It all started when, in the month of October 2004, my wife; Cynthia and I went to the East Coast to attend Mayday for Marriage Rally sponsored by Focus on the Family in Washington D.C. We had a chance to travel through Philadelphia, as we had heard many Indonesians lived there. We spent two days in Philadelphia to meet brothers/sisters in Christ who could not attend church as they had a difficulty finding one with the same denomination as their own in Indonesia. Their situation touched our hearts because they are as sheep without a shepherd. We started to struggle and the Lord puts in our hearts and minds the burden to serve them. After we arrived in Los Angeles, we often contacted them. Every time we asked whether they attended church on Sunday, their answer was always ‘No’! That added more burdens in our hearts, and we were determined to help them… but we did not know what to do.

At the beginning of April 2005, the Lord gave an inspiration that if we do want to serve them, there must be a church that ready to send their minister to Philadelphia… but which church is would? The Lord then spoke to me to open a new church and registered with the State of California to begin the ministry in Philadelphia. Thus, Agape Evangelical Church was born! The name Agape Evangelical Church was chosen since the vision and mission of our church to serve the surrounding community; within and outside of our church, with the love of Christ – His love is unconditional, unselfish and unchanging. Ultimately, we are to reach the world with the Gospel of Christ, so that everyone in this fallen world will experience God’s grace.

Toward the end of April 2005, we visited Philadelphia to become a witness in an asylum court. Although that court was postponed, the Lord had a different plan. While we were in Philadelphia, the family we have been in contact with had been moving. They told us that there was a house a few houses away from their house for sale by owner. We came, toured the house, and prayed, “If it is God’s will, this house will be the Church that God would have chosen to be the Meeting Place for the Indonesian community in Philadelphia.” By the Lord’s grace, that house was bought, and a settlement was performed at the beginning of August, while I attended the asylum court that was postponed. The house purchased is about 85 years old, and needed quite a bit of renovation. While in Philadelphia in August, we started a fellowship in the residence of the Suyanto family on August 6. Mrs. Chieng-Lie Fritz led the following fellowship, alumni of SEABS (South East Asia Bible Seminary), who lives in Philadelphia. Subsequent fellowships were held every other Saturday.

After the trip to Philadelphia in August, I went back to Indonesia and was able to share the need for a Pastor in Philadelphia at the SEABS Alumni fellowships held in Jakarta and Surabaya. Several servants of the Lord were interested. However, the Lord sent Ev. Eddy Soejanto Lie, who was eagerly to response the calling for the need of a Pastor in Philadelphia. After taking for prayer and struggling for God’s guidance, he made the decision to leave for Philadelphia on October 27, 2005. He personally accommodated his travel expenses to the United States.

Only with our Loving and Ever-Knowing God’s help and kindness for the Indonesian people in Philadelphia, the renovation of the house completed at the end of October. Brothers and sisters from Indonesia, Shanghai and Los Angeles, pulled together towards completing the renovation. Thus, on October 30, 2005, AEC Philadelphia was officially formed. Its Grand Opening service was held with about 30 attendees.

From then on, AEC Philadelphia was led by Ev. Eddy Soejanto Lie, as the Pastor, and Mrs. Chieng Lie Frits, as the Associate Pastor. Worship service in Indonesian is held every Sunday at 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. AEC Philadelphia also held Sunday school during the same time.

We can only bring praise before the Lord who rules the Heavenly Throne. We bring glory only to our Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior! He is the only One worthy to receive our praise and honor! With our own understanding, how could we have accomplished all that has been said? No one! If God has started this ministry in Philadelphia, we trust that He will also take care of and nurture His work. Your continued prayer for this church is what we certainly hope for. May the Lord use AEC Philadelphia to save many more unbelievers and those who are weak-spirited may be strengthened and be used by God to be His witnesses.

Another story unfolded when we started AEC Arcadia, California. The motivation was not much different from AEC Philadelphia’s, which were the many souls scattered as sheep without a shepherd. That need also became a calling within our hearts. Does the Lord want us to start a church as well in Los Angeles?

In searching for His leading and confirmation, we uttered two prayer requests to the Lord, who is the ultimate owner of the Church. First, if the Lord desires us to start a church in Los Angeles, we ask that the Lord prepare a place where worship service could be held in the morning and children can attend the English Service Sunday School. At that time, we had no idea if there would be a church that would be willing to teach our children, while we would hold our Indonesian worship service. It was an impossible request!

The second request was the availability of a song leader who has the same burden towards those scattered souls. We are convinced that for a dynamic worship to uplift the congregation spiritually, it needs to be supported with uplifting songs of praises. This second request was also difficult to fulfill because it requires a high-level of someone’s commitment.

To discover the Lord’s will, we prayed and started to do some research. We started by sharing our vision to Julia Sianturi, who is a very talented song leader. Then, we looked around if there is a church that would facilitate our morning service, while accommodating our children in their Sunday school classes.

Praise the Lord for His guidance! In Mid September 2005, the Lord led us to the Arcadia Presbyterian Church (APC) campus with a letter indicating our request to use a room for the Women Prayer Meeting on Thursday mornings, and a Prayer Meeting on Friday nights. We did not have plans to start a Sunday Worship Service so soon, thinking that it would be impossible to obtain a place on Sunday morning. When we met with APC’s Senior Pastor, Rev. Jim Conner, we shared our vision and mission that the Lord had implanted in our hearts. During our short conversation, he supported our vision and mission. With great enthusiasm and without any further a due Pastor Jim welcomed our request, and would officially discuss the idea with the leaders of APC. Within a short time, we received their positive response. After providing the details to Mr. Glenn Moore, the Business Manger of APC, Mr. Moore indicated that there is a room, which accommodates up to 100 people on the 2nd floor of APC Fellowship Hall. At that same time, I asked if that room is being used on Sunday morning. He then told me that there is nobody used that room and it is available if we want to use for our Sunday service! With much gratefulness, we were given the permission to use that same room for our Sunday morning service. That’s a miracle! They are so generous! They showed God’s love that we so longed for. In short, APC welcomed us warmly!

In our next conversation, we were given official permission to use the Fellowship Hall #24 for our Sunday morning service, prayer meeting every Friday night, and Worship Team practice on Saturdays from 5:00-10:00 p.m.

From all that, we fully convinced that if we depend on God, we will not be disappointed. Truly, God is so good! He knows beyond our own very limited understanding. Even before we thought of our request, He had already prepared a perfect place for His People. Our Lord is Amazing! He provides his followers who hope in the Lord, beyond what has been asked. Praise is to our Gracious Lord who is in the midst of APC! This was the first confirmation from the Lord that it is His will to start AEC Arcadia.

The second confirmation was the availability and commitment of Julia Sianturi and her husband, Ade Sianturi, as well as the Soli Deo Worship Team to join AEC Arcadia as the Worship Team Coordinator. The third confirmation was the supports we received from many brothers/sisters as they joined and became members of AEC Arcadia. They are people with sincere hearts who are ready to stand for the truth. Truly, they are a special gift for AEC Arcadia and us.

With three concrete confirmations, we confidently started AEC Arcadia. The Grand Opening service was held on November 6, one week after AEC Philadelphia became official. 170 people, including children – many more than what was anticipated, attended it. Again, the Lord’s confirmation was given through His blessings. It brought joy to our hearts and the hearts of the congregation, that He shows his blessings to AEC Arcadia. Please continue to pray that the Lord may protect the hearts of each congregation and the ministry team to experience the love of Christ, to be more humble, faithful, enthusiastic, dynamic, and creative and most of all is one-hearted and supportive in implementing the vision and mission of our Lord Jesus Christ! Amen.

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