Testimony from a Church Planter
During the religious war on Ambon and other Moluccu Islands of Indonesia from 1999-2002, I, Dominggus, got involved as a teenager, fighting for the Christians. Many Ambonese people claim to be Christian, but sadly, it is in name only, and I was one of them. I took up a gun and began firing at the enemy. Many thousands of people were killed in the fighting, and one day I was shot in the leg. That scared me, and if I die, will I make it to heaven or will I be sent to hell? I knew my life was not right and realised that I would not get to heaven.
Later, when I learned I had to have my tonsils removed, this fear came again. I began talking to God and asked forgiveness for my sins. I promised him that if he healed me, I would surrender my life completely to him. The next day I was told I was healed and didn’t need the operation. I held to my vow and attended the Salvation Church, as we called them. I became quite involved in the church and evangelism. Then I received word that my best friend who had fought beside me had been killed. I realised that God had truly saved me in multiple ways!
After two years of serving God on the island of Ambon, I felt God calling me to attend Bible College at Tawangmangu. A servant of God gave a presentation on ministry in the province of Aceh. I knew then that I was to go to Aceh – the westernmost province of Indonesia. Since college, my wife Eka and I have served the Lord in Aceh, amongst one of the least-reached people groups. Praise God we were protected from the 2004 tsunami. God continues to protect and provide for us daily.
Sam and Carol are based in West Kalimantan, Indonesia where they are principals of Tawangmangu Bible College, and also founders and directors of the Mt Hope Training Centre.
Sam was trained in an AOG Bible school in Ambon before branching out as a church planter and later as an evangelist. Sam & Carol married in 1972 and have four children and six grandchildren.