A Mission Heart Fulfilled
Have you ever wondered what international media ministry looks like “up close and personal”? John and Adri VandenDool from Picture Butte, Alberta have long nurtured a passion for missions, and in summer 2010 they had the opportunity to travel to Indonesia, where they spent time with Rev. Untung Ongkowidjaya and visited three Listener Communities near Yogyakarta.
The Vanden Dools, who have served as mission advocates for Back to God Ministries International and Christian Reformed World Missions, have often hosted missionaries in their home—including Rev. Untung. The idea to visit Indonesia sparked after Rev. Untung’s visit as he told them about the work in Indonesia.
Meeting people who are coming to Christ through the Indonesian media ministry, especially those being discipled through the Listener Communities, made a deep impression on the Vanden Dools. “The poorest of the villages (Gunung Kidul) was up a mountain on a one lane road,” John recalls.
In another village, Pohim Kaliorang, they met with several people in the Listener Community. “There Rev. Untung introduced us to a woman who had been caring for her husband for eight years. (See photo) Very little health care was available to the people, yet people are happier there than in our country.”
Rev. Untung asked Adri, a nurse, to pray for this woman and her husband. “When I prayed, he didn’t translate,” recalls Adri. “He told me that God can figure out the language and the prayer concern.”
They also visited the Listener Community in Bantul, where Back to God Ministries International has distributed radios and developed libraries as a tool for outreach. “They speak a different language so we didn’t understand the testimonies, but we could tell they were happy with the radios. One woman told us she was thankful for batteries because she can carry the radio with her to work and others can listen to our programs.”
John and Adri also learned that 1400 Indonesian immigrants living abroad access the radio podcast each month, and Rev. Untung gave them samples of the five devotionals and DVDs of the two television programs his team produces.
The visit was truly a blessing for the Vanden Dools, who have supported Back to God Ministries International for many years. “It is wonderful when you see the Gospel brought, and the people are so happy to listen,” said Adri. “It became so real for us to see ministry happening.”
Even if you are unable to visit a mission field, you can take a virtual tour through this website (see Home Page and Global Ministries). Your prayers and gifts to support Back to God Ministries International make it possible for our ministry leaders to “Tell His Story…Share His Love” with people worldwide. Please consider giving a gift today.
