When God Called Us
A fictional (but careful) reconstruction of what missionaries must endure when they chose this path.

Written: Mid March 2006
Uploaded: 19 April 2006

Disclaimer: This article is not a true story even though some names, places, and historical facts are true. This is just merely a careful reconstruction of what a missionary probably must endure when he / she chooses this path… The road less traveled… The road that will make a true difference to those previously unreached...

When God Called Me --- Lian Zebua

The earth shatters violently. My house, along with hundreds of other houses in my village, Awa’ai and other villages in this Nias Island are destroyed… As you know, this big earthquake has changed the way my people live. I will tell you that, it has changed my life too.

My name is Lian, Lian Zebua to be precise. I’m 20 years old this year. My father is a pastor in our village’s local church. I know God, my heavenly Father since I was a little girl and I admire His love. He sent His son Jesus to die for our sins. When I look at my father, I admire him too. He dedicates his life to minister people in this Awa’ai village since 10 years ago. One day, if God allows, I want to be like my father too, serving either my village or another smaller villages nearby. I know that even though Nias is recognized as a Christian Island. Many people have yet to receive Jesus as their personal savior. Christianity is not a “religion” that is inherited from our parents.

As a pastor in a village, my father is not a rich person. Even though he himself graduated from a well known Theological School in Jakarta, STT SETIA, he can’t afford to send me there for theological education. So I prayed to God “Lord, if this is Your will, please provides me a way to pursue proper theological education.”

Then that big earthquake shatters my island for no apparent reason. Some of my friends and relatives died because of it. Our church building, as with other buildings, transformed into rubbles. I was shocked mentally and spiritually. But I still believe that God has a purpose for everything that happens on Earth.

Since that fateful event, many Christian churches and organizations visited our island, including my village. One of the churches is GEPEMBRI. Apart from sending the donations and conducting revival services for us, their representative also mentioned that they would like to sponsor several Nias people who want to serve God as a full-time minister to join them back to Jakarta to study at STT SETIA, the same school that my father attended…

I did not know exactly what had happened, but I believe that God intervenes in such a way and I was selected… After about 1 week of contemplation and some discussions with my family, I decided to take the chance. I leaved my family and my friends for 4-5 years to Jakarta.

I will go, I will do Theology study with my best effort for God’s glory, and I will return here to serve my village upon the completion of my study… This… is like a dream comes true… Thank you God for this chance... And off I go…

When God Called Me --- Anton Setiawan

Rejected… again… I'm nothing, I'm worthless…

This is the 4th time that I, Anton, who just graduated from high school in Jakarta, received a rejection letter from the University that I applied. God, what do You want me to do? I love You, I want to do great things for You, why don't You allow me to get admitted to a good University, why should I be a university-less person and potentially a jobless person? My family is not that poor, they can afford to send me to a good University. The problem is that which University wants to admit me?

I finally understand that God’s answer is: "My way is not your way…" as simple as that… and this is my story.

One Sunday, my church pastor greeted me after Sunday service and asks me about my University application status. I told him the truth and at the end he recommended why you don’t try this particular school… a… Theological school: STT SETIA?

I went home with struggle… I once want a worldly fame. I want to be a successful man. Graduated from a reputable University, find a decent job, work, marry, live happily ever after, die, and go to heaven… This new option (which surprisingly I don't mind) seems not going to make my dreams come true.

I prayed and fasted… My family, who are all believer, didn’t seems to reject. They said that for this issue, you should choose it yourself, ask God…

I said to God: "I will try God…, if this is really Your way, You will guide me to the end…". I apply for STT SETIA, which the 1st semester starts (I don't know why), two months later from any other secular universities… And this time I got accepted…

A Story in the Theological School

I, Petrus, am a lecturer in Missiology in STT SETIA. I have many students which came from various parts throughout Indonesia, all with their own background. I’m now standing in the middle of my student’s graduation ceremony. Tears of joy flowing from my eyes as they are singing “Here I am Lord, send me”…

Let me take this moment to flash back and tell you a story of my two best students: Lian and Anton. As their teacher, this is my testimony for them.

