the

Indonesian
VISItOR
JULY
NO.

1978
3

N e w s from Ron and Elln Ritchey, Missionqries to Indonesia

FIELD ADDRESS: Jl, Seruni, Salatiga, Jateng, Indonesia Telephone: No. 176

I. R. S. ACCEPTS

C. M. I.

IN C.!

Forgive us for the dry spell in newsletters. Our last newsletter came out in February of 1978. We will try to bring you up to date on the highlights of the last six months. We praise the Lord that the Internal Revenue Service of the United States of America continues to accept Christian Mission International, Incorporated as a not-forprofit organization. When we first incorporated in January of 1976 we submitted requests for recognition to the I.R.S. We optioned for the probationary period afterwhich the
I.R.S. makes their decision based on the records submitted. as a gift to a not-for-porfit corporation. I.R.S. accepting C.M.I, Inc.

means that all gifts to C.M.I, Inc. are accepted by the I.R.S. as valid for tax-deduction

DIRECTORS

MEET

On Saturday, April 29, 1978 the Board of Directors of Christian Mission International met in Joliet, Illinois. The directors moved the meeting from February to April due to severe winter weather. We read about the cold weather but you all experienced it! Mrs.

Dorothy Ritchey, secretary-treasurer, reported.

report including financial statements.

She also read Ron and Ellen^s annual

PRESENT

NEEDS

The C.M.I. Inc. board of directors, composed of elders from supporting churches along with the president, vice-president, and secretary-treasurer, moved to accept for 1978 a budget of $16,622.74. This includes $6,000.00 salary for Ron and Ellen Ritchey and

$10,622.74 for C.M.I. Inc. statewide and Indonesia field operating expenses.

Operating

expenses include such things as, for example, rent of a home, a travel fund to cover airfare and car expenses. Monthly expenses include such things as running an office in

Indonesia and the U.S.A., government fees, postage, insurance, upkeep on the Indonesian house and office. When the 1977 income was compared with 1977 actual expenses we realized that expenses increased almost 24% beyond the 1977 budget and income. In order to meet the increase, money was not deposited into accumulating funds. If this continues this means that when it comes time to rent again or to buy airplane tickets, special appeals will have to be made. The board suggested that we share with you, our supporting churches

and friends, the need for a larger budget and additional income.

Through you God will

-The_19J8 budget

answer our_prayer,s_^s. tQ_how we should work and plan for jthe future.

of $16,622.74 is 24% above the 1977 budget.

1978 Needs 1977 Needs

Here is another comparison:

$16,622.74
$14.421.03

(Balance added)
Increase needed $2,201.71 We suggest that at least a 24% increase in giving be considered by supporters of
C.M.I. Inc.

FUTURE

NEEDS

The directors instructed us to consider several future needs and then report to them. One need is that of housing. Ever since entering Indonesia in October of 1971 we have

if.

rented houses.

It is our desire and prayer that God will continue to make it possible

for us to minister in Indonesia. We hope to live in Indonesia until this land is evangelized, the Lord returns, or we are not granted permission to live here. With this

in mind, the C.M.I. Inc. directors want us to investigate the buying of a house in Indonesia. Our present rent contract expires June 30, 1979. We have less than a year
to settle housing needs. We hope to finish our present term in late May 1980 and

furlough in the U.S.A. from May 1980 until mid-May of 1981, anticipating a return to Indonesia for a third term beginning in May of 1981. We are investigating costs for buying and renting. We will report to the directors and then let you all know what is
recommended.

We are also instructed to review our salary needs for 1979 and report to C.M.I. Inc. directors. We will be reviewing this. We now have three children. Education costs

here in Indonesia and in the U.S.A. are factors we will consider. Living here in
Indonesia and in the U.S.A. during furlough will be considered.

THANK YOU!

BROTHER

LARRY

TEASE

We express our thanks to Mr. Larry Tease, formerly an elder at the First Christian

Church, Wilmington, Illinois and now a minister at Maple Lawn Christian Church, Joliet,
Illinois. Brother Tease resigned as a board member at the recent board of directors meeting, because he is no longer serving as elder from a supporting church.

INDONESIAN
Programmed Instruction Book Completed.

