BALI , INDONESIA
Andre Agus first encountered God ’ s vision for his country , Indonesia , in 2005 through Alan Lim , former National Director of YWAMSG . It was a vision to pioneer an international campus that will propel his fellow countrymen into the nations . For years , Indonesia had been a recipient of the outside world and their resources . This had created a distorted belief that their Nation was not ready to send out missionaries . Andre yearned to change that . Stirred by the vision , he agreed to pioneer the UofN Bali with Alan in 2006 . In 2007 , they sent their first DTS team outside of Indonesia — to China and East Timor — for their outreach . The staff and students experienced God ’ s faithfulness , punctuated by His miracles , as He raised their faith to trust in Him . After the outreach , one of the DTS students from Bandung was convicted to remain in East Timor , and she did so for 2 years . Andre and his wife , Sentha , also spent a year in China before returning to the base in Bali . This was a step into a vision realised , which paved the way to maturity . Beyond their initial focus on developing themselves and training their staff , they have now cast their net to reach the unreached .
Andre ’ s allegiance to God is a fierce one . “ We come from the Kingdom of heaven , not Indonesia . It is not about empathy or compassion for those different from us , but whether we treat others as God sees them — in love and respect . We are equal in God , and we represent Him , as ambassadors for the Kingdom .” This is the voice of one who has tasted redemption , a citizen of a nation that survived colonial oppression , which conquered , raped and depleted , distorting God ’ s image for them . As redemption sets them free from bondage , the redeemed find their true identity in Him , and they will be released to embrace the gift of others and the nations among them — in relationship , and in purpose .
Just as Andre is conscious of the nations coming together , to reconcile , restore and serve each other to advance God ’ s Kingdom , Alan believes that the nations have been called to celebrate each other ’ s strengths . Indonesia ’ s relational gift of hospitality , married to Singapore ’ s visionary , strategic thinking , will complement their weaknesses . It will take all nations and cultures to paint an accurate portrayal of who God is and what His Kingdom will look like .
When Alan ’ s heart was gripped for Indonesia , he felt God say , “ I love this Nation . I have plans for them , but they need help . Will you be willing to help them ?” It was a crystal-clear call that moved him to live out his calling as a Singaporean , to refresh , replenish and release the Indonesians by being a servant leader to them . It was the outpouring of grace and humility from an international community that rectified the empathy deficit they suffered in the past . This restoration is only made possible by the death and resurrection of our Saviour , the only power sufficient to bring the bloodlines that divide us , into the single , unified bloodline — deeper than all other bloodlines — on the Cross .
The question we now ask ourselves , ‘ How do we champion our staff and students to play a part in the frontiers ?’ — Andre Agus ,
Base Director of UofN Bali with his wife , Sentha
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