Being a Nias native, Lian has a difficulty in speaking with us using proper Bahasa Indonesia, but she is a fast learner. After one semester, she managed to establish a network of friendship with many other students from different parts of Indonesia.

Anton, in the other hand, has another problem during his early days. Coming from a moderately wealthy family, he found himself struggling to accept our school’s poor dormitory living condition. Imagine that 20 people stay in 10x20 meter room for 4 years. I also remember Anton’s pessimistic comment on the food that we served in the dormitory. Nevertheless he survived and surprisingly, he is now their room leader.

Lian and Anton had no problem when we first tested them with their conviction of their salvation. We always do that to all our new students because it would be an irony if those who go as a missionary, still unsure about his / her own salvation.

Throughout their education process in the last 4 years, Lian, Anton, and all our other students have endured series of moral education under a very strict discipline. We even sent them for 1-year mission exposure training to various parts in Indonesia. Where they learned how to live and minister to the natives.

Hopefully throughout this whole process, they are equipped to serve the Lord better. Until He calls them back home…

Our school has been one of God’s tools to prepare these missionaries. We are blessed to witness this graduation ceremony as we believe that this is going to be the start of something bigger. These graduated students, which we will send to their respective mission fields, will have such a big potential to win the unreached peoples in the future. If it happened, there will be joy in heaven and earth.

Such a wonderful vision and yes, I think I can see it now… right here in the middle of the graduation ceremony, watching Anton and Lian, as a couple, they are the best two students of this year.

They Were Sent For Us

I, Melianus Ziliwu, am a native Nias. I live in village Hilina’a.

I was a former skeptics, I knew that my friends and relatives are mostly Christian, but I never felt the need to believe in anything before. The earthquake few years ago failed to make me realize that humans’ life is so fragile.

Until last year, two missionaries, Anton and Lian came to our village and told us the Good news about salvation in Jesus Christ. They said it very convincingly .Which I believe that their wisdom must be come from God Himself. Most of us, villagers in Hilina’a, including myself, are Christian by traditions. We converted to a true Christianity on that day…

They stayed to minister us until now. We are very blessed to have them.

The End of The Road

Anton and Lian continue their fruitful ministries in Hilina’a for 5 years, and then they were relocated to serve the M1 and M2 people in nearby Sumatra. They endure harder time and struggles. Anton and Lian have no children and they died on the same day in relatively young age of 40-ies because of a road traffic accident.

God calls His servants back in His time…

They Met HIM: A Possible Scene in Heaven

One moment in Heaven, long after that fateful accident. The time after Jesus’ second coming to earth, there is this scene in heaven, a happy one.

Anton, Lian, and multitudes of other people who have submitted their lives for God’s works lined up in a (very very very) long queue.

The Lamb of God opens the book of life, and other books that record these people’s life, and He said to each of them, one by one: “Well done, good and faithful servant. Come and share your master’s happiness!”

Missionaries Facts:

1. All missionaries (goers) must have specific calling.

2. Those who do not have that calling (yet) should become the senders for those who already answered their calling (the missionaries).

3. Missionaries are the individuals who will make the greatest impact to the spread of the Gospel to the unreached (frontier missions).

4. Even though this can’t be generalized, they are usually married as this kind of work requires very close (human) support too. They usually marry another missionary as it will be very difficult for if one should stay while the other travels frequently. Their children, if any, will usually be trained to one day be a missionary or another related field for God’s works too.

5. Missionaries often came from poor families but in rare cases, God called those from wealthy families to be His messenger.

6. Missionaries are supported by a group of senders, those who pray, fund, and care for them.

7. Missionaries work in a team or network of believers who are committed to the Great commission.

References

1. NIV Study Bible.
2. The real life stories told by my missionary friends.