Mosaic Mennonites

Missional - Intercultural - Formational

Call to Ministry Story

Crazy for Jesus: Virgo Handojo’s Call Story

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by Virgo Handojo

My childhood was filled with the traditions and rites of Chinese culture, which are still deeply rooted in my heart. Unfortunately, those beautiful memories did not last long. Changes in political policy in Indonesia at that time prohibited the development of Chinese traditions. Even so, Chinese teachings and traditions still leave an imprint on my mind. 

Junior high is the second place where I learned of God. I was educated in a Catholic school. Here I learned that attending mass at church is more important than knowing God or learning from the Bible. When I was in junior high school, I attended catechism for one year to be baptized as a Catholic. 

Monday afternoon, March 5, 1979, was an extraordinary day in my life. God touched my life. Tiong Gie, my hometown friend and childhood friend, invited me to a prayer meeting where I experienced a new birth. It is difficult to describe in words, but I have felt the touch of the Divine hand. Since then, I have started to learn to hear and obey God’s voice and live with Him. 

Virgo Handojo speaking at JKI Anugerah. Photo provided by Virgo Handojo.

Meanwhile God began to expand my ministry and relationships with other Christians. Through the Sangkakala family led by Mr. Adi Sutanto with a prayer meeting in Semarang, God began to train my life, together with young people my age. We took turns preaching, becoming traveling evangelists to other villages and cities. Through a network of families, jobs, schools, and the services of the Sangakakala foundation, this spiritual movement and its prayer groups have spread to other cities.  

Through these services I grew both spiritually and in ministry experience. At that time, we also started to plant churches, both in villages and cities, at home and abroad. Through this youth movement, many mission foundations, synods, and new churches have sprung up, both at home and abroad. 

I was involved in the pioneering of the Indonesian Christian Congregation Synod (JKI Synod), which is theologically affiliated with the Charismatic Anabaptist movement. In 1986 I was ordained and served at the Maranatha Indonesian Christian Congregation church, Ungaran. Together with the JKI synod, we started the Maranatha Bible School, which became the seed of Sangkakala High School, Salatiga. 

In 1987, with just $65, I landed in Los Angeles to study at Fuller Theological Seminary. By God’s grace, I managed to complete three master’s degrees in the fields of Intercultural Studies, Theology, and Leadership, and in 2000 a Ph.D. in Marriage and Family Studies from the School of Psychology. In 1989 God brought me and my wife to Mrs. Dina Boon from the city of Sierra Madre, CA. We were asked to clean Mrs. Dina Boon’s house from dark powers.  

Through this ministry, the International House Fellowship was born in Dina Boon’s house. At the end of 1990 this family association grew to 30-50 people from 10-13 different nationalities. Through this partnership, the Anugerah Indonesian Christian Congregation (JKIA) was born on September 19, 1992, at the Free Methodist Church, Pasadena. The first services began on Sunday, September 20, 1992. A few months later the church moved to Sierra Madre Congregational Church in Sierra Madre, CA. 

At the San Jose Mennonite General Assembly (July 4, 2007), JKIA, along with two Indonesian Mennonite churches in Los Angeles and the Philadelphia Praise Center (PPC), established the Indonesian Mennonite Association (IMA). Today IMA is a member of the Racial Ethnic Council of the Mennonite Church USA. Truly, God exists, is miraculous, and really loves us all. Amen. 

Makmur Halim’s Call Story: The Grace of God

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by Makmur Halim

I was born into a Buddhist family. My parents didn’t know Jesus. In my childhood, my parents took me to the Baptist school in South Sumatra where I was born. I began to learn about Jesus at this Christian school, through reading the Bible and going to the church. At home, however, I also worshipped my ancestor’s spirit, which is idolatry, and I went along with my parents to the Buddhist temple.  

During my final year at high school in November 1980, I met a pastor who convinced me to follow Christ and leave my syncretistic belief. I was baptized in January 1981; I received God’s calling in the same year and went to Bethel Seminary in Jakarta. 

I was involved in ministry in Bethel Church of Indonesia until I graduated in 1986. In 1988, God opened the way to send me to Portland Bible College, and in 1990 I went to Multnomah Seminary in Portland, Oregon. Later, in 1992, I was accepted by Fuller Seminary for my doctoral degree and graduated in 1998.  

