Indonesia natives Harold and Deibi Lapian moved to Dover, N.H., in 2002 to plant Indonesian Fellowship CRC, a Home Missions-supported church. Since that time, they’ve ministered to the more than 1,000 Indonesian immigrants who reside in Dover.
But this past summer their ministry expanded to another level. Deibi and others were invited by denominational leadership in Indonesia to visit the country and talk about Coffee Break, part of Home Missions’ small groups ministry. Deibi, along with Pastor Brent and Diane Averill from New Covenant CRC in Hampton, N.H., traveled with Home Missions Small Group and Coffee Break coach Sam Huizenga to Central Java, Jakarta, Bali, and Sulawesi.
More than 1,500 leaders met with the group led by Deibi Lapian in North Sulawesi. Soon, Deibi will also meet with another group of 600 pastors and church planters in Bali.
As a result of the trip, translation of Coffee Break study materials into Indonesian has begun, with some materials to be made available in spring 2011.
God is at work in Dover too. More and more people of Indonesian Fellowship are attending and training as leaders in the Coffee Break ministry, in which the message of salvation is shared and lives are changed.
Extending the ministry to literal coffee breaks, Harold Lapian has made himself available to introduce people to Christ at the local Dunkin’ Donuts coffee shop. One day he struck up a conversation with a customer, realized the man was an unbeliever, shared the Word of God, and a new Christian was born.
Whether in Bali or Dover, the Lord is at work through Coffee Break. Through coffee and conversations, Jesus’ good news is being shared and received.
About the Author
Laura Posthumus, Christian Reformed Home Missions
