Activity in August 2025

Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV) Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. Amen.

This is an extraordinary opportunity for me to serve in the field, especially in Nias. I accept this new challenge as the fulfillment of my great dream to help God's churches grow in Indonesia, both when I was a supervisor at the dormitory and when I was directly involved in evangelism.

Here are some of the tasks I carried out in August 2025.

Dormitory Night Devotion💓

Friday, August 1, 2025. Our regular activities before going to bed at night and waking up in the morning are praying and reading the Bible together with the students. Each student takes turns praying and reading the Bible. I am pleased with this activity because it helps them develop the habit of praying and reading the Bible, as many of them still struggle to pray and read the Bible fluently. This routine activity provides an opportunity for the boarding school students to practice praying and reading the Bible. After the evening devotion, I usually remind the students to continue following the rules in effect at the boarding school. Also, inform new students that if they encounter any difficulties related to studying and the rules applicable at the Dasami dormitory, the supervisors are ready to help.

Student Bible Class💓

Monday, August 4, 2025. My schedule is to teach Bible class to new dormitory students. In August, my schedule is to teach every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday. I teach Bible class to new students every Monday. Thank you to the Dasami Dormitory Foundation and the sponsors for entrusting me to teach the Bible class to the new students. This is an opportunity for me to grow spiritually and delve deeper into God’s Word. In the Bible class, there are around 22 new students, and most of them come from various denominations. I enjoy teaching them about the Bible because each student has a unique way of learning the Bible. My greatest hope is that they will come to know the truth more deeply and be willing to make the decision to be baptized. I pray that they will be given a fertile heart to receive the Gospel of Christ.

Wednesday, August 6, 2025. My schedule is to teach Bible classes to students and college students. In August, my schedule is to teach every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday. I teach Bible classes to students and college students every Wednesday. Thank you to the Dasami Dormitory Foundation and the sponsors who have entrusted me to teach the Bible class to students and college students. This is an opportunity for me to grow spiritually and delve deeper into God’s Word. In the Bible class, there are around 26 new students and university students, and most of them come from various denominations. I enjoy teaching them about the Bible because each student has a unique way of studying the Bible. My greatest hope is that they will come to know the truth more deeply and be willing to make the decision to be baptized. I pray that they will be given fertile hearts to receive the Gospel of Christ.

Boarding School Activities💓

Saturday, August 9, 2025. Starting at 8:00 a.m., I invitedthe boarding school students to clean up the boarding school grounds together. The students participated in this activity. Before starting the activity, I gathered the students to inform them about what needed to be cleaned in the dormitory, including: the well, drainage channels, pulling out weeds, cleaning the iron fence, doors, laundry area, bedrooms, and bathrooms. All these activities proceeded smoothly with the help and cooperation of the students. We will continue to carry out this activity every month to maintain the cleanliness of the environment and ensure everyone’s comfort. Thank you for the cooperation of the students!

Saturday, August 30, 2025. Starting at 8:00 a.m., I invited the students to clean the dormitory grounds together. The students participated in this activity. Before starting the activity, I gathered the students to inform them of what needed to be cleaned in the dormitory, including: the well, water channels, pulling out weeds, cleaning the iron fence, doors, laundry area, bedrooms, and bathrooms. All activities went smoothly with the help and cooperation of the students. We will continue to carry out this activity every month to maintain environmental cleanliness and ensure everyone's comfort. Thank you for the students' cooperation!

Getting to Know People 💓

On Saturday, August 9, 2025, I went around Gunungsitoli looking for prospects who were studying the Bible. At that time, I was shopping at the CV DESTIN Gunungsitoli store, and at the same time got to know the employees at the store. I conducted a survey on the spiritual interests of the employees and introduced the Church of Christ in Gunungsitoli. The employees responded positively to the questions I posed, such as, “Does God exist?” “If so, who is God?” “Is there a Day of Judgment?” All three questions piqued their interest. They also expressed a desire to learn more from a biblical perspective. I will return to maintain good relationships with these employees and hope that one day they will open their hearts to learn the Bible through the method of seeking truth.

Preparation for Sunday Sermon💓

Saturday, August 9, 2025. I usually prepare Bible class materials for the students at the dormitory and orphanage, write sermons for worship services, read Christian books, and study the Bible to increase my personal knowledge. In August, I am given the opportunity to preach about three times a month. The topic of my sermon on August 10, 2025, was “The Five Great Tasks of Christians,” with the text taken from 1 Corinthians 16:13-14, including the following points: (1) Be vigilant, (2) Stand firm in your faith, (3) Be courageous, (4) Stay strong, and (5) Do your work in love. I was happy when I finished preaching before the congregation.

