My client, Wijay who has an industrial lubricant oil business, has set himself right before God that from now on he will walk away from corruption and kickbacks in his business dealings. He has raised the bar, and he knows the price he has to pay for taking that stand of obedience. And to think that he came into equip with a business purpose of maximizing profit. Only the Holy Spirit can inspire such a radical transformation!! I am so encouraged and blessed by his testimony of faith.

How great it is to have Indonesian consultants as partners! Our partners helped arrange speaking times at 5 churches around Jakarta. Our team visited both English and Bahasa Indonesia speaking congregations to share about equip’s mission and involvement in transforming Indonesia. God is moving in the hearts of many here. It is so encouraging to see their desire to integrate work and faith.

Dr. Suparno and See Mun, a Godly couple, honored our team with a generous and hospitable gift – 1 ½ hour traditional Indonesian foot reflexology and body massages! These massages were much needed after a very long week of intense consulting, spiritual warfare, and stress. The reflexologists did a great job releasing toxins and stress. How refreshing and relaxing!

Suparno and See Mun also treated us to a traditional Indonesian dinner at “Sate Senayan.” We had yummy sate, gado-gado, fried fish, and due to the Holy month of Ramadan, the “Ramadan Special” for those breaking their fast.

See Mun sensed that there was intense spiritual warfare over a teammate and offered to be the intercessor. The women (See Mun, Sherry, Amy, and Jackie), “Bobby’s Angels” prayed for each other and the group. Please continue to pray for our team’s health and unity, our clients’ growth and understanding. Terima kasih.

We had an excellent first week consulting with our clients, and we followed that up with some sight seeing on Saturday. We went to the area of Puncak in the mountains outside of Jakarta. We only had one day of a “break” as we had to be back to continue the work that we are doing with our clients as well as visit churches on Sunday. Just getting out of the city of Jakarta and seeing some open space was encouraging for us. Our first stop was a tea plantation in the hills. We took a 4 km walk where we had our morning devotion from Americus from Genesis 30:25-43. God did a miracle in the marketplace when Jacob was blessed with many speckled sheep.

We then went out to the Taman Safari to see a variety of animals that roam the grounds. We were able to get close to big cats, bears, varieties of monkeys, and many others. The petting zoo portion of the park was a lot of fun. Several of us posed with the big white tiger, the lion cubs, and a very friendly young Orangutan.

Finally we went to the home of one our Indonesian consultants, Hense and Ellen. They are Orchid farmers. We saw the very elaborate process they use to grow orchids from seed. It is no wonder they are expensive!

My client is in the food and beverage industry and has shown great generosity throughout our time here. As an example of this, he provided a variety of snacks and two coolers full of water and energy drinks for our sight seeing.

—Don Smith, U.S. Consultant

Jakarta, Indonesia
September 29, 2006

Friday was a big day. The half-way point of any undertaking is a meaningful time. On one hand, we look back and are amazed at how far we have come; on the other hand, we begin to think about how much effort it took to get to this point and we’re confronted by the realization that we have at least as much effort ahead of us to complete the task.

As I stop to reflect at the half-way point of our two week venture here in Jakarta, I am thrilled with the progress we have made thus far. We have covered 5 of the 10 major sections of the consultation – also known as the 10 P’s. So far, we covered Purpose, Product, Presence, Positioning and People. In addition to this work on repurposing business, we also spent time on transforming society for Jesus Christ. We asked our Indonesian clients to list the “giants” that stand in the way of transformation. The list is sobering. It includes issues such as corruption, lack of education, hopelessness, injustice, and terrorism. Perhaps the most significant “giant” that was listed was “no fear of God.”

While the exercise of identifying the giants was sobering, the willingness of our clients to commit their resources to battle these giants was both encouraging and convicting. The highlight of the day for me was the commitment walk. Each “giant” issue was written on a separate sheet of paper and posted on the wall of the conference room. The clients then walked the room and wrote down on specific posters the actions they would take and the resources they would commit toward overcoming each giant. As I observed these commitments being made, I was moved by the level of faith and obedience that enabled these brothers and sisters in Christ to make such bold commitments toward overcoming seemingly unfixable problems. I was also reminded of the proverb that “Man makes his plans, but the Lord directs his steps”. As I watched these incredible plans being made to fell these giants, I was reminded to pray that the Lord would direct each client’s steps toward bringing it about so that we would be able to witness Indonesia transformed in the name of Jesus Christ for the glory of God.

