Medan

We spent six days in Medan for sharing the message of the Gospel at Celebration Bible School. For the first time, we have night session at different location from the morning session, which was attended by the members from a Chinese congregation. When we arrived in Medan, we were told by Susan that the Headmaster of the Bible School, Mr. Gola Tiruneh, would be marrying on Friday and the students were a bit disappointed for they won't be able to attend Gola's wedding ceremony at the town called Berastagi, about 2 hours drive from Medan.

So graciously, we all agreed to squeezed the five days lessons into 4 days, so that everybody could go to Berastagi to attend Gola's wedding. Oh... everyone of us were happy!

Celebration Bible School is majoring in mission and the students are from different congregations in Medan. So by nature, they are more work orientated.  As we shared the Gospel of Grace with the students, we found that we were actually killing their sacred cow.  The "aftermath" was, we were getting the same reaction from some of the students as described by Apostle Paul in the Book of Romans. The question of "Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?" automatically came out from their mouth... Wow... what a Gospel! What a Good News! We are actually preaching the message that Apostle Paul preached!

View From Danau Toba Internation Hotel

Tree planted at the Medan Mall where the School is located

Students in Celebration Bible School

Praise & worship Before Class Started

This Gospel of Grace has waken up some but made some confused. The awaken one began to see light and received revelation by themselves. The confused one still wondering how could it be! This message is too good to be true and there must be something leave for them to do... Ya, grace message is too good to be true. Remember the famous formula frequently quoted by the founder of the Celebration Bible School, Pastor Peter Youngren? i.e. Jesus + something = nothing. Jesus + nothing = everything!

My New Friend In Medan - Pak Yong An

Yong An is my new found friend in Medan. He is a business man and he attends the morning session Bible School. He is one of the awaken one and the most attentive person in class. During our week long stay in Medan, he took time off  to bring us around in Medan. When we were fellowshipping during our meals, I was often jabbed by some of his revelations on grace. Can you see the way he smile? He is an interesting person...

Students From the Night Class

Pak Alex, a friend I knew through Facebook

The night class was make up of believers from one of the Chinese congregation in Medan. They would only have a week class in each month when the invited speaker is available. Alex, a friend I knew through Facebook was attending the night class. Indeed, I am honored to meet him in person. Well, how often can you meet a friend that you know through Facebook? Mind you, this is my second time!

When Friday came, we were all up in the mountain to a town called Berastagi to attend Gola's wedding. Gola is an Ethiopian migrated to Canada and he is a missionary from Pastor Peter Youngren Missionary team. His wife is an Indonesian Chinese, a leader in the local church. That is why the folks in Berastagi called this wedding "the Wedding of the Century". This wedding was witnessed by people from Canada, Singapore, Malaysia, friends and relatives from different parts of Indonesia.

Gola's Wedding

We meet again in Berastagi

Batak way of eating in Berastagi

As the altitude of Berastagi is approximately 1300m, the weather is cooler as compared to Medan. We could see beautiful flowers all around. The famous market in the street of Berastagi is full of all kinds of colourful fruits ranging from strawberry to avocado...

According to Susan, many teachers would wish to visit Berastagi but they did not have the change to do so. We ware the fortunate one and not only so, we are blessed to witnessed the "Wedding of the Century" in Berastagi.

Famous Street and Market in Berasgati 

Beautiful flowers and fresh fruits sold in Berastagi market

We felt so bless to have this honor to share the message of Grace with the Bible School. As what we have been experiencing before, whenever we have a change to share the Good News, we are sure to receive new revelation after we have poured out ourselves. This is what I used to call the "Tithing Principle"!

We are looking forwards to return to Medan for more oppertunity to share this wonder good news to the people there...