Cleaning the Church Enviroment💓

Sunday, August 10, 2025, I always accompany the children of Anggrek B dormitory to clean the place of worship before the service begins. This activity is carried out on a rotating basis with the students from Anggrek A dormitory. While the dormitory students clean the church premises, I continue to supervise and monitor the activity on Sunday mornings to ensure everyone is involved in cleaning the church premises. The students are very enthusiastic about performing this activity well.

Bible Quis💓

Monday, August 11, 2025. This is a Bible quiz activity for first-grade students. In addition to teaching Bible material, I give them Bible quizzes with the aim of making the class more interesting without being boring. I divide them into four groups, namely Simeon, Reuben, Benjamin, and Issachar. This Bible quiz is based on general facts found in the Bible. The quiz awards prizes to the winners as a reward for their hard work in studying the general facts in the Bible. The students were very active and enthusiastic in answering each question given. I was pleased to see the cooperation among the groups in this Bible quiz. We pray that they will grow spiritually and come to know the truth of God’s Word more deeply.

Wednesday, August 13, 2025. This is a Bible quiz activity for high school and college students. Before teaching Bible material, I give them a Bible quiz with the aim of making the class more interesting and less boring. I divide them into four groups: Euphrates, Tigris, Gihon, and Pison. This Bible quiz is based on the book of Ruth, chapters 1-4. The quiz awards prizes to the winners as a reward for their hard work in studying general facts from the Bible, particularly the book of Ruth. The students were very active and enthusiastic in answering each question. I was pleased to see the cooperation among the groups during the Bible quiz. We pray that they will grow spiritually and come to know the truth of God’s Word more deeply.

Monday, August 25, 2025. This is a Bible quiz activity for first-grade students. In addition to teaching Bible material, I give them Bible quizzes with the aim of making the class more interesting without being boring. I divide them into four groups, namely Simeon, Reuben, Benjamin, and Issachar. This Bible quiz is based on general facts found in the Bible, and I have purchased a book titled, “Who and What in the Bible.” The quiz awards prizes to the winners as a reward for their hard work in studying the general facts in the Bible. The students were very active and enthusiastic in answering each question. I was pleased to see the cooperation among the groups in this Bible quiz. We prayed that they would grow spiritually and come to know the truth of God's Word more deeply.

Seeing Off Family at the Port Quis💓

Monday, August 11, 2025. After finishing teaching Bible class to the new students at the dormitory, I took the time to accompany a family from the village who were leaving for work abroad. Earlier, I had booked a boat ticket for one person along with their belongings. That evening, I accompanied them to the port to ensure they arrived safely. Please pray that this family may be blessed in all their work and that one day they may learn the Bible.

Meeteing of Supervisors💓

The dormitory supervisors and orphanage administrators held a joint meeting at the church building to discuss activities to be carried out on Indonesia's Independence Day. Among the activities discussed were: table tennis competition, chess competition, Bible quiz competition, sack race, rubber band relay race, crackers eating competition, balloon dance competition, and water relay race. There are 8 activities planned to celebrate Indonesia's Independence Day at the Dasami Orphanage Foundation in Gunungsitoli. The competitions will involve the boys' dormitory, the girls' dormitory, and the orphanage. May these activities be carried out smoothly.

Celebration of Independence Day of the Republic of Indonesia💓

Saturday, August 16, 2025. At 7:30 a.m., all students gathered at the church building to begin the 80th anniversary of Indonesia's independence day at the Dasami Boarding School Foundation in Gunungsitoli. We began this activity with a devotional service together with the students and the orphanage. The chairman of the Dasami Boarding School Foundation opened the event with some instructions and guidance that the students and children from the Yokhebed Orphanage needed to know in order to carry out the Independence Day activities. The first activities conducted included table tennis, chess, and a Bible quiz. All activities on the first day were carried out smoothly with the help and participation of the students, the Yokhebed Orphanage, and the boarding school supervisors. The students thoroughly enjoyed the activities conducted. Thank you for the support from the sponsors for the activities that were carried out successfully. 

