James and Sharon Kendall

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Prayer Letter/Ministry Update

Jim & Sharon Kendall Letter November 2009

Thank you for your prayers as we are in the midst of developing new presenter couples for ALMA (Alliance Marriage Encounter). Johanes & Nining have written their stories and now are in the painful process of reading these to their spouse. I say “painful” because here many problems that have been buried in the past reappear. God brings healing, but it can be a painful process. Yoel & Tabitha are still writing their life stories. Because Yoel’s job as an auditor for the Postal Department takes him to other islands for weeks at a time, they have had to postpone meetings with us, so they still have much to do. Taru & Tina, our pastor & wife, will be replacing us as ALMA coordinators. They have finished writing and will begin sharing their stories this week. Pray for them in all stages of this process.

Jim asked that I write you about the Women’s Bible Study. Each Monday between 15 and 25 women gather at our home to study the Bible. In the past months we’ve seen several of the women accept Christ! How thrilling! Farida is one of our group. She attended church but was “turned off Christianity” when she discovered her pastor husband was having an affair. After their divorce, she spent years hating him and the other woman. She felt a spiritual void and delved into New Age philosophy and the occult. When she joined our group, she questioned everything. After class, she would spend the day with two single ladies from our group. Far into the night she pounded them with questions about belief, why the Bible is Truth and so on. She vigorously defended her anger against her husband, But week-by-week God softened her heart. One Monday she discarded her anger, took the leap of faith, and accepted Christ! Our group gathered around her and prayed with her as she made this decision. We were there when she was later baptized too. A “new” Farida attends now. She radiantly shares her faith now. The proof of that was then she recently met her ex-husband. She told him she didn’t hate him any more and asked if he really knew Jesus lived in his heart! He was surprised by her concern and quite thoughtful when they parted. Praise God! He transforms lives!

Our group is a mixture of nationalities, ages, educational and economic backgrounds. The majority are Indonesian women, but there are also Koreans, Taiwanese, Americans, and even a Finnish lady. There are college students, single women, housewives, business women, young mothers and grandmothers. Some are quite fluent in English and others struggle with it. But our study gives everyone an opportunity to increase their vocabulary and converse in English while discussing Bible truth. Right now we’re studying Bible women. Most attend church, but here even church “Bible studies” end up being another preaching session rather than a discussion. Our group enjoys discussion and no topic is out of bounds!

Initially, some women come because the study is in English and is led by a native speaker: me! Susan, a Korean agnostic, and Yulie, a Muslim who has made a pilgrimage to Mecca, have come for this reason. Yes, they hear English, but it’s based on a Bible lesson. When Yulie was introduced, one of the women asked her, “When did you become a Christian?” Yulie replied, “Oh, I’m not one. Do I have to be a Christian to come?” I assured her that she didn’t. At the close of the lesson, as we gathered for snacks, the members went to her and hugged her. She was overcome by our love. She left saying, “I’ll be back! I enjoyed the class!” Afterward, several stayed behind to pray for her and Susan!

Besides studying the Bible, the women appreciate being able to share their prayer requests. We are praying for the husbands of 3 members who don’t yet know Christ. It’s a burden we all feel! Usually, I end our time with prayer for each woman individually. Catherine, told me that she had never been prayed for by name before!

So, now you know what I do each Monday! Pray that the women will be drawn to Christ and that their lives will be transformed, so that even husbands and children can see the difference!

Much love,
Sharon (for Jim, too!) Kendall

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Email us at jsk@linkmail.org to receive our monthly letter.

Jalan Budi Sari VI/13, Bandung, Indonesia, 40141
The Christian & Missionary Alliance, PO Box 35000, Colorado Springs, CO 80935

Prayer Requests/Answers to Prayer

Thank you for your support via prayer, letters, and The C&MA Great Commission Fund!

Pray for us as we develop three new couples for our next Weekend, the first weekend in June 2010. Pray for God's healing as they work with us and for boldness when they share their life stories in the June Weekend.

Pray for Sharon's weekly Bible study, pray for Susan, a Korean agnostic, and Yulie, an Indonesian Muslim and for the husbands of three women who attend Sharon weekly Bible study class that they will accept Christ.

Indonesia

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