Brother Andrew Tanoko

It was good to have bro Andrew, Director of Rhema Bible Training Center Indonesia preaching at our church on Sunday. The last time we met was like 4 years ago but it seems we have known each other for quite some time. Maybe because we both were graduated from Rhema BTC. The church enjoyed the way bro Andrew preached. It was just refreshing to have his energy flowing when he preached on "Casting all our cares to the Lord", the classic 1 Peter5:7 sermon.



Unfortunately I forgot to get a picture together hence I cannot post it here. But I know it won't be the last time we met and I look forward to having many more Rhema graduates to preach at our church.



All the best,

Binsar

Moving to the new premises

As we had to move out the old building, we looked around and felt God's guidance to move to the new premises of about 500 sqm in Gondangdia Lama area. It is a second floor of an office bulding and we have the whole floor for us. The new Church building is not far from the previous building and it gives us a feeling of a new beginning. A new beginning in everything including of course a better service hall, a children ministry, church office etc. The renovation cost was way above our intial expectation. I guessed we were lack of experience on this thing. But it's worth it. Our Church member were generous givers and all the needed funds were collected in a very short time. Thank you Lord.

The pictures here were taken during our first service in July 13. We had a communion and I preached on "A Deeper Love for God". It was fantastic. As bro Hagin often said, Not because of who was preaching but despite of it. :-)

Brother Phillip

Early this month we have brother Phillip shared about his work in China. Brother Phillip is a underground missionary in China who steadfastly minister into remote area in China. He and his wife have three children who accompany them in their work. We are really blessed by his testimony and definitely it ignited the mission spirit within the church. After the service we went to the nearby Sundanese Restaurant to have lunch together. The pictures were taken in the Restaurant. The first picture shows Brother Phillip and his oldest daughter.



Brother Phillip was introduced to us by Brother Awi who was visiting us from Beijing together with his whole family who was having a vacation in Jakarta.

Batik Ministry

To appreciate the local traditional garments called Batik, the Church chose the third Sundays as the official Batik day, meaning we dress in Batik clothing as we minister in that day. Of course, everybody is free to choose the pattern of the Batik and as you can see in the pictures, they look great. It's really good idea and so much fun.





The last one are our Sunday School Teachers from our Children Ministry Team. They look great, don't they.

All blessings,
Binsar

Working with YWAM

It was to good to meet friends from YWAM (Youth With A Mission) coming to our church about a month ago. Since then, several groups from Las Vegas, Hawaii, and Australia have short visits working with our youth group ministering to people living in the surrounding of our church. Many activities including teaching english lessons to Christian and non-Christian people and ministering to the sick have been done as well as ministering to our children ministry.

The below pictures show some of them (the group from Australia) with our children.















Also we had another great service last week with Pastor Leonardo Sitorus preaching. Pastor Leo is a distance relative. He is a well-known pastor of an emerging church in Indonesia. Great sermon. We had also Solvy testifying and singing for the Lord. You can read her story at my wife's blogsite (see link to "beautiful"), a really touching story. Many cried as they were touched by the testimony. At the end, last but not least, we had our children singing "Di Doa Ibuku", a touching song about how the children hear their name mentioned in their mother prayer. The mothers then went to the stage hugging the children. So touching. I believe there were healings in the children hearts.

Well that was a typical service we have on Sundays. Basically we enjoy the Lord in many ways. Come visit us some day.

All blessings,
Binsar

Let the children praise the Lord

These pictures represent some of the children ministry performance during the offering. Last week was a bit different in a better sense as the LCD projector showed the pictures of each child which have been taken earlier. The kids “say cheese” with so much fun during the photo session.



We told our deacons to emphasize more on the children ministry. Actually we want to build a stage in the children service hall so that they can freely enjoy and experience Praise and Worship in greater fun and as good as in the main auditorium with mic, keyboard and all that stuff.




The Lord said, “Forbid them not, to come to me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven”. We believe a family focused church needs the best attention given to the children ministry.

Kebaktian Minggu Nuansa Tahun Baru

Minggu kemarin kami mengadakan kebaktian minggu dengan tema tahun Baru Imlek. Mulai dari Praise and Worship yang ada nuansa irama Mandarin dipimpin oleh Julita Manik sampai persembahan lagu Sekolah Minggu yang begitu menggemaskan namun penuh dengan kesungguhan dalam meninggikan Tuhan Yesus. Putra-putra pak Trias dan bu Kiky yang masih kecil namun dengan indahnya memainkan biola dan saxophone membuat Vocal Group Sekolah Minggu begitu indah. Persembahan pujian mereka membuat kami tidak tahan sehingga mau tidak mau harus memberikan amplop angpao ke tiap-tiap anak di akhir kebatian.

Pengerja juga tidak mau kalah dan menyuguhkan Drama yg sangat menyentuh, menceritakan seorang kaisar China yang rela menggantikan ibunya menerima hukuman cambuk karena sang ibu melakukan kesalahan melanggar undang-undang yang sudah ditetapkan oleh Raja sendiri.