Sunday, August 16, 2025. At 2:00 p.m., all students gathered at the church building to begin the 80th anniversary celebration of Indonesia's independence at the Dasami Islamic Boarding School Foundation in Gunungsitoli. We started the event with a joint worship service with the students and the orphanage children. The Chairman of the Dasami Islamic Boarding School Foundation opened the event with some instructions and guidance that the students and children from the Yokhebed Orphanage needed to know to carry out the Independence Day activities. The second activity conducted was sack racing, balloon dancing, water relay, eating crackers, and rubber band relay. All activities on the second day were carried out smoothly with the assistance and participation of the students, the Yokhebed Orphanage, and the dormitory supervisors. The students thoroughly enjoyed the activities. Thank you for the support from the sponsors for the successfully conducted activities.

Go to the Hospital💓

Saturday, August 16, 2025. After the first activity was completed at the Dasami boarding school foundation, my wife and I took the time to take our young child to a pediatrician because they were experiencing respiratory issues, coughing, and the flu. Upon arriving at the pediatrician's office, the doctor conducted a health check and prescribed vitamins for our child to take. We are sometimes concerned because our child often cries at night and sweats profusely due to the heat in the room or bedroom. We hope that our first child remains in good health. Please pray for the recovery of our first child and my wife's surgery.

Sharing Written Bible Courses💓

Monday, August 18, 2025. I am giving a written Bible course to the children in the dormitory who are not yet members of the Church of Christ. This Bible course, consisting of lessons 1-7, is accompanied by a Bible certificate given to those who have completed the lessons. And this course is given a certificate, which means it is an award for those who have taken the course. Currently, the boarding school children who have received the Bible course are in Lesson 1 on “Salvation—Our Need and Its Source.” May this written Bible course help the students understand the truth of God’s Word.

Services at Gido 💓

Sunday, August 24, 2025. Worship service with Sister Ina Depi and the sewing course children in Gido. Several children from Yochebed's Hope participated in the service at Gido alongside the director of the Dasami boarding school foundation. We serve there because there are no evangelists ministering in Gido, so we take on the responsibility of continuing to serve every Sunday. At that time, the evangelist from the village of Sister A. Niwati Telambanua also attended the service there and delivered the sermon. We greatly enjoyed the fellowship that has been established in the love of Christ. May the sisters in Gido, along with the sewing course children, continue to be blessed. We pray and hope that in Gido, more souls will be added through the evangelism being done.

Distributing Spiritual Treatises 💓

Monday, August 25, 2025. I continue to regularly distribute tracts in accordance with the job description of an evangelist, in addition to my role as a dormitory supervisor. These tracts are always brought to the people in the city of Gunungsitoli. I also distribute them to the students in the dormitory who have not yet become members of the Christian congregation. I always hope and pray for those who receive and read these tracts, that one day they will be interested in learning God’s Word face-to-face. I am very happy when I distribute these tracts, even though some people receive them and others do not. This does not diminish my enthusiasm for this noble work, because I am certain and believe that God will always help me in the work I do, especially in ministry.

Baptismal Certificate💓

Monday, August 25, 2025. After Bible class, I gave a baptism certificate to Sister Ferlina Gulo. They were very happy to receive the baptism certificate for administrative purposes if needed in the future. I was delighted to see their spiritual growth and their extraordinary commitment and enthusiasm to continue worshiping God. We pray that Sister Ferlina Gulo’s spiritual growth will continue to flourish in the Lord. Sister Ferlina expressed her deep gratitude to me for teaching her about the Word of God, which enabled her to make the decision to be baptized based on her understanding of the Word of God.

Monday, August 25, 2025. After evening devotions, I gave a baptismal certificate to Brother Kewajiban Nduru. They were very happy to receive the baptismal certificate for administrative purposes if needed in the future. I was happy to see the spiritual growth of my brother and his extraordinary commitment and enthusiasm to continue worshiping God. We pray for the spiritual growth of Brother Kewajiban Nduru, that he may continue to grow in the Lord. Sister Kewajiban Nduru expressed her deep gratitude to me for teaching her about the Word of God, enabling her to make the decision to be baptized based on her understanding of the Word of God.

Checking Written Bible Courses💓

Tuesday, August 26, 2025. I continue to regularly check the answers of the participants in the written Bible course lessons 1-8 on the topic of returning to the Bible. The participants come from various denominational churches on Nias Island. I hope they remain enthusiastic to work on each lesson that has been given to increase their knowledge of God's word. In August 2025, there were 21 participants who attended the Written Bible course. Those who completed the course received a Bible certificate as a token of appreciation. I pray and hope that the participants can open their hearts and minds to give themselves to be baptized according to the truth of God's word.

