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Ardi Wiriadinata
July 2024
Open for New Possibilities
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Greetings from Bandung, Indonesia. We pray that all of you are doing well under God’s mercies and grace. It is peaceful living under His mercies, as His Holy Spirit guides us to live every day, and to guides our plans. Your continuing prayers are uplifting.
Today, I am excited to share with you the new possibilities that God is opening up for our ministry. Through prayers and guidance from the Holy Spirit, we at the APBF have embarked on an God-size faith-driven journey to mobilize 2,000,000 Baptist youths by the year 2040 through the initiative that was introduced during the APBF Youth Conference in Malacca, Malaysia (May 29-Jun 1), the #APBY2mil. This vision is not just a numerical goal but a divine calling to raise a generation of young believers who are deeply rooted in their faith and committed to spreading the Gospel. We believe that with God’s help, we can inspire and equip these young people to become effective disciples and leaders in their communities and beyond.
The APBF Mission is tasked to collaborate with the APBF Youth Ministries to develop this movement. We have set a goal that by 2040, 2 million Baptist youths will be mobilized through their local churches and convention, to go on a cross-cultural mission trip. The APBF role will be sharing the vision, train and equip, and connect the mission sending within the APBF member conventions and countries.
In addition to this, we are thrilled to share that we are preparing to start a discipleship training program in Mongolia, called the MD2 (Making and Multiplying Disciple). Many of Mongolia’s believers are still new, as they are considered first generation believers. Some of the youths are second generation Christians, but many are new believers. With this context, a solid biblical based discipleship training is needed to be an integral part of the local church ministry strategies. That is why a couple of days before the youth event, the pastors will also be trained in Leading Discipleship for the youths of the church.
As we move forward with these endeavours, we humbly ask for your prayers and support. Pray that God will give us wisdom, strength, and resources to carry out these plans. Pray for the hearts of the youth who will be part of #APBY2mil, that they may be open and receptive to God’s call. And pray for the people of Mongolia, that they may come to know the love and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ through our discipleship training efforts.
Our family are grateful that my youngest daughter can finish her middle school, and have been enrolled in a high school. My eldest daughter has just finished her 4th semester of university, and is eager to continue on her university education in Psychology. We are praising God for the continuing opportunity to serve in our local church. My wife is teaching children Sunday School, both of our daughters are active in the Worship service ministries in playing an instrument, and also back stage.
o We are grateful for the divine impacts of the APBF TEAM (Theological Education – Aid – Mission) Consultation and the APBF Youth Conference in Malacca, Malaysia during the end of May, which focused on Mission, and was established to achieve greater mobilization of Baptists in carrying out the Great Commission in Asia Pacific and beyond.
o Please continue to pray for two Mission Consultation planned in the South Asia region and the Pacific region. Pray, that through this consultation sessions, there is greater collaboration for missions in the sub-regions. The Pacific region consultation will be held on the 26-29th of August.
o Please join in prayer along with many other Baptists in Asia Pacific as we embark the mission movement of the #APBY2mil program. Pray that the fruits of this movement in the Baptist youth will be a significant advancement of the Gospel in the unreached and unengaged areas of Asia and Pacific, and even beyond.
o Pray for my trip to Timor Leste in mid-July, pray for a fruitful meeting with the Baptist leaders there, where there will be established a deeper connection between the Baptists in Timor Leste with the greater family of APBF.
Thank you for your unwavering support and prayers. Your prayers for me, my ministries, and especially my family are a tremendous encouragement and a clear demonstration of God’s love through His church. We are a family, and our experiences, whether in the UK, Indonesia, or anywhere in the world, are interconnected by our shared faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.
Blessings,
Ardi