Drama yg menggambarkan pengorbanan Tuhan Yesus sang Raja yang rela menggantikan kita dihukum di kayu salib ini, disertai dengan multimedia yang benar-benar menyentuh hati. Rekan kita Andi yg memerankan raja begitu meresapi perannya dan menitikkan air mata di bagian peran ketika dia merelakan dirinya dihukum karena kasihnya pada ibunda raja. Sangat indah !

Teman-teman sekalian kami ingin juga menyampaikan selamat tahun baru Gong Xi Fa Choi untuk teman-teman beserta seluruh keluarga. Semoga berkat Tuhan melimpah sepanjang tahun.

God Bless

what is it like to be a pastor?

Karena situasi yang terhindarkan, kadang kita dibawa Tuhan kedalam suatu tugas pelayanan yang selama ini kita coba hindari.... Memang my wife and I sudah melayani Tuhan cukup lama bahkan sejak kami dulu kuliah di ITB Bandung. Tapi to tell the truth, menjadi seorang gembala, pastor dari sebuah gereja, it is something else. Sudah sebulan lebih sejak gembala rayon kami mengangkat kami menggembalakan GBI Cikini dan sampai sekarang ini masih dalam learning period yang sangat intensif. Tapi banyak juga surprise2 yang yang Tuhan berikan. Hanya dalam beberapa minggu ini, kita sudah melayani ibadah penguburan / penghiburan sebanyak dua kali untuk anggota keluarga dari jemaat di Cikini. Termasuk satu pelayanan komplit sampai penguburan di hari ulang tahun si gembala itu. So I guess it was a quite different birthday present for me :-) he he he

So what's like to be a pastor? Well, ini bukan hanya soal berkotbah di hari minggu ternyata. Tapi bagaimana memimpin rekan-rekan pengerja untuk bersama-sama mencapai visi yang Tuhan berikan. Soal mengatur keuangan dan kalau perlu fund-raising untuk proyek-proyek yang kita miliki. Soal mengatur full-timers agar lebih efektif dalam bekerja. Mengatur diakonia. Memilih pengkotbah. Spend time dengan rekan-rekan pelayanan. Konseling. Rapat pengurus. Menyusun strategi pelayanan. dan lain lain yang belum kepikir :-) ... oh ya yang paling penting Tuhan bilang, lebih banyak berdoa secara pribadi! Kalau pemimpin kurang doa, jangan harap pengerjanya akan berdoa.... :-)

By the way, I was thinking,... aduh enaknya ya kalau bisa mengajak lebih banyak lagi kaum profesional, karyawan untuk melayani bersama di Cikini. Memang enak bisa melayani dengan kaum muda dan orang-orang tua tapi anak-anak Tuhan yang bekerja itu lebih mobile dan resourceful untuk mengembangkan pelayanan. Karena saya juga masih bekerja (anyway it is common di GBI untuk menggembalakan jemaat sambil tetap bekerja sekuler), tent-making kata sebagaian orang, maka ngobrol dan pelayanan bersama dengan mereka yang juga aktif dalam pekerjaan, lebih nyambung dan efektif.

Betapa enaknya kalau teman-teman lama yang dulu pernah pelayanan bareng bisa melayani bersama kembali di Cikini. OK it is my dream. Boleh dong punya kerinduan seperti itu.....

Friends, with this kind of posting, I try to bear my soul to you. Semoga bisa menjadi berkat dan membuat kita lebih saling mengenal.

All blessings,
Binsar

ps: itu foto diatas bukan fotoku lho. hanya untuk ilustrasi aja :-)

blog noegi dan miriam

i have just put two new links to the blog sites of our friends noegi and miriam who live in irian jaya to do the missionary work for the natives. Glad to know that they are progressing and you all can see the updates on these blogs.

Pak Noegi and bu Miriam, Keep up the good work !

Foto foto yang laen

Selaen jalan jalan melihat daerah turis disana, saya sempat mampir di gereja Katholik yang di downtown juga sorenya lewat night food market yang tersohor di jalan Donganmen.

Luar biasa orang-orang Beijing ini. Kalajengking, kelabang, jangkrik dan ular juga dimakan. Mungkin ini bisa membuat orang lebih berani mengambil resiko kalau lagi bisnis ... :-)

di foto yang lain, saya, Aad dan Emmy Wilianto, Eunice (putri Awi & Emmy) dan Nathan (dibalik stroller) dan Awi (yang motret kita-kita) sedang jalan jalan sore (jjs) di danau Shichahai yang ada di hutong (eh bener ngga ya Emmy?... :-)

Enjoy the pictures,

God bless

Keluarga Awi & Emmy Wilianto di Beijing

My wife and I had the opportunity to visit our friends Awi and Emmy Wilianto in Beijing this week. The family was very kind to invite us to stay with them during our visit and took us to know Beijing and touristic places including of course the Great Wall.

The last time we met was 14 years ago when we worked together in the ministry at GKKD Medan. So we were so happy to be able to meet again and fellowship a lot during this visit. I had the chance to sing (representing Raffa of course) and preached at Beijing GANG (God Anointed New Generation) Church, an energic church of Indonesian students while JM ministered at GISI Beijing. It was really great service.