Teaching Prospects 💓

Tuesday, August 26, 2025. I taught the Bible using the truth-seeking method from the fishers of men program lessons 1-10 which has been translated into Indonesian. This method is good to use to teach for members who are not yet church of christ. This moment was an opportunity for me to teach the students in the dormitory who are not yet members of the church of christ. There are 9 students in the dormitory with different churches. The first photo is a new student with the name: Jansen Caustrius Gulo. Jansen, lives in the dormitory with the aim of reducing the burden on parents from an economic point of view by being able to go to school in the city of Gunungsitoli.

The second photo is of Frons Tefen Zalukhu. Frons attends PEMBDA High School in Gunungsitoli, Nias. He is a new student at the boarding school and at the school. He aspires to become a soldier. Currently, I am teaching the Bible to Frons using the truth-seeking method (mk-1). Frons still needs to learn a lot about the Bible because he has difficulty reading it fluently. I hope that learning the Bible will help Frons improve his Bible reading skills. Frons is a Catholic.

The third photo is of Alfons Loys Indrawan Waruwu. Alfons attends PEMBDA High School in Gunungsitoli, Nias. He is a new student at the dormitory and school. He aspires to become a pilot. Currently, I am teaching Alfons the Bible using the truth-seeking method, starting with the topic, “Does God exist?” “If so, who is God?” “Is there a day of judgment?” Alfons is making good progress in learning to read the Bible and in reading in general. I hope that Bible study will help Alfons gain insight and knowledge in understanding God's word. Alfons and his parents are very grateful to the sponsors for giving him the opportunity to live in the Dasami dormitory. May God continue to bless them.

The fourth photo is Jonathan Wahyu Laoli. Jonathan attends PEMBDA Nias Gunungsitoli Vocational School. He is a new student at the dormitory and school. He aspires to become a soldier. Currently, I am teaching Jonathan the Bible using the truth-seeking method, starting with the topic, “Does God exist?” “If so, who is God?” “Is there a day of judgment?”. Jonathan's progress in learning to read the Bible and in reading in general is quite good. I hope that Bible study will help broaden Alfons's insight and knowledge in understanding God's word. Jonathan's parents were ill a few weeks ago. So he asked my permission to visit his parents in his hometown. We pray that Jonathan's parents will recover quickly and be able to resume their normal activities. I hope that through these lessons, Jonathan will understand the truth of God's word.

The fifth photo is of Mei Zelvisman Tafonao. Mei attends BNKP Gunungsitoli Christian Private High School. She is a new student at the boarding school and the school. She aspires to become a TEACHER, which is a wonderful aspiration. She belongs to a church denomination. Currently, I am teaching Mei the Bible using a method of seeking truth, starting with the topic, “Does God exist?” “If so, who is God?” “Is there a day of judgment?” Mei's progress in learning to read the Bible and in reading in general is quite good. Mei has mastered several general facts about the Bible, and I am very proud of her abilities. I hope that learning the Bible will help broaden Mei's insight and knowledge in understanding God's word well.

The sixth photo is of Raymond Samuel Gulo. Raymond attends SMK Pembda Nias Gunungsitoli. He is a new student at the dormitory and school. He aspires to become a mechanic, which is a wonderful goal. He belongs to a church denomination. Currently, I am teaching Raymond the Bible using a method of seeking truth, starting with lesson one on the topic, “Does God Exist?” “If He exists, who is God?” “Is there a day of judgment?” Raymond's progress is quite good in learning to read the Bible and in reading in general. He has mastered some of the general facts of the Bible, and I am very proud of his abilities. I hope that learning the Bible will help him gain insight and knowledge in understanding God's word well.

The seventh photo is of Revan Kristian Halawa. Revan attends BNKP KRISTEN Gunungsitoli High School. He is a new student at the boarding school and the school. He aspires to become a teacher, which is a wonderful goal. He belongs to a church denomination. Currently, I am teaching the Bible using a method of seeking truth, starting with the topic, “Does God exist?” “If so, who is God?” “Is there a day of judgment?” Raymond's progress in learning to read the Bible and in reading in general is quite good. He has mastered some general facts about the Bible, and I am very proud of his abilities and his hobby of reading books. I hope that learning the Bible will help him gain insight and knowledge in understanding God's word well.

