Amber Joliana M, 2006, Singapore
I am a Singaporean married to Pastor Michael Litha from GPdI Bukit Hermon, Indonesia. Together with our 3 children, we live in a city called Cimahi for the last 10 years. Before I got married, I was an SOT staff and a cell group leader in Pastor Edmund’s Zone (ET Zone).
During COVID-19, the Lord spoke to me about starting a school. Although I did not fully understand what it took, I simply decided to obey Him. As I started my research, I realized that there was only 1 big Christian school and 2 Catholic schools in central Cimahi where I lived. Most of the low-income Christian families had to send their children to the local government schools to be educated in a completely different religious environment. Cimahi has many low-income Christian families that earn around $70-$150 a month. The thought of our church members having no alternative to this situation compelled me to do something about it; to take Cimahi for Jesus.
I learnt to read through hundreds and hundreds of pages of the government’s education modules and curriculum. These were all in Bahasa Indonesia which took me many months of agony. I visited different schools to research the possibility of building a school. It was very hard for me because I needed to familiarise myself with the laws and the school system of Indonesia. While I was researching day and night, I was also trying to raise funds for the school. My church was still at the stage of paying back for our building and my church elders told me to wait another 3 to 4 years for the school. But I knew that God wanted me to make a difference in the children’s lives now; so I prayed n I asked God for help. God put some names in my heart, and I called them. As I explained to them what I was trying to do, I knew it would take a step of faith for them to give to something that had not started. I personally gave all of my own money and savings to the school, and I told my husband to be ready to sell our house if needed. I thank God that every phone call I made to Singapore, I met with willing hearts who responded and gave in whatever way they could.
The first year, we started the school with 31 students. About 75 percent of these students come from low-income families and they needed sponsors. A few months into the school term, a City Harvest member named Dvorah from Ps Bobby’s zone, came and taught English to the children for about 3 weeks. The Harvest Network, or THN, also sponsored an amount in October last year. We were deeply thankful.
But very soon, the money depleted as expenses were very high for first year of operations. There were days when I had to tell my children, this week we are eating Indomee. While the children were delighted with Indomee, I felt like a failure as a mother, as I couldn’t give them nutritious food. At the same time, my husband was building the Bible school in Indonesia, sponsoring pastors who needed the money to go to Bible school and plant churches. We were down to our very last dollar and were prepared to sell our home. But I kept praying and believing in God.
In end February this year, my mom was poor in health and I had to come back to Singapore with my children to see her. I took the last of what was in my bank account, and I came back to Singapore very heavy hearted. I still believed in God for His provision. After a week in Singapore, it was time to go home and at the airport, two of my friends from ET Zone WhatsApped to say, Amber, we want to transfer you some money for the school. They also wanted to transfer a separate amount to bless my family. I was tearing all the way back home and words cannot express how grateful I was. In my head, I kept thinking of all the happy faces of the children and families who will be receiving the extra help. God truly came through in fulfilling His promise to take care of His children.
I am in awe of God goodness and incredibly touched by what everyone has done. The school is growing well and there are countless testimonies to be shared. Parents are accepting Christ and coming to church because of the school. Thank you for giving them a hope for the future because of your generosity.
What Pastor Kong preach last weekend touched my heart so deeply. Truly, we have been blessed and we all have the responsibility to reach the unchurched. I am so excited for what God is going to do through each and every one of you in this place.
Through the first seed I have sown, I have seen firsthand how it has transformed my community. Smaller churches in Indonesia have been reaching out to me and asking if I could teach them how to build schools in their areas. I am humbled by their invitation, but I also believe that this is where God wants to move in the last days.
I have been working hard to build relationships with the education department in Cimahi and with the different school principals in my district. God has opened many doors for me to make a difference in the community. I had the opportunity to speak in front of principals and also I was invited to Indonesia’s National Day parade by the mayor. I was probably the only foreigner in that parade.
The children are so blessed, and they can understand simple English and even sing songs in Mandarin. Few weeks ago, one of my children’s church teachers reported that the students were speaking in English during Sunday School service. All these would not be possible without the generosity, love, and support of friends in City Harvest Church. Planting churches and building schools is a sacrifice and a commitment. Last month, Pastor Edmund bought a mission team over to my church and they also serve and greatly bless the school. You have no idea how many lives you have changed by sowing into the children’s future. Thank you CHC for making that difference.
