Ritchey Ron Ellen 1976 Indonesia PDF
Ritchey Ron Ellen 1976 Indonesia PDF
Ritchey Ron Ellen 1976 Indonesia PDF
VISItOR
FEBRUARY
NO. 1
1976
After conferring with supporting churches and the elders and leaders of these churches, Ron and Ellen incorporated the mission work. Our new name is: CHRISTIAN
MISSION INTERNATIONAL^ Inc. The State of Illinois granted the new corporation a charter on January 13, 1976 under the General Not For Profit Corporation Act. We are presently applying for tax-exempt status with the I.R.S. Supporters should continue to give to us through a local church mtil the corporation's tax-exempt status is recognized. Elders from supporting churches are serving on the board of directors for C.M.I. The main reason for incorporating was to have offical recognition for our status as a taxexempt entity. Our purpose remains the same. The purpose of our joint mission is:
to provide a means through which Christians may join in fulfilling the mission of Christ in discipling the nations of our world and to propagate the Christian faith throughout
the world by every means.
RETURN
TO
INDONESIA
IN
APRIL
The Lord willing, we will leave the U.S.A. after Easter on April 19th or 20th returning to Indonesia via Spain and Thailand. We hope to visit the Dan Crosley family,
missionaries in Madrid, and several friends and missionaries in Thailand in the cities
Java on May 3 for the start of an exciting second term of evangelism and church planting.
PRAY
MATES
CLASS
PROJECT
The Pray Mates class of First Christian Church, Joliet, Illinois decided to take on
vehicle. Ron and Ellen will use the vehicle in village work, other mission work, and as a family car. The Pray Mates class wants to help raise $4,800.00 and will be sending
out letters explaining their project.
1975
CHURCHES AND GROUPS
GIVERS
INDIVIDUALS
1st Christian, Joliet, 111. Church at Bryant, Scottsbluff, Nb. Norton Christian, Norton, Ks. Daytona Christian, Daytona Beach, Fla. 1st Christian, Hoffman Estates, 111. Calvary Church of Christ, Swartz Creek,
Mi.
M/M Tom Seggelke, Lincoln, 111. M/M Jack Voorhees, Wenatchee, Wa.
Mrs. Evelou Detlefsen, Scottsbluff, Nb, Diane Clark, Urbana, 111. Elizabeth Zirges, Worden, 111.
1st Christian, Glen Ellyn, 111. Capitol City Christian, Lincoln, Nb. Bartonville Christian, Bartonville, 111.
M/M Lelan Callaway, Bangkok, Thailand M/M Vem Johnston, Diagonal, la.
Miss Bessie Johnson, Orleans, Nb.
Hanging Rock Christian Assembly, West Lebanon, In. Central Christian College of the Bible Moberly, Mo. South East Christian, Salt Lake City, Ut. 1st Christian, Green Bay, Wi, Sheridan Ave. Church of Christ, Sheridan,
Wy.
M/M Fred Salsbury, Waverly, la* M/M Horace Nelson, Clearfield, la. M/M Lyle Pauley, Decatur, 111.
Virginia Small, Brookfield, 111. Mrs. Janet Gattis, Downers Grove, 111. Mrs. Haru Roberts, Glen Ellyn, 111, Mrs. Gay Gilmore, Dallas, Tx.
Church of Christ, Portland, In. Christian, Sublette, Ks. 1st Christian, Wilmington, 111. 1st Christian, Belleville, 111. Western Hills Church of Christ, Cincinnati,
Oh.
Clifton Christian, Clifton, Co. Versailles Christian, Versailles, 111. Lyman Christian, Lyman, Nb. Church of Christ, Sturgis, S.D. Christian, Barnes, Ks,
Any individual givers that may have been missed; we ask your forgiveness.
1975
$14,366.45
1,300.00
1975 1975
$15,666.45
$13,186.49
$2,479.00
OUR
BANK
BALANCE
We keep a minimum of $3,000.00 on hand for an emergency travel fund. In order to enter Indonesia we had to assure the government we at no time would be a financial burden. This means having enough money to leave Indonesia if we must for some reason. We have
been building a travel fund ever since we became missionaries. We have another $3,000,00 on hand which will be used for our trip back to Indonesia in April. We try to keep $1,000,00 on hand for monthly operating expenses. The remaining balance, $4,327.76 is in
a Vehicle Fund. We hope to receive another $5,700.00 to complete the $10,000.00 needed to buy a four-wheel drive vehicle. We have prepared a more detailed financial statement
BULK RATE
U.S.
POSTAGE PAID
18 Kenmore Court
NEW LENOX,
PERMIT No.