The eighth photo is of Lukas Irvan Zebua. Lukas attends SMK Pembda Nias Gunungsitoli. He is a new student at the dormitory and school. He aspires to become a soldier, which is a wonderful ambition. He belongs to a church denomination. Currently, I am teaching the Bible using a method of seeking truth, starting with the topic, “Does God exist?” “If so, who is God?” “Is there a day of judgment?” Lukas' progress in learning to read the Bible and in reading in general is quite good. He has mastered some of the general facts of the Bible, and I am very proud of his abilities and knowledge. I hope that learning the Bible will help him gain insight and knowledge in understanding God's word well. Irvan and his parents expressed their gratitude for the pocket money and accommodation provided by the Dasami dormitory foundation. May God always bless the sponsors.

The ninth photo is Berkat Justice Lase. Berkat attends SMK Pembda Nias Gunungsitoli. He is a new student at the dormitory and school. He aspires to become an entrepreneur, which is a wonderful goal. He is a member of the Church of Christ but has not yet been baptized. Currently, I am teaching the Bible using a method of seeking truth, starting with the topic, “Does God exist?” “If so, who is God?” “Is there a day of judgment?” Berkat's progress in learning to read the Bible and in reading in general is quite good. He has mastered some general facts about the Bible, and I am very proud of his abilities and knowledge. I hope that learning the Bible will help broaden his understanding and knowledge in comprehending God's word well.

The tenth photo is of Mei and Dinda. They are children from the Yokhebed's Hope orphanage, attending BNKP Kristen Gunungsitoli High School. Mei and Dinda have been baptized. There are still some lessons we haven't finished after their baptism. Currently, we are continuing with lesson seven, which covers the topics, “Should I become a member of a church?” and “How should I worship?” The progress of our two sisters in learning to read the Bible and in reading in general is quite good. They have mastered some general facts about the Bible, and I am very proud of their abilities. We pray for the growth of their faith and education, hoping that everything will go well.

The eleventh photo is of brother Wajib and sister Ferlina. They are new and old students at the dormitory, attending BNKP Christian High School and Gunungsitoli State High School 3. Wajib and Ferlina were both baptized a few months ago. There are still some lessons we haven't finished after their baptism. Currently, we are continuing with the second lesson on the topics: “Is the Bible from God?” “Is Jesus God?” “Will many people go to Heaven?” The progress of our two brothers and sisters is quite good in learning to read the Bible and in reading in general. We pray for the growth of their spiritual faith and for their education at school and in the dormitory to proceed smoothly.

The twelfth photo is of Mama Depin and her children. They are guardians at the Yokhebed's Hope orphanage in Gido. Mama Depin and her two daughters were baptized a few months ago. Then there were some lessons that we had not yet completed after they were baptized. For the time being, I cannot continue the Bible lessons to teach them because my wife is recovering from surgery. Hopefully, my wife's surgery will recover quickly, and I can go anywhere to do evangelism outside. Mama Depin and her two daughters are making good progress in learning to read the Bible and in understanding it well. We pray for the growth of their spiritual faith.

 

Service Training 💓

Saturday, August 30, 2025. Every Sunday evening, I hold a two-hour church ministry training class for orphanage children and boarding school students in preparation for Sunday worship. Some of them already participate in worship, such as leading songs, praying, Holy Communion, offerings, and congregational messages. I train them on how to lead singing with enthusiasm so that the congregation remains enthusiastic while singing, and so on. Therefore, I always train and guide them to continue to perform boldly and well. They are the next generation of the Church of Christ on Nias Island, and of course they are very much needed for leadership in rural congregations.

                This is my work report for August 2025. May God's grace always be with me as I carry out my missionary work in Nias. And may souls be saved. Amen.

I kindly request prayers, support, and assistance from donors to support my missionary work in Nias, alongside my role as supervisor of the Dasami dormitory. May God bless the donors and fellow believers of the Church of Christ in America.

Gunungsitoli,  31, 2025

Yarman Gulo

Monthly Mission Report in Gunungsitoli, Nias

GJKDI Gunungsitoli, District. City of Gunungsitoli, North Sumatra 22810

Gmail: armangulo999@gmail.com

Blog: https://laporanmisiarmangulo.blogspot.com/