2025-04 STM Trip Journal (3)

5/6/2025

This is a reflection on the second part of our Short-term Mission trip. It was divided into two segments. The first segment took place from April 26 to May 5. On the afternoon of April 26, our team of eight flew from Surabaya, East Java, to Pontianak, the capital of West Kalimantan. We were joined that same day by Jansen, a Chinese Indonesian brother living in Surabaya. For eight days, our team of nine had the privilege of visiting three of K-PACT Canada’s local ministry partners in West Kalimantan. It was a rich time of mission experience and learning.

The second segment, an extended week-long visit, will be shared in a separate update.

Mission Itinerary Overview:

April 26 – May 5: West Kalimantan

Returning to Pontianak: We arrived in Pontianak, the capital of West Kalimantan, on the evening of April 26. We are deeply grateful to Pastor Liliana of GKNI PNIEL PONTIANAK and her congregation for their warm hospitality, thoughtful planning, and generous care. They arranged for our team to stay in the church’s upstairs dormitory and arranged all meals and transportation. Over the past three years, K-PACT Canada teams have stayed here multiple times, and each time, the facilities have improved. By now, they’re nearly perfect! Every visit to GKNI PNIEL feels like coming home. Their passion for gospel work and commitment to reaching the unreached is clearly seen in how united and wholehearted they are in welcoming and serving mission teams. We are truly blessed to have such close-knit gospel partners who share the same mission and heart.

Visiting Local Churches: To give us a broader view of ministry in the area and to bless other churches with resources, Pastor Liliana arranged for us to attend Sunday worship on April 27 at two churches in Siantan, a sub-district near Pontianak: GKKB and GKY. Pastor Sam Chan and Pastor Anthony Yeung were invited to preach at the two services, and Judith offered a special music performance. After much practice, Judith was able to sing in Indonesian and her performance was very well received! Though the two churches differ in style, both had near-full attendance, a strong sense of worship, and a welcoming atmosphere.

West Kalimantan’s larger towns have significant Chinese populations. Most of the younger generation of Chinese Indonesians are born and raised locally and speak Indonesian as their first language, while older generations still speak Hakka or Teochew. Many towns retain elements of traditional Chinese folk religion and cuisine. Due to longstanding ethnic divides, Chinese Indonesians often have limited interaction with other local ethnic tribes. As a result, many Chinese churches mainly serve the Chinese community. While local Indonesian churches exist in so-called “Christian zones,” they typically have fewer resources. In contrast, Chinese churches are often better resourced. However, the spiritual needs across Indonesia are vast. Many remain unreached, and local churches are usually small and under-supported.

Visiting BTCC Christian Centre and School:

BTCC is another key ministry partner of K-PACT Canada in West Kalimantan. Located in Batang Tarang, about a 3 to 4 hour drive from Pontianak, BTCC sits at a major highway intersection in a rural area. The ministry includes a Christian Junior High School and a student residence called “House of Life”. Since its founding in July 2021, when it had only 20 students, BTCC has grown steadily. Today, nearly 100 Junior High students are enrolled, with over 50 living in the dormitory. BTCC recently received the local education department’s approval to open a Senior High School in July 2025, and student capacity is expected to increase to 140. A large school hall is nearing completion, and more classrooms and dormitories are being added to meet growing needs. We thank God for this progress and for the growing number of passionate teachers joining the team. We were especially delighted to reconnect with Dolfy and Lonnie, the couple who lead BTCC since the beginning. Over the past five years, they’ve faithfully participated in K-PACT Canada’s monthly online prayer meetings, sharing updates and carrying one another’s burdens in prayer.

From April 28–30, our team stayed at BTCC for a three-day, two-night visit. When we arrived, all the students lined up at the entrance to welcome us with a traditional dance - it was incredibly moving and memorable. Some students already knew our team members through exchanging text messages, and the joy of reuniting was evident. It was heartwarming to see how the students have grown, with several about to graduate from Junior High and enter Senior High this coming July. We stayed in BTCC’s guest accommodations and had many opportunities to chat with the students. The staff arranged for us to lead interactive English learning classes for Grades 7 to 9 in small groups. We also ran a session for the younger Grades 3 and 4. The joyful atmosphere and student engagement helped us forget the heat! In the evenings, we shared fellowship with the 50+ boarding students, and genuine bonds were quickly formed. Three days flew by, and when it was time to say goodbye, it was hard to part ways. The warmth, laughter, and heartfelt connections we experienced will remain with us.