IL. 60451
26
U //^ I
the
inOonesian
VISItOR
APRIL
NO. 2
1976
FIRST
MEETING
Eight people came to First Christian Church, Joliet, Illinois on Saturday, February 28, 1976 for the first board meeting of Christian Mission International, Inc. These church elders are the board of directors: Ralph Maddux, Tom Noll, and Vinton Ritchey, First Christian, Joliet, Illinois; Warren Phelps, First Christian, Hoffman Estates, Illinois; Don Schuchardt, First Christian, Glen Ellyn, Illinois; Larry Tease, First
Christian, Wilmington, Illinois; Jack McElwee and Dr. Paul Baker, Church at Bryant, Scottsbluff, Nebraska; and Ron Ritchey missionary to Indonesia; William H. Ritchey, forwarding agent and Dorothy J. Ritchey, secretary-treasurer of Joliet, Illinois. The board adopted the Constitution and By-Laws and established financial policy. They called Ron Ritchey as a missionary working for Christian Mission International, Inc.
The mission is an instrument directed and controlled by the Christian churches and churches
concerning the new status of our work which purposes to do the same work we did over the
WORKAHEAD
READY OR NOT?
board T.W.A.'s flight 880 at O'Hare Airport starting our return trip,
anticipation is gripping us in these days.
smallpox shots; 2) making lists of goods, books, and clothes we will send or take to Java; 3) packing and crating drums; 4) packing suitcases to see if we are within the
alloted baggage limit; 5) revising and updating our address file; 6) organizing our
slides; 7) tying up loose ends like writing a will (we know neither the time nor the hour
death may transport us to Jesus); 8) establishing the work policy of our new mission. This and many other jobs we do so we can be ready to leave the U.S.A. on April 19 and arrive May 3 in Salatiga, Central Java for another three or more years in Indonesia.
PRAYERS AND PROJECTIONS. We anticipate great experiences during our second term. Please join us in praying for the establishing of four new congregations. We have set several intermediate goals in order to reach our overall goal. God can accomplish much more or could lead us on & totally different path. We confess His sovereignty in our
lives.
The setting of goals is in recognition of what we believe God wants us to do, not
Our first month back in
by October of 1976. After this, another unevangelized village will be sought while leaders in the first village are trained to guard and guide the flock toward growth in Christ. Your specific prayers for God's blessings and direction in these areas are appreciated and
powerful.
in an unevangelized village who will open their home for weekly Bible studies. We seek at least ten family units who will accept Christ and become a congregation of Christians
Indonesia will be readjustment time for unpacking, registering with the government, and refreshing our Indonesia and Javanese language skills. In June we hope to find a family
THANKS
TO
CE NTRAL
During our furlough the Central Christian Church of Naperville, Illinois gave us their
parsonage, rent free. A few families are paying for a house and small church building. As stewards of God we pray that investments made will be preserved and expanded for God's glory. The First Christian Church, from which Central started, is now selfsupporting. Formerly it was assisted by the Chicago District Evangelistic Association. Naperville is a fast growing community offering great potential for these two congregations. We ask you to pray that 1) several other mature Christian families will come, giving their full
support, 2) a full time evangelist be called, 3) many souls will hear about Jesus because
of Central Christian Church of Naperville.
To the families of Central Christian Church, Ellen, Deric, Dasen, and I say thank you very much for your generosity toward us while we were in America, May God bless you in faithful service in the years to come,
SPEAKING
THE
WORD
We travelled to Cincinnati, Ohio where on February 22 at Western Hills Church of Christ we spoke about Christ's mission in the world and Indonesia, Ron and Ruth Davis
hosted us, Ruth showed us the Cincinnati Bible Seminary's campus and Ron Ritchey shared in Bill Gulick's class on World Missions. On March 4 we left for Capitol City Christian
Church in Lincoln, Nebraska sharing in their week-end Missionary Conference,
REGISTRATION FORM
29th National Missionary Convention November 16-19, 1976; Civic Center; Dodge City. Kansas
PLEASE PRINT PLAINLY OR TYPE
Name
. ..Missionary
. Forwarding Agent
Member ... Local
Missionar/ Recruit
Church Minister
. .Mission Committee
Mailing Address
City
State
Zip
For convention name badges please print or type the names of all in your
family planning to attend the convention:
REGISTRATION FEES: Student50c Individual$1.50 Family$3.00 Male checks to: National Missionary Convention Mail form and fee to: Convention; Box II; Copeland, Ks. 67837
Perhaps by the time you receive this letter we will be on our way to Indonesia. To _our friends^who opened your homes, fed us meals,^-shared your lives and continue to, we -
say Praise God and Thank You for helping make our first furlough a time of great blessing in serving God. Looking forward to sharing more of God's great deeds with you, we remain
Yours in His love.
