Merry Christmas!!!

Merry Christmas Everyone!!! May the time that you spend with family and friends be refreshing and memorable as we focus on the greatest gift of all and the reason not only for the season but for all of life... Jesus Christ!!!

It is Christmas Eve in Jakarta and we just arrived home after a wonderful service! We will need to get to bed soon because we have another one first thing at 9am on Christmas Morning!

But I wanted to get a message out because I have been leaving you all hanging much too long and I apologize. The main reason is simply that we have been extremely busy, though it has mostly been Christmas Church related fun! The other reason is that I ate something that messed me up... hives all over my body, my face swelling up and the worst part...my tongue was about double the normal size and I couldn't breath properly. The doctor says it was an infection caused by bad or badly cooked sea-food. I never want to deal with that again! It took more than a week to truly get back on my feet. Thanks for your continued prayers because I still can't imagine eating certain things that I normally would be able to.

Hi-lights of the Christmas Season include the Christmas in Reverse production which was conducted by our youth and children on December 9. It was beautiful, powerful and not to mention downright fun!

The Little Steps School which we run on the same premises as the Church conducted a wonderful production entitled "The Stars of Christmas" which was very nicely produced. Many Children participated as every element of the production explained the true meaning of Christmas to all who attended!!!

Jevan Jal Assemblies of God Church and our ICCJ Indian Theopholus Ministry conducted a combined Festive Outreach to the Indian Community of Jakarta and it was awesome! Well over 1,000 people attended, more than half of them being "pre-Christians"... Many were touched and saved and many more brought further along in their quest of seeking truth! Amen!!!

The Women of Harvest Christmas party was a major success which is still being talked about. The food was great, the music, games and mesage were wonderful and attendance was triple of what it was last year... I think the word has gotten out that Pastor Joy knows how to throw a great party!!!

The ICCJ Staff Christmas Party held at our house was a blast and the food was fantastic... no left overs at all!

We conducted our final Wedding for the year on December 23 at 6pm... for Shelin (long time youth member and youth leader) and Neeraj at the Sunlake Hotel in Sunter. It was awesome and I am confident that this couple is going to accomplish much for God as they work together in His purpose!

All of the services here at ICCJ continue to be marked with the Presence of God as we endeavor to move forward into all that God has for us as a Church! I want to thank all of your for your support, loyalty, enthusiasm and especially prayer. 2008 is going to be even greater if we don't become weary in well-doing! Keep up the good work! Merry Christmas!!!