Across Pacific & Asia

INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN CONCERN

----- Original Message -----
From: steve
Sent: Sunday, December 31, 2000 4:25 AM
Subject: INDONESIAN CHRISTIANS

NEED URGENT HELP

Dear ICC Intercessors,
I am writing to you to ask you to pray for the Christians of Indonesia and
to consider helping financially. Those living in the Moluku Islands and
Ambon have been enduring unimaginable suffering. The reports we have been
receiving and the gory photographs depict extreme suffering and barbaric
brutality. In the midst of all the suffering there have been reports of God
intervening, such as some mentioned in the following report, which is the
last in a series of five reports. One miracle not mentioned below was that
of a 17-year-old boy who was a victim of an attack by Muslims on a Christian
community. He was hit with a sword in the back of the neck, exposing his
spine. He was thrown into a ditch and left for dead. Later, the village
authorities were gathering bodies, including this boy. He was thrown into a
truck and taken to the morgue. He was stitched up and prepared for burial,
when suddenly he began breathing. The boy later testified that he had seen
Jesus and was told to return. His mission on earth was not yet finished.
Many, other Indonesian Christians have had their faith challenged and tried
and all are crying out to God.

The following report was passed on to me from a pastor in Alaska who
traveled recently to Indonesia and is aquainted with the author of this
report, who is from Australia.

This is my fifth and probably last epistle from Manado for the year. As it
turned out David was able to get a flight back home, and John and I have the
privilege of spending Christmas in Manado! But rather than continuing to
send you emails over Christmas I'll make this the last one.

I've taken hours of video footage which I will attempt to edit down to one
hour. If you want a copy let me know and I'll arrange duplication on my
return. Especially powerful has been the interviews. We've talked to lots of
people who as part of their own grieving have been thankful to share with us
their experiences. It leaves you pretty stunned. It is a mixture of horrific
tragedy, evil and shocking, mixed with miracles, intervention and praise to
God. In an hour and a half long interview today with Pastor Carol and wife
Jane from Ternate in Maluku, we were left reeling once again. They were
crying, we were crying, and I'm attempting to video the whole thing without
shaking the camera too much and sniffling into the microphone as I sat
behind the camera. I have not come face to face with the persecuted church
as I have here. I have not heard the most incredible stories of intervention
as I have here. I have not seen a spiritual depth and commitment to
reconciliation as I have here. Its like a time warp into the book of Acts.
In fact, its a sharing in the very sufferings of Christ. The purpose of
these emails has been to have you share in that. The video will help too if
you get a chance to see it. But probably our greatest participation is in
prayer as we enter into God's heart for the suffering of HIS Church; indeed
His Body. As Jesus said to Saul on the road to Damascus, 'why are you
persecuting ME'. It is Christ who is being persecuted here and there are
plenty of 'Sauls' that need to be saved. Carlos and Jane told us of one they
knew of today - a leader of the Jihad movement in Ambon who when leading an
attack against a church fell on his knees and repented of his sins and
called off the attack! So it CAN happen.

There are also some really sad stories. Carlos told us of the choice his
pastors faced of 'convert to Islam or die'. Some were killed, some escaped
(including Carlos), four of them chose to convert. Can you imagine being
placed in that situation? I can't. Of the 53 congregations under his care, 3
of them have all become Muslims in order to survive. I think of Peter who
denied Christ three times but was later restored by Jesus. Carlos said they
have heard from Maluku that these people are weeping every day at having
become Muslim. I thought of Peter who 'went outside and wept bitterly'. Then
in John 21, Jesus does not write Peter off but restores him to fellowship.
Please pray for these pastors. If you want their names I can email you
personally.

We have heard the most incredible stories of intervention. We have heard on
several occasions from different sources the story of Jihad warriors
attempting to land their boats in order to attack another Christian village.
There is a mysterious figure dressed in white with a beard, riding a white
horse who repels the attackers, their is total confusion, and in the
confusion a number of Muslims are killed. This is without Christians firing
a shot! The Christians did not know this was happening, until they started
being visited by the military who were looking for an Australian (can you
believe that?!) who was fighting for the Christians. They sent out
investigative teams to look for this 'Australian'. Christians asked them to
describe what he looked like and then responded, 'that's not an Australian,
that is the Lord Jesus Christ'. Isn't that cool. And I've heard it from
enough credible sources to believe it is not an 'urban myth'. Other
interventions include jihad fleeing at the sight of thousands of opposing
forces that weren't even there! Check the story on Elisha. We've heard of
pregnant women and elderly fleeing into the mountains and climbing cliffs
hanging onto thin vines and branches that did not break and on and on and on
it goes. But many are also killed. My mind goes to Hebrews 11 which lists
the heroes of faith, some of whom 'gained what was promised' and experienced
the miraculous, others who lost their lives in order to 'gain something
better'.

Time in the refugee camps has been particularly special. We've been blown
away by the openness and love of these people, who despite obvious needs are
so full of Holy Spirit joy. In one camp this week I gathered a few kids
together to say, 'Happy Christmas Australia' on video. (Sorry you won't get
it in time). Then there were more kids, then more kids, all wanting to say
Happy Christmas. They looked like a children's choir all standing there, so
I said, 'Do you know any songs?' They then started singing. (Boy these kids
can sing!). Then the adults started to gather with the children and sing
with them. (We've now got a large crowd all singing!). Then after a few
songs I said, 'would you like John and I to sing a song?' We sing, more
people come. Then we share a message of encouragement. Then Jeff (never one
to miss an opportunity) preaches a Jungle Doctor story that is totally
captivating. Then later we are leading people in prayer and worshipping some
more.

This is the sort of spiritual openness in the camps. Many are full on
Christians strongly encouraged by the fellowship, but a good number are
'Christian' in name only and so there is a tremendous opportunity to share
the gospel.

Better sign off. Finally, please be in prayer  for the believers in Maluku - in the areas of Ambon, Ternate, Tobelo, and Halmahera. ...

I would ask you to remember these Christians in Indonesia in prayer, for the
suffering has intensified. Please consider giving financially and encourage
others to do the same. ICC is considering a trip to Indonesia and would like
to provide as much encouragement and comfort as possible to those who have
been forced to flee and who have suffered great loss.

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN DONATING MONEY TO HELP, YOU CAN DO SO ONLINE AT
ICC's HOME PAGE: www.persecution.org

Thank you and God bless you,
Steve Snyder
ICC
 

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