Yogyakarta, Indonesia: A young missionary couple passionate about missions and will soon be deployed to a creative access area initiated the idea of organizing “Mission Nights” to introduce and promote cross-cultural ministry and missions to young people who want and are called to be missionaries.
The first Mission night was held last month. A total of 20 youths from Indonesia Nazarene Theological College, various local churches and some field office personnel attended the gathering. During the Mission night the participants are exposed to the following activities:
• Trivia/Quiz that aims to explain and introduce the world of cross-cultural missions (crossing barriers/borders such as religion, social status, and geography).
• Prayer for countries in the Asia-Pacific Region
• Trying out food from other countries
• Watch video interviews from other missionaries who are serving cross-culturally
The participants were grateful and blessed because they are able to correct some of their misconceptions about “missionaries.” Before their thinking was that only foreigners are called to be missionaries. They also learned that missionaries don’t come to Indonesia to dominate the leadership, but to help the local churches with the necessary training to disciple and multiply.
They were thrilled to know that every believer is a “missionary.” Indonesians could send people to missions and be instruments to introduce God to those who have not heard about Him.
The young missionary couple has plans to continue Mission Nights through video calls with other young people from other countries. They will design ideas with participants for short mission trip activities to provide opportunities for Indonesians from various regions to go to mission fields.
This initiative aims to give more Indonesian Nazarenes a better understanding of cross-cultural missions, help them realized that every culture must be under the culture of God’s Kingdom, and remind them that all are called to participate in God’s great commission.
Article by Mr. Wendi Pasaribu (Sealands Field Communications Coordinator)
