One in Love in Southwest Sumba, NTT

"Currently, our congregation is facing a crisis of faith. With this Bible, we have a weapon we can use to minister and show how good Jesus is, so that many people can repent and return to the path Christ desires," said Yohanes Ndaraponda, an elder from the Sumba Christian Church (GKS), as he welcomed the Bibles and children's literature that had arrived among them through the One in Love (SDK) program at the Indonesian Bible Society (LAI).

On the morning of October 7, 2025, the ministry journey began. The SDK LAI team flew from Jakarta to Southwest Sumba, carrying a sacred mandate, distributing Bibles and children's literature supported by partners from the Indonesian Bible Society. A total of 38,000 copies of the Bible and its parts were ready for distribution to various churches in the area.

The target area is located on the outskirts of the regency, far from the hustle and bustle of the city. The road traveled mostly along the coast, with unpaved, dusty, and bumpy terrain. However, the team's steps did not slow down, because at every kilometer of the journey, there were hearts waiting for God's word.

On the trip, the team was accompanied by Rev. Irene Takandjanji, Chairperson of the GKS Mata Congregation Council and Head of the GKS Synod Representative Office for Southwest Sumba, along with a team from GKS Southwest Sumba. This trip was not simply a distribution mission, but a pilgrimage of love to bring the light of God's Word to homes thirsting for the Word of Life.

A touching story unfolded in a simple hamlet among the hills. A family received a Bible with trembling hands. Their faces showed shock and emotion. They had never imagined they would receive a free Bible. They hugged it tightly, as if holding the most precious treasure in the world. Tears flowed, not from sadness, but from unspoken gratitude.

Another father, let's call him Mario, was so grateful to receive the Bible. "Through this Bible I can learn more about God's Word, because this is the Word I hold," said Mr. Mario. His life had been beset by grief for some time. His wife and eldest child had been called by God. Amidst the loneliness and simplicity of life, he remained steadfast in God's word, which became a true comfort in every tear he shed.

Mr. Mario's house was very simple—wooden walls, a zinc roof, only two meters above the floor. The small front yard became the final resting place for his beloved wife and children. From that small home, God's word continued to burn. Through it, faith grew, not from luxury, but from pure hope in God.

The story of Mr. Yohanes and the simple families of Southwest Sumba left a deep impression on us. Throughout our five-day journey, until October 12th, we realized that every Bible distributed was not just a book, but life. A new breath for souls thirsting for God's love.

Southwest Sumba is just one of many places in Indonesia awaiting the coming of God's word. Many other regions hold similar stories. These are stories of people who wait, struggle, and continue to dream that God's word will soon be present among them. This is not just their story, but also the story of all of us who believe that the Word has the power to strengthen and transform the lives of many.

As long as there are still those who do not have that Word, the journey of One in Love is not over. Throughout, we are continually called to care, share, and bring God's Word to the farthest corners of the nation. So that the signs of God's Kingdom may be present and take root in our homeland. (ady)