Indonesia (MNN) — Some countries are extremely difficult to reach with the Gospel, but the Bible doesn’t call us to “go into the world and reach the nations that are convenient to get to.” Instead, we’re asked to reach every people, no matter how challenging it can be.
World Missionary Press wants to answer that call.
Helen Williams says Indonesia presents an especially difficult challenge. “[Indonesia] is, population-wise, the largest Muslim country in the world, and it’s also just a great number of islands. So distribution is difficult; communication between pastors and churches is all over the place.”
Such widespread communities and strong religious influences make locals resentful against the message World Missionary Press is bringing in.
“Their villages are closed and they don’t want the Gospel to come in,” explains Williams.
(Photo courtesy of World Missionary Press)
But the testimonies of many local believers, from the way they live their daily lives to the relationships they’ve built with those around them, are starting to open doors.
It’s a stark contrast to a country like Thailand, where the Gospel is accepted much more openly. However, Thailand presents it’s own challenges.
“That’s one of the places where WMP national coordinators play such a big role because they’re nationals, they know what’s going on in their countries, they know how to be able to distribute the Word and get the Word going.”
Williams sums it up by saying that no matter where you go, there will be challenges.
“Both of these places are places where you have to take special measures … and be aware, very aware.”
That means flexibility and creativity with outreach methods.
“The opportunities are not what we see like in some countries where you can go into the village and just give the material to everybody,… it’s more of a one-to-one [relationship].”
And those methods are bearing fruit. Williams says children are especially receptive to the material, remarking that a ‘He is Risen’ coloring book is one of their most printed booklets.
But paper isn’t the only way that World Missionary Press is spreading the Good News.
Williams says they “just released our app that’s for tablets and smart phones, and on that app, you can not only read the booklets in the language; you can hear it in some of them.”
(Photo courtesy of World Missionary Press)
“In Indonesia, our contact there has recorded one or two of our booklets, and the people in Indonesia and anywhere around the world can go to that app… and choose the booklet that comes up, and they can read it, but they can also hear it read.”
The app allows WMP’s influence to spread across the globe in several languages.
“We’ve got Portuguese, Spanish, Indonesian, English, and maybe French is on; and we’re working on Hindi, and a few other languages.”
And there are more to come. Contacts all over the world are working on translation and recording to make the material available. In the meantime, World Missionary Press is planning to continue sending their booklets to countries like Thailand.
“We have almost 70 shipments at 70 different places,” says Williams, and they’ll need it all to meet the challenges they face.
So where do you come in?
WIlliams says prayer is a potent weapon in this fight.
“I think the prayer that we need is for our distributors first off. They need to be wise, they need to be bold… so our responsibility is to uphold them in prayer.”
If you want to support them directly, you can do so right here. Any help you can provide with donations or prayer is greatly appreciated.
“It’s the Word of God and we know that the Spirit can really use it, and the time is short. As we work together, we know the Lord will bless the labor.”