BULK RATE
0 ////
PACKING
COMPLETED
The following pictures should tell the story. Four mail sacks of books and three drums of assorted household goods on their way to Indonesia. We pray that they will have arrived safely by the time you read this, They were sent in April and May respectively.
ENLIGHTENING
.0
Ron geXting the, cUum fizady
thank you for your prayers).
TRIP
(We had to pay overweight only at O'Hare; The Crosleys were very gracious to us. I spent several hours
talking to Dan about the directions of the Glen Ellyn elders and their concern for the work in Spain. We shared many hours in discussion about mission work, particularly work in Spain
and Indonesia and the missionary's relationship and responsibility to supporting churches.
The time spent was well worth the expense of flying via Spain. Our time in Thailand enlightened and delighted us. This letter is too short to share all the insights gained. Wewas personally all the team members of S.E.A.E.M. , the present
school facilities, the property for future development, and several of the students. We saw the work of other missionaries, both from our brotherhood and other church groups. Lelan and Cinda Callaway hosted us, giving us fellowship, food, air conditioned rest, a
term.
Friends, it is good to be home again. Ellen is thankful because this is our second The unknown is more known, now. Ellen knows how to run the household and to obtain
what is needed.
ages.
ALL
SET
UP
The drums are all unpacked, the file cabinets are back in action, all our books are
way) .
^ -
J .
r
'
' '4
MINISTRY
BEGINS
In ray initial planning, I allowed one month for refreshing ny Indonesian and
home Bible study and worship service is being led by Lew Cass. He and Bob Sigafoose left
However, at the Bible study, he said I would give some pointers and that they should not be surprised if I used Javanese. Then God
opened several doors. Word came that the
died. I took several to the hospital morgue. I prayed with the father right there and we watched the men put the body on a bier. We went to the home in the car while the body was carried home on the bier, then placed in
SXx C.M.I. Jnc* BooA-d Umbe.AA
boy was not a Christian yet and neighborhood pressure on the father was to have an Islamic
the front room behind a black curtain. I do not have room to describe all the events. The
funeral.
way possible, ready to hold Christian services if he so chose. He decided for a Muslim service. I must cutout the details, but the conclusion of the matter was that I had the
opening prayer of the "Muslim" service and conducted the graveside ceremony.
brought my Indonesian Bible along "just in case".
There are many lessons for this new Christian family who are practicing some spirit
worship customs. Please pray for Mr, Rijadi and his family.
PRAYER WITH THANKSGIVING As of June we received
$850.00 equals $8,687.63 in the fund, A new Toyota Land Cruiser purchased here in Indonesia costs $11,200,00, all taxes and papers included. At present, Ellen and I are
using bicycles, public transportation, or rides from other missionaries. the day we can buy a new car.
saving money budgeted for transportation expenses and putting it toward the car fund until
Thank you all for your generous gifts toward this project.
ifJ^yUxyig LeXteAii
BULK RATE
. \^nrri^
A/ 2)
the
Indonesian
VISItOR
OCTOBE R 1976
No. 4
VICTORY!
Amen brethren! in our midst. Praise GodI These words
God is giving.
34
BAPTISMS
.I
the Kingdom.
,^-|
the increase. Every Sunday morning Ron is leading in a home worship service for three new Christians and their families. On August 31, 32 precious souls confessed Christ as Savior and obeyed His command in Christian baptism. From these, twenty seven are from the village of Mujo. On July 23, 1976 we had the opening service for the Mujo work with one hundred in attendance, We started having two sessions a week to teach these people about
Christ and being His followers. He sessions continue every Friday and Sunday night. Brethren, praise God for these firstfruits and pray for an even greater harvest in this village.
HOW
ALL
STARTED
countingl Ron is now helping teach, preach, call, and serve in ei^t different places. There are three other villages represented in these teaching points and only the Lord knows how fast He is going to keep us hustling. While we were yet in the U.S.A. God was pre paring hearts to receive His Word, John Harper and Bob MacLean were given the job of teaching in Pendingan, This is where Ron ministered for the year before coming on furlough.
At this village a man from Wates, the village right up the road, came and asked John and
Catholic. During this another man came with a list of 500 people wanting to receive Christian teaching. We came back from furlough as these openings were developing. The Harpers are our
next door neighbors. John felt that Ron could
I.
.
monitor what was happening. Praise the Lord! is just what we all have been praying for. says YES! He has given four villages and
NEW
TOYOTA
JEEP!
