Sept-Oct 2006 / Jan 2007 / Feb. 2007 / March 2007 / May 2007 / June 2007

ON THE TRAIL– OUR FALL SPEAKING TOUR
I am writing from a little town in Washington state about a third of our way through this speaking trip. We started August 21 expecting to have two weeks to work on our Visalia house. Instead we were here two days and had to rush to my brother Tommy’s bedside where we arrived in time to spend a long night holding his hand and see him take his final breath at 8:50 Saturday morning August 26th . The memorial service that followed brought reassurance of his hope of heaven and was followed by a strengthening of family bonds as we gathered afterward to reminisce and renew friendships in the family.

TOMMY
Our first speaking date was Sept. 3 at La Mirada Christian Church. Then we spent three days hauling furniture to our Visalia house. We have also spoken at Rosemead Christian Church, Community Christian of Rancho Palos Verdes, South Coast Christian Church in Costa Mesa, Fruitvale Christian Church in Oakland, Tri Cities Christian Church in Dublin, to a group of San Jose friends and supporters, held two mission related business meetings and spoken at the Central Point, Oregon Christian Church, Puget Sound College of the Bible and had one other special meeting we’ll tell you about in the next column.
Indonesian Independence Day celebrations—Jan with neighborhood ladies and Bob sitting with the men.

A VISIT WITH ICM’S FIRST PRESIDENT
Ed and Cathy Jones are friends dating from our days at Rosemead in 1973 –74. Ed, as ICM board president, on April 14, 1974 mailed the triumphant news, “We are now incorporated as a non-profit mission corporation recognized by both the State of California and the U.S. government.” They’ve lived in Puyallup, Washington for thirteen years. Ed is now 82 and as a retired innovative engineer continues his deep, active involvement with church and community affairs including teaching a once a week class to children who are being home-schooled. This time it’s German language. They have been slowed considerably in all their activities by a rare disease that forces Cathy to use a walker—slowly and to speak very slowly. She smilingly says, “No more Chatty Cathy.” Our visit with them informed us of Ed’s life-long adventure with Christ. It was a pleasure and blessing to renew fellowship with our first ICM board president.

THE INDONESIAN
ADVENTURE
Our “man in Aceh” continues to develop plans for a long-range ministry. Some things he and we can only pray about and wait for inspiration. They tried regular Sunday worship services, but this proved too dangerous. Now they continue an intensive daily visitation program which starts with memorizing scripture since they carry no Bible. When this relief/evangelistic effort started, we understood it was to be a long-term effort and might be slow growing. Our evangelist considered it a permanent relocation when he moved to Aceh. I’m saying this here because there are things we need to and can do for him. One, make this a long-term ongoing daily prayer commitment. Two, he still needs a cover business. He just wrote it’s getting more dangerous for Christians in Aceh and he must have a reason/cover for being there. The cover-business he is suggesting is a “Jamu” (health drink) business popular in Indonesia. This would include a stand in the “pasar” (local market) and door-to-door sales. We hope it will also be a reasonable profit making enterprise. There is some hope we can include this in the 2007 budget.

MEETING THE BUDGET
Budgets serve as guidelines, targets, and disciplines. When we write a new annual budget we are also writing a work plan for the coming year. The work plan does not grow out of the budget—the budget grows out of it, then defines the work plan. When I use the word, “budget,” it is shorthand for evangelists’ salaries, missionary salaries, management costs, benevolence, and all the other things we do to promote the name of Christ in this sin darkened land. So when we ask for help, it is to allow us and the other workers here freedom to be Christ to these people. Just now I am asking for a little extra help. If we have a final terrific two months, we should finish the year with all the accounts paid. Thank you for all you are doing to bless this country with the light of the Gospel.

YOUTH EVANGELISM COMMITTEE MEETING
Bintang, Eko, Yosia, Donal, and Linda meet Monday evenings to pray and evaluate the previous week’s evangelistic calls. Pairs go calling on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Please pray for Visi, Udin, Hernan, Uwa, Said, Tanto, Danan, Dede, Usup, Cinta, Uci, Habel and Kristanto, that they will be receptive to God’s message.

EVANGELIST BINTANG TAKES A WIFE
For almost two years, Bintang has lived alone, but in December, long enough after our December 8th return for Jan and I to attend, he will journey to Solo, Central Java, to claim in marriage the hand of his long-time fiancée. If you are so inclined, congratulations can be sent to Bintang at P.O. Box 140 Ciputat 15414, Indonesia or P.O. Box 457, Livermore, CA 94550. Bintang would be thrilled to receive your cards.

A BAPTISTRY FOR THE
CIRACAS CHURCH
Evangelist Arlin and husband Martius are looking into building a baptistery in the front right hand corner of the church building. Part of it should be easy because running water is right behind the wall in the church bathroom. Pray for their direction and perseverance in this. It will be a first among our churches in the Jakarta area, and will both save expenses and restore baptisms to a more dignified level. At the present time churches go to public swimming pools; it costs for each member to enter. It often turns into a swimming party. Baptisms are often delayed because of the expenses involved. Please pray they will go forward with this plan.

BANTEN-WEST JAVA CHURCHES
Our faithful “star” evangelist, Bintang (his name is Indonesian for star) once observed, “I’m still struggling to get a good cell group going in Pamulang. In Central Java I’d have had a church going by now.” He’s still striving to get his first church established, and he also has the responsibility of leading the young people in city-wide youth evangelism. In this program he is trying to unite the young people from three churches in a witnessing program. He is also serving as interim preaching minister for the Ciputat Church until they call a new preacher.

PLEASE PRAY FOR:
1 Safety for our family in Aceh, and open homes and hearts
2. ICM general fund gifts to meet budgeted needs.
3. Final title on the mission property at Bukit Indah. We’ve been waiting for a letter from one office for two years.
4. New missionaries/evangelists to work with ICM.