Thanks to Awi and Emmy. God bless you all.

Pastor Rio Sibarani dari GEIS

Last Sunday, I was invited to preach at Pastor Rittar "Rio" Sibarani's church in Kebayoran Baru. My wife JM also shared and sang a song which was awesome. In the picture I stood with Pastor Rio and his wife, Renata Simanjuntak, the songwriter who wrote the well-known song "Slamatkan Indonesia".

It was a very good service. God moved with wisdom and anointing to help me preaching on Blessing & Wealth message which is needed by the church these days.

Thank you for inviting me Pastor Rio. God bless you and your family.

Ketemu Harry Idol dan Bobby OW

Kemarin kami merayakan Ulang Tahun gereja kami GBI Cikini Raya yang ke-5. So much fun celebrating God's love dengan Praise & Worship service dilayani oleh Harry Idol, Bobby OW dan juga tentunya Julita Manik.

Kelihatan sekali hati yang mengasihi Tuhan dan talenta yang begitu luar biasa ada pada diri mereka. Dan yang paling berkesan adalah kerendahan hati mereka sekalipun telah dipakai Tuhan begitu luar biasa di mana-mana.

Thank you ya Bobby dan Harry. Gob bless

Pertunangan my brother Bhayangkara & Christine

Untuk temen-temen yang dari ITB mungkin ingat Bhay dari Tambang '86. Kemarin Sabtu kami dateng ke kebaktian pertunangan atau orang sono bilang Martupol he he he.. di HKBP Sunter. Akhirnya si Bhay mengakhiri masa bujangan nya yang lama pisan. Bhay ini sepupu saya dari pihak ibu.

Bhay atau nama lengkapnay Bhayangkara Silaen akan menikah tanggal 3 September ini dengan Christine Sitorus yang kebetulan juga masih sepupu jauh kami.

Congrats untuk pasangan yang begitu serasi, ganteng, cantik dan begitu mengashi Tuhan Yesus... :-)

God Bless

Interview oleh O-Channel TV

Minggu lalu Raffa Band dikunjungi oleh kru O-Channel TV dipimpin oleh bung Victor dan sepanjang sore meng-interview Raffa untuk acara yang meng-cover band band Kristen "Indie" alias mereka yang tidak dibawah label rekaman komersil.

Interviewnya asik juga. Memang sudah lama ngga di-shoot oleh kamera TV.... kalau ngga salah terakhir waktu SD main angklung di NHK Jepang :-)



Kita tunggu aja kapan ditayangnya di TV. Seperti kata Tukul, ... masuk TV... he he he

Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist

Heard about the book for a long time but did not have the urge to buy and read it yet until two days ago. Ini buku amazing.... ternyata. Tidak sia-sia buku pak Paulo sudah terjual 100 juta copy dan diterjemahkan dalam 60 bahasa !

Padahal pak Paulo sempat dimasukkan ke rumah sakit jiwa oleh orang tuanya sendiri! karena ketahuan bercita-cita menjadi seorang penulis. Tapi tidak ada yang membuat dia berhenti dari usahanya untuk mencapai mimpinya atau yang dia sebut sebagai "personal legend". Dan sekalipun dia baru berhasil menulis bukunya diusia 40tahun, karyanya akhirnya terbaca di 150 negara di dunia dan menjadi bestsellers.

Amazing ya? Nothing can stop a determined person to achieve his/her goal ... And as Paulo said: all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it...

Foto Nugie, Miriam and Joshua

Friends, I just received this afternoon a couple pictures of Nugie and Miriam's new baby boy, Joshua. This wonderful couple was with us at GBI Cikini until last year and did great things for the Lord before continuing the missionary call to Irian Jaya. Again Congratulation and God bless you all.

Nugie and Miriam's new baby son

Praise The Lord, for the new baby son of Nugie and Miriam, an Indonesian-Dutch missionary couple in Irian Jaya. Nugie sent me an sms saying the baby was delivered 01.23am this morning in a caesar delivery (wow quite an effort to wait for 0123 number ya...). The baby boy was 3.8kg, 51 cm long. Really a bule size ....

The name is Joshua Sebastiaan Akas.

We hope we can get the picture soon ya pak Nugie.

God bless you all

Roz Savage's inspiring Quest

Artikel Kiat Sukses yang terakhir adalah mengenai Roz Savage. Definitely harus baca kisah hidupnya di link berikut: http://rozsavage.com/about/roz_story.php

Hidup untuk suatu Pencapaian yang memberi inspirasi bagi orang lain..... Kakoi ne....

Enjoy the long weekend and remember ...

Tuhan Yesus sayang kamu ...

A New Song for You

I wrote a new song called "MenyembahMu" which is very nice worship piece that I played with an accoustic guitar. You are welcomed to listen to the the song at http://groups.google.com/group/raffa-music/files
Just download it and of course you are also welcomed to sing it or teach it to your friends.
Love you all,
Binsar