"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).
The program is conducted on Thursday evening at 20.00 - 21.00 PM. Our team (leaders from several churches of Christ) had set general topics of the Bible to be presented in the classes, and some topics were taught in October. Every class has a prayer, moderator, teacher, and co-teachers. After prayer, the teacher presents a lesson, then moderator will encourage prospects or students to ask questions, and teachers and co-teachers will answer those questions from the Bible. It is very interesting to them that we always bring them to the Bible, and the Bible itself answers the questions, although sometimes we support what the Bible says with facts from from history, archeology, and other sciences. We also encourage those students/prospects to study one on one with preachers and to visit churches of Christ in their cities, like in Jakarta, Manado, Surabaya, and other cities. We never know, one day some of them will obey the gospel of Christ.
Delivering A sermon On Sunday At Uelene Church of Christ
I am thankful to God that mission work has been going well in Makassar. Many experiences I had during 2022 in working for the church in Makassar. Now we are in 2023, and I had done some works last Januari that need to report as follows:
Teaching Prospects
Two of four prospects, who have made appointments to study, are still committed to continue studying the Bible with me. The study have been started in November 2022 and until January 2023 we were still in lesson three of SFT. The study have been going slower because many questions and thoughts that arise during the study sessions and need more times to help them to get the answers from the Bible. Hopefully the word of God which was planted in their hearts will grow and produce the fruits of obedience.
Translating dan Distributing Tracts
I translated one more tract (Does God Approve of Religious Division) and kept distributing tracts regularly to people and prospects as well. Hopefully as they read them, they will know the truth about the subjects presented in those tracts, even they may be interested more to study the Bible one on one.
Translation Projects
I have been translating two books entitled "Life-Changing Questions" and "Bible Study Program." Hopefully they have been be closer to the end of translation so that these books can be printed and used for Bible classes, personal reading, and even as a reference books that have rich information. I focused on translating "Life-Changing Questions" book and I still could not finish it in January 2023 and I need another month.
Online Bible Courses
I still regularly responded new enrollments and checked the answers of students submitted in these Online Bible Courses. Many of them had been rewarded certificates after the completion of all courses, even some of them took three different series of Bible courses and also joined the virtual Bible class, and some wanted to study one on one.
Virtual Bible Study for Prospects (Denomination Members)
Taught New Convert
I kept teaching our sister who is still baby in Christ. I continued using SFTs to teach her, and another sister who is also still baby in Christ has moved to her hometown and she place her membership at local congregation in that town. I asked a preacher nearby to continue teaching her so that she grows in knowledge and spirituality.
Bible Class
Makassar Church of Christ continued to conduct the Bible classes on Sundays after worship using a book entitled "The Beginning of Our Confidence" (lessons designed for new Christians) and other topics. These lessons can help church members to grow in the knowledge of God's word and apply them in daily life.
Sunday Worship
We worship regularly at a rented building every Sunday. Sometimes brethren from other local congregations who came to Makassar also attend our worship assembly and our visitors as well.
On Sunday, 1 January 2023, I was honored to deliver a sermon by Uelene COC. This congregation is the first established in Central Sulawesi. For some reasons the building was closed for few years and the members join another local congregation (Mayoa Church of Christ), but last year they came back and started worshiping permanently in that building. There are several prospects who are interested to study and even come to worship regularly every Sunday. This congregation needs prayers and help for building.
Outing Activity in Akarena Beach
On Sunday, 15 January 2023, after worship, we went to Akarena Beach to have an outing activity as planned. Our visitors also came to join us in this activity. We brought some snacks to enjoy together and had dinner as well. We had a good time to have a chit-chat one another and took pictures.
Makassar COC would like say "Happy New Year 2023" to all of you brethren, the supporters and the sponsoring church. God bless us.
Makassar, 08 February 2023,
Harun Tamale
Mission Monthly Report in Makassar Under the supervision of GSJKDI Sawangan, Sawangan Village Jaga IV, Kec. Tombulu, Minahasa, North Sulawesi 95662.
Email: haruntamale@gmail.com
Blog: https://mission-report.blogspot.com/