My primary client, Yayang, is a distributor of car tires and rims. He employs about 70 people in his business. He is a new believer, having come to Christ about nine months ago. It is such a thrill for me to work with Yayang and to see him thinking through ways that he can use his business to impact peoples lives for Christ. Since coming to Christ, he has changed the way he markets to his customers and instead has committed his resources to enabling his employees to attend marriage conferences. He is currently working on a marketing presence strategy of establishing a reputation for complete honesty in his business dealings. Please pray for Yayang that the Lord would bless his plans and use him His glory.

Testimony of Haryaman and Lanny:

Haryaman and Lanny have very limited English. They need translators to help them understand what Bob Norsworthy and other EQUIP consultants are teaching (English to Indonesian).

They do not understand English, but the Bible reference they quoted during the teaching spoke to Lanny’s heart, and the truth was revealed to her and her husband. God spoke to them! As they read their own Bible God spoke to them!

Lanny practically danced with joy, as she shared her experience of God—that God is present with her in her business. Lanny experienced God and gained understanding through what happened in their business, as Bob taught. It’s not about us—it ‘s all about God. God can breath new life to a dead product! To Him, through Him, by Him—All Glory be to God! Lanny also experienced that God is most glorified when she is most satisfied in Him alone. She just does what God wants her to do (to lay hands on the products), and she did. She prayed. And God did the rest.

Before joining the EQUIP venture, Hary and Lanny were about to close down their garment factory, because the business keep declining and they had tough competition from China (cheaper products). After they went through the EQUIP venture, they did not close down the garment business, because they received a revelation from God. God wanted to use their business to glorify Him. Although the retail clothing business is declining in Indonesia—because of the competition from China—the clients gave testimony that they now export garments to China!

Nevertheless, an obstacle arose. A China buyer told Haryaman and Lanny that their products were not the right size. They would not buy the finished products. Haryaman and Lanny now had 3 warehouses full of unsold products!

Haryaman was very angry, but suddenly, he realized that the business belonged to God and that Jesus was his CEO. So he decided to pray to God instead of getting mad and angry, and at that moment, he told God that he would do what God wanted him to do. Hary got the conviction to ask the China buyer to buy as much as he wanted with a 30 to 50% discount. Hary praised the Lord. The China buyer only wanted to take a 30% discount.

Next, Hary and Lanny still had to decide what to do with the remaining 70% of the inventory (clothing that was no longer fashionable).

God helped them in their dry bone life experience. Lanny layed her hands on the inventory and God breathed new life into the dead products. She also added embroidery and accessories to the clothing. They became new products!!! In addition, they sold the remaining 70% of the inventory in the local market at a price that was 15% higher. Now, there’s only a little product left! Praise the Lord!

Haryaman and Lanny now see their business as their ministry. Their ministry is their business. God does not just do miracles only in church, or in hospitals, but also in warehouses and factory floors! God is unlimited, God is everywhere, God’s presence is so strong with them.

Hary used to not care about his employees.

Now Hary sees that he is their shepherd. His people are his household. He should minister for them, pray for them, care for them. Hary is delighted with his new role as shepherd to his household and sees how they can integrate their business and ministry—no separation between business and ministry. Ministry is not just in the church, but it is in everyday business, and it takes place wherever Hary goes as he is doing his business…in the marketplace.

For example, my primary client has known the Lord for about 6 months and simply wants her life to make a difference, but the gentlemen I worked with the other day have been believers for years and have committed themselves to “recolouring Asia with truth” through their printing business.

I am also blessed to see the various strategies and ways that they see their business combating the ills of their society such as poverty and lack of education. To illustrate, my client would like to start a school for the families of the nearly 1000 people on her plantation and will begin tithing on the profits to support Christian education. On the other hand, the gentlemen in the ink business have been providing the ink for printing Christian literature all over Asia and are looking to form an association for establishing ethical practices in their industry.

With 9 different businesses owners participating in this venture and many more who have already passed through and are yet to come, how could the nation not be changed?

Waken up by prayers from a near by mosque at 4 a.m. seems strange and confusing. It reminds me every morning that we are in a war zone. Despite our hectic schedules, not being able to talk to John (my husband) and to hear the lovely voices of my children, Sarah and Samuel, kills me inside. Their voices sooth my soul. I am so use to hearing them call me “mommy.” I miss my family terribly, and I had a very tough day on Day 2.