During our time at BTCC, the team had two wonderful opportunities to visit two nearby villages. There, we taught basic English, shared dental hygiene tips, sang songs, and told Bible stories to the local lovely children. To reach these villages, our cars had to travel through rolling hills, grassy fields, and long stretches of narrow, winding, muddy roads surrounded by forest. Our first stop was EMPINANG Village, where the gathering was held at a small Christian church (GKTI), pastored by a young and passionate minister, Pastor Andy. He has a clear vision for shepherding children in rural communities. This village represents BTCC’s sixth Learning Center outreach site in the region. The second village was SEGAE Village, which doesn’t have a Christian church but only a Catholic Chapel. The gathering took place in a modest village home that belongs to Selpia Mega, a teacher who joined BTCC just two months ago. After noticing many neighborhood children playing in front of her house, Selpia decided to open her home to them as an informal classroom, giving them a chance to learn and grow. BTCC is now planning to establish another Learning Center here to support these children. That afternoon, Selpia’s little home was packed wall to wall with energetic kids. Selpia’s selfless heart and willingness to act as a role model deeply touched our team and opened our eyes to the needs she sees daily.

Wednesday Prayer Meeting at GKNI PNIEL Pontianak: After returning from BTCC on the afternoon of April 30, we made it just in time to join the Wednesday evening prayer meeting at GKNI PNIEL PONTIANAK. Our team had the opportunity to share mission trip reflections and pray together for various needs. Attendance was strong, and church members who couldn’t attend in person were able to join online.

May 1 was a public holiday in Indonesia, so no ministry activities were scheduled. Several kind church members from GKNI PNIEL took us out for a relaxing morning walk and sightseeing. In the evening, we boarded a ferry to enjoy the scenic views along the Kapuas River at sunset. After a restful afternoon, the team used the quiet time to prepare for the remaining days of ministry.

Visiting JOYFUL Christian School in Pontianak: On May 2 and 3, our team visited JOYFUL Christian School, another treasured K-PACT Canada partner in West Kalimantan. The school is overseen by Sister Merry, who, for the past five years, has been faithfully attending K-PACT Canada’s monthly online prayer meetings to share and intercede for each other’s ministries.

JOYFUL CHRISTIAN SCHOOL is now a children’s education ministry under GKNI PNIEL PONTIANAK. Our visit coincided with Indonesia’s National Education Day on May 2. The school held a special program to promote the value of learning and invited our team to speak on the theme “Grow Smart, Grow Strong.” We encouraged students from Grades 1 to 6 to be diligent in their studies, grow spiritually, and develop strong Christian character by following Jesus’ example—growing in wisdom, stature, and in favor with God and others. During the program, we also prayed for the ten Grade 6 students who were graduating and preparing to move on to Junior High School. Our team was truly inspired by Sister Merry’s heartfelt sharing of JOYFUL CHRISTIAN SCHOOL’s journey and its mission to nurture the lives of children. We couldn’t help but give thanks and praise for God’s marvelous work through her. It was a time of deep encouragement for all of us.

May 2 was the school’s monthly Staff Retreat and Training Day, attended by over 20 teachers and staff. At the school’s invitation, several of our team members shared during the session on the topic “The Gospel”. The program included praise and worship, testimonies, a key message, and small group discussions to encourage open sharing. It was clear that JOYFUL CHRISTIAN SCHOOL places a strong emphasis on both teaching and modeling the gospel. Their commitment to planting gospel seeds in each child’s life - nurturing them with care and patience so they may grow and bear fruit - is truly inspiring. We’re so thankful that God gave our team this opportunity to serve, learn, and grow alongside the teachers. It was an enriching time for everyone.

On the afternoon of May 3, brother Samuel Cheung safely arrived Pontianak. He is an expert in seniors care and medical project development. He traveled all the way from Vancouver, Canada, at the special invitation of K-PACT Canada for a five-day visit. His purpose was to join strategic meetings and provide professional insights as a volunteer as we explore a potential joint venture with GKNI PNIEL PONTIANAK in developing a future seniors care and medical outreach ministry.

Sunday Worship at GKNI PNIEL Pontianak – May 4: On May 4, our team attended both the morning and afternoon worship services at GKNI PNIEL Pontianak. Pastor Sam Chan and Pastor Anthony Yeung were each invited to preach, while other team members participated in hymn-sharing. The morning service was conducted in both Indonesian and Chinese, while the afternoon service used Indonesian and English. The afternoon congregation was largely made up of younger people.

We were especially impressed by the spirit of unity and harmony among the serving teams - from those leading music, to the AV and welcoming usher team. Under pastoral leadership, the entire service team gathered to pray together before worship began, and again after the service ended, giving glory to God together – what a beautiful practice not often seen in North American churches. After the morning service, the church’s sisters prepared a generous fellowship lunch, where we had the chance to connect more deeply with church leaders. Following the afternoon service, the younger members of the church graciously hosted our team for an interesting local dinner at an open-air Indonesian café.

Two weeks of short-term mission flew by quickly, and the trip officially ended on May 5. That morning, five team members departed from Pontianak, flying to Jakarta for connecting flights back to Canada via Hong Kong or Taipei.

We’re truly thankful to God for His protection, provision, and guidance throughout the trip. Everything went smoothly - each team member remained healthy, joyful, and energized. It was another unforgettable mission experience and learning. To God be all the glory.

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