Itv-Wi
EARLY
FllPir^ll^l-l
rUKLOUivn
VyiWige,,
When Ron drove home with the new Toyota he received the sad news that Linda Joyner,
missionary helping Jean Coiner, lost her father from this world. So when Ron got home he went straight to see Linda. Upon arriving he was told that John Harper was stranded in
the village, the car he borrowed had stalled, and could I go help,
immediately into action! The next morning Linda was on her way home. The Toyota had been used to run aromd to offices to help get Linda's papers in order. We use the jeep six days of the week to go to villages. We have been in two villages where no vehicles have been before and hope shortly to open teaching points in these. Brethren, praise the Lord! Thank you for giving the money. May God warm your hearts as you read how He is using you
as partners in gospel proclamation.
BARRELS
ARRIVE
The three barrels we sent from the U.S.A. to Indonesia arrived July 9 at Semarang. On August 26 they arrived at our house. Many of you gave us gifts that arrived via the drums. Thank you one and all for these very useful items, God is being good to us, and for this,
we praise His Holy name.
OPPORTUNITIES
UNLIMITED!?
^ I
P
IXH
and how fast? This is our prayer now. Opportunities and challenges are before us that we
Friends, how far does God want us to go, Medical assistance: last
month ten people died in one village. Proper medical care would have prevented this. Village leaders want us to teach reading and writing,
^
"i"
10^^ *
'JUjH
^Ulago, \/AJUULgQ, Jinadvi Uad2Ji oi Ug/wto NgAoto lotth uUXk iamM^ icarUMf
Pray about it
/ / / / "77.
the
Indonesian
VISITOR
DECEMBER1976
No. 5
We miss you all and especially so at Christmas time. It was such a joy to be in the U.S.A. last year and enjoy being with family and having snow. This time of year reminds us of our rich Christian heritage. In the new village work these people have NEVER cslebrated Christmas as Christians. They have no past traditions from which to pattern their cele bration. One leader asked, "When is Christmas, and how shall we celebi:ate it?" Let us pray
that here and in the USA we will exalt Christ in our celebrations.
MOR E
VICTORI ES
Ibu Selamet
ily is united in Christ. November 2, 1976 Bob Sigafoose and Lew Cass organized the baptism of people from Pringapus, a village they are serving. In the last months, 147 people from the villages and Salatiga have been baptized not counting the Christians from Pringapus.
For all this let us praise Godl
CHRISTIAN
NURTURE
We continue to have lessons weekly in all of these villages. In four villages weekly communion services have started. The village leaders asked for training to lead funeral
services and weddings. On November 5 we started the session for leaders to conduct funeral
services. Ron and Mr. Oediyanto teach the leaders picked by the villagers themselves. Last month Ron conducted services for Bapak Sarno*s family. They lost their four month old son, their first child, Ron had taken the baby and family to the doctor the week
before. We don't know why the baby died, Ron hopes the wealth of medical knowledge and health standards which could prevent deaths will be taught to the villagers, Satan has these people in his grip and delights in their ignorance of God's Word and God's provi dential blessings discovered by modem scientists. Please pray that the preaching and teaching of God's Word will continue unhindered among these villagers. Also that old beliefs, fears of spirits, and superstitions will be replaced by God's Word and the leading
of His Spirit toward great freedom in Christ.
LEADERSHIP
TRAINING
Please pray for God to lead us in the finding and training of leaders for the villages, Elders are needed who will lead in Christian nurture such as worship services, Bible teaching, and pastoral calling. Evangelists are needed to continue carrying the Word to those in darkness. Church planters are needed to co-ordinate and develop their own and other's talents so that growing congregations will be multiplied.
HOME
FIRES
Besides developing the faith of others we must develop our own faith. Christ and His Word is a central part of life here at Jalan Serimi 1. Deric has memorized the books of the Bible
by singing them. To our surprise, Dasen, who was listening all along, knows many of the books
also! Deric loves to have stories read to him.
He listens again and again to Bible story books. Question from Deric: "Is it all right to kill
bad men?"
academic, they are shaping young and old lives, teaching the boys and all people we meet.
JEEP
IN
USE
The
FINANCIAL
REPORT
letter of 1977. At that-tiin&,--the Lord willing, a review of money received as compared to budgeted and expended income will be made. Presently we
are not receiving the amount of money needed to
meet the budget. Yet even so we have much more
We "will
sing to the Lord, because He has dealt bountifully with (us)," Psalm 13:6 Brethren, all praise be to God for the priceless gift of His Son. May
Christ's love radiate from our hearts this
18 Kenmore Court
NEW LENOX,
PERMIT No.
IL. 60451
26
Joplin, Mo.
64801