MINISTRIES
We praise the Lord that a revision arid

rewriting of a programmed text dealing with the elders and their ministry is now "off the presses" and being used. Ron as chairman of the writing committee supervised and co
ordinated this project. Several missionaries helped revise this book. Ron rewrote three chapters. There are ten chapters in all. We have an office staff of three:

Ron, Mr. Engge, and Miss Marcia. Miss Marcia is a typist. Mr. Engge did proof-reading, and ran the Gestetner mimeograph machine as well as helping Marcia in assembling and
stapling. The book is a programmed text in the Indonesia language and consists of 312 pages. Robert MacLean is now using the book in teaching extention points. We continue
to use the book in teaching men here in Salatiga. Two Quarters of Lessons Completed. The Salatiga area churches, which includes

eleven home churches, (groups from ten to fifty in number), are using a program of reading through the Bible. We use Halley*s Bible Handbook*s suggestion that a Bible reading program for the whole congregation relate to the Sunday worship service sermon. We base the Sunday scripture lesson on a part of the text the congregations are -supposed to read during the previous week. Ron rewrites lessons (i.e. translates with adaption and revision into Indonesian to fit the cultural situation here) and the office staff types and mimeographs them. On Monday nights Dennis Free leads a workers
conference. The men teaching then give these lessons at the eleven house churches. Progress In Leadership. Missionaries here are turning all church activities over to

Indonesian brethren, freeing us to evangelize. Congregations vary in handling their affairs. Praise the Lord for prgress at Miidjo and Dalangan. Ron and Mr. Moeljono visit weekly these villages which are now leading worship services themselves. There villagers with only third to six grade educations among 40% illiteracy are leading means much to us. The contrast between village congregations here and highly educated U.S.A. congre gations is indeed great! We struggle to build faith in the villagers. They often say,
people to not believe they can do much with God.

"I can not do that." Centuries of a Javanese feudal system condition villagers and city
Pray with us that we will plant the

faith of Jesus who said, "If you can! All things are possible to him who believes." (Mark 9:23 R.S.V.) We hope God*s spirit and Word emboldens them to live as Christians
not exclusively depending on missionaries and/or city Christians.

PRAYER

REQUESTS

New Missionaries. Praise the Lord, new workers are on the way to Indonesia. The Christian Missionary Fellowship since 1974 has wanted to send missionaries to Indonesia. God is answering that vision. The C.M.F. and other church of Christ/Christian church missionaries in Indonesia are working together in bringing C.M.F. missionaries into

Indonesia. Please pray for the John Mulkey family. Their visas are in process; the Mickey Smith family whose visas are just starting to be precessed; the Phil Edwards
submit visa requests to the Indonesian government.

family who are waiting approval and sponsorship from an Indonesian group afterwhich they

More new Missionaries? Praise God again. He is moving Australian churches of Christ to send missionaries to Indonesia. July 3-6, 1978 we hope to confer with Rex Ellis of

the church of Christ Bible College in Woolwich, Australia. There are hopes that Australian brethren will help in leadership training here in Indonesia. Please join us
in asking God to thrust more workers from Australia into the havest fields here in
Indonesia.

GROWTH

Please join us in praying for these new ministries:

1. Mr, Sri Waluyo opened a Sunday worship service at Karang Duit, Seven young people were baptized here in June. Their parents are coming. Pray for Mr, Srl*s witness and
the conversion of the parents and families,

2. Mr, Sukarno from the village of Pringapus along with Mr, Suwarno and Dennis Free opened teaching sessions in the village of Piji, 3. Healing for Mr, Dinomo of Dalangan and four people from the village of Manggihan; God is opening a new door, We have no services in this village, Vte were called to serve sick people related to the village chief and his secretary. This is the governmental center for several smaller villages, (in Indonesian, "kelurahan") 4. Schooling for children. We are in discussions with several families and writing to people in the U.S.A. who could set up a school in Central Java. I think you can see by the length of this letter the many demands on our^ time.

5. Women's work: Ellen and Lynn Free hope to start women's meetings in all the villages. They along with Jean Comer and Indonesian ladies are calling weekly in the
villages.

VISITORS
Wendell and Betty Skelton visited us in January. These folks can give you a first hand report on what we do and how we live. Dr. Paul and Dorothy Baker (Ellen's parents) with Penny Penson visited us in Febrxiary. We had a wonderful time together. They came
just to see us and the work. We were delighted 1

Brethren, we have marvelous opportunities before us.

Indonesians are open and responsive to the gospel.

Thousands, yea millions of

"For a wide door for effective work

has opened to me, and there are many adversaries." I Cor, 16:9 (R.S.V.) AMEN! This is so true of Indonesia. There are extremely open doors yet many adversaries are here.
Your prayers are VITAL.

Come and visit us. Pan Am has a new fare: Jakarta-Los Angeles round-trip. May God continue to shower his blessings on us and may we overflow in our testimony to His eternal blessings in Christ Jesus.- Ta Him be glory forever.
Yours in His service. The Ritcheys

Ron, Ellen, Deric, Dasen, and Dorothy

t^.ndene i^ia
r

S E P T E M B f R - O C T O B E-R^ l 9T-&

News from Ron and El!n Ritchey, Missionaries to Indonesia

Dear Friends and Loved Ones,

This is a report to you from the Indonesian side of our partnership.

