Chocolate Cake

I just attended the 22nd anniversary for the Indian Theopholis Ministry (ITM). This ministry has been instrumental in reaching countless Sindhi's, other Indians and other peoples through the years and has been an integral part of our Church. Many of our leaders and the Pastors and many of the other leaders from two other Churches here in Jakarta were raised up through ITM. We had a wonderful celebration!

Of course there was a cake cutting ceremony and the flavor was Black Forest (chocolate and cherry). This reminded me of a prophetic word I received almost two years ago which I am "compelled" to share now before going to bed...

Two other Pastors (who I know but I am not going to identify) and I were in a room and there was Chocolate Cake served. The other two Pastors are both quite senior to me in age and experience. They were enjoying the chocolate cake, but I was inspecting it, unsure as to whether or not I wanted to even touch it to my lips... The other two Pastors were coaxing me to eat, relax, stop criticising and enjoy. But I just kept talking about the cake and not trying it.

At the time, I was the new Pastor of ICCJ, in transition and in crisis, really. I was stressed out because of the extreme challenges that I was facing. I was letting it get to me and I was not enjoying the process. I was failing to focus on the many great things that were happening and I was letting the little negative things get to me.

God sent me that word and it was in due season... I received it and I took it to heart. Tonight was a reminder (of the reminder) to always eat the cake. Focus on the good and enjoy the journey! Perhaps you have been eating the brussel sprouts, broccoli and the tofu and have been neglecting to eat the cake. My friend, don't forget to eat your vegetables, but also, don't forget to eat your cake too! Enjoy every bite! Bon Appetit!

ICCJ Staff Christmas Picture

Another year has gone by and another Christmas Pic has been taken! What an awesome year of transformation and growth!! I think we got just about all of the Staff and Finance Committee in this picture except for one of our Finance Committee members, Bro Felix Wong and his wife Uli because they were travelling. We have a great team including the Little Steps School folks. God is good!

To see Up Close Pics of Joy, Ethan and I, click on the following link:

http://picasaweb.google.com/stevem.iccj/Christmas2008#

Ethan and Aya at Farewell Dinner

We said good-bye to Ilya, Vivi and Aya at a dinner last week. They have been a wonderful part of the ICCJ Family but they are moving back to Perth. Ethan and Aya were class-mates at the Little Steps School in the Bellagio and enjoyed one last video and one last juice together. We will miss you Ilya, Vivi and Aya!!! May God bless you as embark into this new season!!!

Link to album: http://picasaweb.google.com/stevem.iccj/FarewellDinnerWithIlyaViviAya#

Back from Palu, Sulawesi

Pst Rishi and I had a memorable time in Palu! Our hearts are connected with the 80+ Pastors who attended the daytime seminars and with the hundreds of people who attended the revival meetings at night. Thank you for praying!!!

Album Link: http://picasaweb.google.com/stevem.iccj/PaluSeminarAndRevivalOct2008#

Pst Rishi and I Departing for Palu - Please Pray

Hi Friends! Pst Rishi and I are Departing for Palu on Tuesday morning for a week of ministry. Pastors seminars by day and revival meetings at night. We will return to Jakarta on Saturday late afternoon. The schedule is packed and we are expecting a mighty move of God and an awesome refreshing especially for Pastors & their wives, most of whom do not have the resources to go elsewhere to receive such a refreshing. Thanks for your support!

Palu is located in Central Sulawesi. Click on the link below to check Palu out on wikipedia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palu

Xtra Special Christmas Program December 11 &12

Pastor Joy and the ICCJ Team are happily and busily preparing to present a very special Christmas program at a state of the art facility in Kuningan. The title is "Journey to the Manger" is a full and modern "Christmas Carol"/Broadway style production. This event will bless all who attend, believers and non-believers alike and those from any Church. The seats are filling fast and many people are flying in from other cities to join. The seats are numbered and assigned, so the sooner you buy, the better your seat selection will be. Click the link below for full information. Come, bring others, and share the Good News of Jesus Christ in this effective and non-threatening manner...

www.daretoconnect.org/JTM

3 Day Fast

Hi ICCJ'ers and All! I am fasting and have asked all who are willing to fast with me for 3 days going into Sunday. The Lord spoke to my heart that many will be healed and this fast is simply for consecration/preparation. The text for the sermon this coming Sunday is James 5:13-20 which includes the admonition to ask the elders to anoint with oil and pray for the sick so that they will recover. We will be conducting an altar service to do just that and we are convinced that God will perform mighty miracles because He is faithful to His word! As usual in this past year, the primary thing that I am fasting from is all forms of entertainment multi-media along with food. If you are compelled to join me, the Lord will speak to you about how you should fast and will enable you to do so. I'm excited!!

delete the devil --- a Young Adult camp report

Posted above is a picture with a few of the 130 campers at a Young Adult Camp in Batu Malang last week. Joy, Ethan and I returned late Friday from this 7 day ministry trip which also included ministry at 3 Churches in Surabaya. We are now happily recovering from the intense schedule as we prepare for services at ICCJ in Jakarta tomorrow.
During the 2nd to last service at the camp, the breaking of bad habits and addictions became the main focus. After a powerful time of ministry, I asked all there who had paraphernalia connected to these addictions to go to their rooms and bring those items to the altar. Specifically, drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, pornography, stolen items and condoms. The campers responded willingly!
One of the more interesting items was several cellular phones with pornographic videos and pictures on them. The leaders deleted the pornography and returned the phones to the owners after initiating proper counselling.
Here in Indonesia, the statistic is more then 40% of teenage boys who reside in major cities regularly watch pornography which they mainly get from the Internet and “under the table” from DVD retail shops.
In this day and age, it has become necessary to DELETE the devil from our lives… our computers, cellular phone and especially from our hearts and minds.
As we had traveled to this camp, Joy and I had sensed an urgency that many lives were hanging in the balance and it certainly was true. We thank God for the opportunity to serve God and His people in this way and we ask you who read this report to pray for those who were delivered by the power of God…. That they will make good decisions and persist in their continued deliverance until they are able to stand strong in the Lord. Amen!

Link to the Photo Album: http://picasaweb.google.com/stevem.iccj/Oct2008GSJAEbenezerYoungAdultCampBatuMalang#