But God is doing amazing things here!! The nine clients are great and all of them have their hearts set on God. My clients Ivan and Irmar (husband and wife) are nice, and they have been faithfully seeking the Lord. Ivan had his heart set on ministry and wished to abandon his construction business. (How interesting, I know John wants to hear this as he has experiences it in his field.) We prayed for my client at his workshop yesterday, and he cried. He came back this morning for more training. Both the husband and the wife looked very happy. By the morning break, my client said he was now passionate for his construction business knowing that it is his mission field. He can be used by God to bring the Truth to his Muslim workers who don’t go to his church.

We prayed today for market place miracles to happen. We shall see what mighty things God will do. Thanks for praying at home. I can definitely feel your prayers.

—Sherri Liu, U.S. Consultant

Please, please, please forgive us for being so tardy in posting updates for you! We have had to overcome some obstacles with Internet access, but we are doing just that—OVERCOMING!

And by God’s grace, we’ve all managed to make it to this impoverished-but-not-forsaken city safely.

This trip to Jakarta has been an exciting, interesting, and at times, challenging experience for us all, starting with the drive back to our hotel. For those of you who have never been to Indonesia (or to a developing nation in general), an opportunity like this can be a real eye-opener. The living conditions outside the city are shocking. A haze, thicker than L.A. smog, blankets the atmosphere. Palm trees and greenery dot the arid terrain. Half of the landscape stands alive and wilty, while the other half remains brown and dead. Lots of clay-colored water canals, filled with garbage, run perpendicular to the highway, stretching for miles as the locals walk, sit, and splash around in them. They also build shanty villages of cardboard-and-leaf homes around these canals, while their children play soccer in muddy fields. Although the poverty is startling, a sense of community is present among them. The Indonesian people have a sweet spirit: meek, humble and pleasant. Nevertheless, the immediate environment seems surreal at times.

Getting into Jakarta, it’s not much different. The backdrop remains the same, but mammoth buildings appear in random places…and traffic is a nightmare, as motorcycles and cars compete for space. The city desperately needs a better transportation infrastructure.

Despite the oppressive living conditions, our hotel is clean and safe, and we’ve been eating like kings. The coffee here is incredible too! All of us have been drinking two to three cups a day, because it’s frothy on top. LOOK OUT STARBUCKS.

Spirits also remain high, due to consultants and clients endowed with a terrific sense of humor. Americus. Need I say anything more? If you don’t know him, he’s an Italian fireball with a New Jersey accent, who also happens to be an Equip consultant. Last night, we went to dinner at an upscale restaurant, and he tried to order a meal in his New Jersey/Indo accent. The server replied in English, “Oh, so you want the prawns?” We’re proud of him for making an attempt to identify with the locals. On the first night here, he didn’t want to order anything.

Bob, Amy, and the rest of the American and Indonesian leadership team here are doing a TERRIFIC job in steering this venture. Their teaching gifts are incredible, and Don has been doing a super job with technical support issues. We’ve also heard some AMAZING testimonies from former Indonesian Equip clients who have been an inspiration to us all. In addition, our morning devotional times have been really fruitful and filled with worship. Thank you Joel, Sherri and others who have made it possible!

At this point, we have come to love our Indonesian clients and our hearts are broken for them, because they’ve been subjected to an abusive system of corruption, which sadly includes local Christians in business. They feel hurt and betrayed, yet enthusiastic about the new work God is doing here through Equip and through their own businesses. They are additionally excited about bringing a new ethical standard to the Indonesian marketplace. Pray for them and pray for us—that God would continue to bring miraculous breakthroughs in this region of the world “for such a time as this!”

—Jacqueline Tomco, U.S. Consultant

We started out by putting our teamwork to a test, and we arranged the conference room. It is wonderful to see that the team is working and jelling. Then we had a devotion led by Bob, which was followed by our dedicating of the room to God. Ending with prayer in pairs, we consecrated each other for God’s work in this venture. We are all really excited!

Then the clients started to show up, and we started our introduction session about 25 minutes later than schedule. (It seems we Indonesian are still struggling with our rubber time syndrome). But at last, it started J.

The matching up of clients is done during the break, with much prayers being put into it. (Let me tell you, it is actually a miracle in itself, because the match is heavenly). But one of the blows we took is that one of the clients did not show up until almost lunchtime. Efforts have been made to contact that person, but no news.

So by the end of the day we ended up with one client short.

And of course this was a hard blow for all of us, especially for Erny and Joshua, the two consultants that had to sit by themselves the whole day. We were all disappointed, but we all believed as we prayed for Erny during our consultant debrief that God had a plan behind all this.

(Check out the continuation of the story tomorrow, and see God’s faithfulness being proven)

Ellen – Indonesian consultant