CALLING
1. On the sick and injured. We counselled Mr. Dinomo and his family from the village

of Dalangan. Ron took Mr, Dinomo to the hospital in Salatiga, then to the Semarang hospital, then brought him home to die. We watched his brother, Mr. Joyo, a Christian for about two years now, witness to him abouii Jesus. Experiences like this have weled
our hearts to the Javanese people and their extreme need for the Gospel.
send more evangelists?

We cry as we

see people die without Jesus, without the Resurrection and the Life. Over sixty million people are without Christ. Can YOU come and tell the Javanese about Jesus? Could you
2. On tfie women. Ellen and the other missionary ladies have started and are starting

ladies* meetings in eleven villages.

wives are calling weekly.

The Indonesian Christian women and the missionary

3. On prospects.
the churches.

We have visited in the homes in the Panti Redjo area of Salatiga.

We need your prayers that a consistent evangelistic calling program will develop here in

PREACHING

AND

TEACHING

One goal is - Indonesians preaching in all worship services. Ron teaches six times each month, and at weekly training sessions. Pray with us that new weekly training sessions in Javanese will equip the village congregations for preaching. Lynn Free and Ellen conduct weekly training sessions for the town ladies who then teach in the village ladies* meetings.

ADMINISTRATION
During 1978, Ron is secretary-treasurer for the Christian Churches/Churches of Christ
missionaries in Indonesia. His office helps in the co-ordinating and the processing for:

1. _jour_ missionary families now trying to enter Indonesia

2. work inside Indonesia between missionaries and churches

3. work relating to U.S.A. and Australian churches PRAISE GOD AND HELP! The work load is avalanching.

We need a full time person for this.

PRAYER
What a privilege to talk with the Lord God of all creation, our beloved Heavenly Father. PRAYER IS A DEFINITE MINISTRY, The missionaries here in Salatiga meet weekly on

Tuesday mornings for two hours of prayer and share time. Four mornings a week, Salatiga Christians meet in homes for prayer and BiDle reading. Twenty one confessed Jesus and
were baptized the second week of August. This second term of missionary service has vitalized our prayer life. Again and again people come to Jesus, are healed, and grow in Christ as God answers prayer. LET US PRAY FOR THE EVANGELIZATION OF INDONESIA AND THE

WHOLE WORLD.

Oh, how this world*s lost masses need Christians who pray con4;inually.

YET

MORE

Brethren, our hearts go out to you for your help In meeting the needs of Indonesia. July 4-6, 1978, we met with G.R.F. Ellis, the principal of the Australian Church of

Christ Bible College at Woollch.

missionaries gave this answer...

He asked, "What are the needs for Indonesia?"

The

Indonesia needs THIRTY-EIGHT new missionaries.

areas:

This need breaks down Into these

1. Indonesia needs FOURTEEN evangelists-church planters for planting churches In major cities on Java, especially Surabaya and Jakarta; for the Island

of Bali, for Sumatra transmigrants and for the great opportunities in the
Semarang, Solo, Yogyakarta triangle.

2. Indonesia needs NINE educators for our theological education by extension program, for tutors and/or teachers of missionary children.
3. Indonesia needs SIX administrators for co-ordination of ministries,
correspondence courses, and Bible translations.
4. Indonesia needs THREE people for Research and Development of an Indonesian

church growth center, mass communication projects and Bible translations.

5. Indonesia needs SIX special ministries for youth and campus work, as
secretaries, and a para-^edlc team.

We pray that this sharing of needs will meet with warm, receptive hearts, callused knees, and tear-filled eyes. Indonesia's lost need you, the followers of Jesus, to have the heart of Jesus.. ."when He saw the crowds He had compassion on them because they were
harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." (Mt. 9:36). You are the answer to God's "yet more". There needs to be yet more fruit unto the glory of God and the salvation of Mr. Dinomo's wife and the millions like her. (see John 15:7-8)

FUTURE
1. We believe that God wants us to continue to serve in Indonesia.

2. June 1979 our house-contract expires. We seek God's wisdom in the best future course: renting again, buying a house, buying property and building.

3. We need an English language school for missionary children in the larger Salatlga
area.

4. Matthew 24:14..."and this Gospel of the kingdom will be preached throughout the
whole world as a testimony to all nations; and the end will come."

FINALLY
Thank you readers of this UPDATE, regular supporters, committed friends in world evangelization. We remain yours by His loving grace.
The Ritcheys

y^CTTu
Ron, Ellen, Deric, Dasen, and Dorothy Ellen

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MR. AND MRS. WILLIAM RITCHEY

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IL. 60451

Joliet, IlUnols 60432

PERMIT No. 26

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