His
Kingdom
come
THE CITY THAT CANNOT BE HIDDEN
In 2013, God gave YWAM Singapore the unexpected opportunity to resurrect an ageing river
vessel in Palembang. Built in 2006, it was equipped as a primary healthcare medical boat. It
was God’s way of showing us that His spotlight was shining on Palembang - a crucial gateway
city to the rest of South Sumatra, one of the most unreached islands on earth.
A Medical Ships ministry was God’s creative way of giving us access, first, into the unreached
villages along the river and then into the inner cities of Sumatra.
Thank you Julius, for your cinematic photography of Palembang and its Musi River.
God started to call various individuals to be part of
the Medical Ships ministry. Each one was a piece of
the puzzle that was slowly unveiling His big picture for
this city. Since then, countless of short-term outreach
teams and hundreds of volunteers from all over the
globe have served with us. Due to their involvement, the
ministry is now able to serve six unreached people
groups along the river and have witnessed remarkable
transformations in their
relationship with locals.
Palembang was a ground
that was hard when we
first went in to launch
the ministry. 90% of the
population are believers
of the Islamic faith and
0.03% are followers of
Christ. Hudson, one of
the pioneering staff of
the ministry recalls how
the villagers and boat
people were suspicious
and unfriendly. But for
five years, the faithful team declared Psalm 24 over the
city, “Open up ancient gates, open up ancient doors, let
the King of Glory enter…” as they faithfully served the
people by being God’s vessels of healing and comfort.
Previously frowning and growling faces now greet them
with warm smiles and invitations into their homes and
lives. “More than just medical aid, they have started to
welcome our presence and friendship there,” Hudson
shares. “The villagers now trust us with their wives and
children. They hand us rice and fruit whenever they see
us. The leaders of the mosques even ask if we want to
buy land and live amongst them with our families. It is
like seeing darkness turn into light before our eyes.”
The medical ministry has been a gateway by which
YWAM Singapore could reach out more holistically to
Palembang, where our deepening relationships with the
villagers have opened up unprecedented access into
the community, homes, schools, farms and in-land areas
of this city. Over the years, God has provided us with
great opportunities to lay good Kingdom foundations
here. He has connected us with individuals who long for
community transformation and are well-equipped with
practical strategies to do so.
We have also built relationships with the churches and
Christian organisations in the city. We have conducted
training in the churches, and have sent international
outreach teams to work with the local youths in their
ministries, street evangelism, schools, and slums. In
turn, the local churches have sent their young people to
volunteer with us to gain greater exposure and wider
perspectives. It has been a privilege to work with their
young people and help
them discover their call
in God’s Kingdom. God
has since kindled and
revived a passion in the
body of Christ and has
enlightened the eyes of
their hearts to see that
their city is a mission
field.
We are now working
towards refurbishing or
rebuilding our vessel so
that we can reach the
less accessible villages.
Medical care is scarce in these remote areas and it
breaks our hearts that the deteriorating condition of
our current vessel forces us to bypass certain villages.
It is our conviction to be a gateway by which all the
spheres of Palembang — the government, business
sector, medical industry, education systems , and media
and arts — can be transformed into the image of God.
God is at work at an accelerated pace. It was such a
privilege to quietly partner with Him as He lay Kingdom
foundations through us in this city, even before its
gates were opened up to the world. As Palembang
co-hosted the 2018 Asian Games this year, people from
different nations were seen all over the city, a sight
unseen before. Out of the event, we saw how the local
people’s hearts and minds were stretched open to new
possibilities. We brought the local church leaders and
members to mentor them in evangelism and outreach.
They realised that the people of Palembang are ripe for
the love of God and the embrace of His family. This is a
city ripe for harvest.
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