. We departed on December 24, 2021 and met our beloved mother and grandma and other families in good health and full of joy. We spent more time to talk and to have fun with them. We were in the village until January 3, 2022.
During ten days in East Luwu, I had the opportunity to preach twice in worship services on Sunday, December 26, 2021 at the Tawibaru Church of Christ and Sunday, January 2, 2022 at the Bandoa Chruch of Christ, and also preaching for a new year midnight thanksgiving at Tawibaru congregation on 31 December 2021 to 1 January 2022. In addition, I met with a number of local church leaders to discuss the plans for the GSJKI Region IX evaluation meeting in 2022, a combined lectureship, and also provide ideas about one local congregation that is seeking an evangelist. I also had the opportunity to visit and serve two sick church members and visit the homes of several local church members.
Especially for the evaluation meeting of GSJKI Region IX, representing the Makassar Church of Christ, I plan to attend it, which will most likely be held in February 2022 in East Luwu. Hopefully this evaluation meeting will be a momentum for local congregations, including Makassar congregation to improve communication relations with the government about the condition of local congregations in South Sulawesi.
Hopefully, God's providence is always with me in doing works for His glory and His kingdom in Makassar. Please pray for me and the works as well.
Makassar, 31 December 2021,
Harun Tamale
Mission Monthly Report in Makassar
Under the supervision of GSJKDI Sawangan, Sawangan Village Guard IV, Kec. Tombulu, Minahasa, North Sulawesi 95662.
Email: haruntamale@gmail.com
Blog: https://mission-report.blogspot.com/
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