It was an ordinary day in central Indonesia. Ferdinand, a Global Mission pioneer, was feeling hungry and decided to eat at a local restaurant. He had no idea that stopping for a simple meal would lead to a life-changing experience.

As Ferdinand finished his meal, he noticed an elderly woman singing for spare change. Her voice, though aged, had a gentle, melodic tone. Ferdinand had seen many street performers before, but this moment felt different. He was suddenly moved by a strong urge to talk to her.

"I started the conversation by asking, “Could you sing a church song?” Honestly, it was a spontaneous question. I didn’t know anything about her background, whether she was Christian or from another religion. I really had no idea. She responded, “Oh yes, sir, I can sing a church song, but I’ll sing it in Javanese (the local dialect).”" —Ferdinand

She sang an old hymn in her soft voice. Moved by the encounter, Ferdinand introduced himself and learned the woman’s name was Astinah. He asked whether he could visit her at home the next day, and she agreed. And so began a new friendship. Over the following weeks, Ferdinand visited regularly, and the two became good friends. They prayed together and studied the Bible. Eventually, the church community joined in, welcoming Astinah and her husband, Pujiarto, with open arms.

"I often get visited by people from church. Honestly, I’m amazed how come those people are so kind to someone like me. Even though my house is really small and dirty, but they still want to come and visit me. On Saturdays, they pick me up, and when I want to go home, they take me back. I’m really grateful; I feel touched by how caring the church people are. Even my own relatives never visited me." —Astinah

Astinah and Pujiarto are street musicians. They go from house to house, singing songs for a small amount of money. Many people reject them and look down on them. Because of this, the word “care” can sometimes be hard for them to understand.

But through the simple acts of kindness shown by church members who visited them, Pujiarto realized that people from different faiths can truly care. At first, he wasn’t interested, but as he saw them visiting his home and wife, he took time to learn about their group.

"When I joined the church, I felt peace in my heart. I kept attending the programs every Sabbath. Eventually, I fell in love with Jesus and wanted to be one of His children." —Pujiarto

From singing popular songs on the street to singing in church, the couple now uses their voices and experience to praise and worship God.

Christ’s methods always prevail. When we put aside our differences and meet people where they are, real connections happen. By mingling with others and providing for their needs, doors that were once closed are now open.

"We make friends with everyone, regardless of their profession. Whether they are pedicab drivers or trash collectors, we befriend them. Because of this, some of the people we have met still have a good relationship with us to this day." —Ferdinand

"We visit from house to house, bringing health check equipment so that at the end of our conversation we can check their cholesterol, blood sugar, and uric acid levels, and also provide simple health consultations about NEWSTART or a healthy lifestyle." —Matias

We never know how God will use us each day when we wake up. Please pray for our Global Mission pioneers in Indonesia and around the world. Pray for those they are ministering to and that even more people will be drawn closer to God.