My parents came to know Christ in 1991. I married my wife, Manishati Dachi, in 1993, and God gave us two children. I also pastored an Indonesian Church in Downey, California, did mission work in Sao Paolo, Brazil, and traveled for ministry to Europe. After returning home to Indonesia in 1999, I spent time directing the graduate program in a Bible School in East Java, teaching at seminaries in both Indonesia and Australia, and writing two books.  

Photo provided by Makmur Halim

In 2004, I returned to the United States, with a plan to pursue my Ph.D. but discontinued it for many reasons. In 2007, I began pastoring with Indonesian Community Christian Fellowship in San Bernardino, CA, and I also teach part time at Union University of California (Westminster, CA) and Union University International (Westminster, CA). It is only by the grace of God and journeying through the ministry with my family that all of this is possible.  

Trust That the Turtles Are There 

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I have always wanted to help people and to care for them.  As a middle school student, I tutored elementary students in our community. Every summer I was a candy striper at the local hospital.  Since high school, my career has been in customer service.

Although my family of origin was traditionally Baptist and Pentecostal, my family began to attend a Mennonite church because my daughter’s friends attended the Mennonite church. My extended family thought this was weird: Black & Mennonite didn’t compute.

Soon, our church introduced a new Associate Pastor.  I began to sense that I was supposed to work with him.  I had a full-time career, but I kept having this tug.  I kept saying, “No thanks God, I am fine.”

Then one night I had a dream: I was attempting to walk across a lake and as I took a step, a turtle would pop up for me to step on. As far as I looked, I saw no turtles, but when I placed my foot out, a turtle would appear to guide me across the lake.

I felt like God was saying he would provide. Through more prayer, God encouraged me to talk to the Associate Pastor. I believed God and trusted that the Associate Pastor would have the rest. Who was I that God would speak to me about serving in a church?

Jaye Lindo (right) and her husband, Robert Lindo. Photo provided by Jaye Lindo.

The Associate Pastor responded, “Praise God, you are an answer to a prayer.” However, the church had never paid for office assistance before. I thought, “Ok, thanks, I tried. Have a nice day.” Problem solved.

Yet, the church called me to an interview. I was curious as to why God didn’t lead me to talk to the Lead Pastor, so during the interview process I apologized to the Lead Pastor that I didn’t come to him, but I felt that I was specifically supposed to work with the Associate Pastor.  The Lead Pastor then informed me, confidentially, that he was retiring. I am still amazed by the love of God to gently woo me into service.

The family, board, and church affirmed me to serve as Director of Operations. The Lead pastor retired and the Associate Pastor became Lead Pastor and soon hired an Assistant Pastor and Youth Pastor.

While serving with these pastors, they often highlighted my gifts and encouraged a call to ministry. They allowed me to lead and participate in many pastoral functions. Eventually, after some pastoral transitions, the church and my family anointed me to serve as Youth Pastor.

In 2017, I completed the S.T.E.P. (Study and Training for Effective Pastoral Ministry) program through EMU. I was the Youth Pastor and co-led our Youth Mentoring Program. In 2018 I completed Stephen Ministry Leadership Training and trained 18 Stephen Ministers as I led our Pastoral Care program. In May 2022, I will complete my EMU Certification as a Spiritual Companion.

Leadership Minister Emily Ralph Servant leads the licensing service for Pastor Jaye Lindo. Photo provided by Jaye Lindo.

In each position I have been able to serve more, love more, give more, and grow more.  This is my call.

My call journey has been a progression. I didn’t wake up one day and know that I was going to be Pastor of 7 Ways Home Fellowship and Leadership Development Associate with Mosaic Conference. God has always told me to put one foot in front of the other, and I will be supported by God each step.

I am grateful that I am part of this beautiful Mosaic Community.  Trust that your turtles are there; just keep moving forward!

Called into Ministry

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February 2, 2022

by Hilarion Chidi Ihezuoh

The call of God is a human’s long-term commitment to his divine plan and purpose. A person dwelling in his/her calling is the most blessed place to be on earth. No wonder Paul wrote of our calling as “a high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:14).

Pastor Chidi Ihezuoh (2nd from left) and his family.

My call into ministry began when I was working as a bank auditor in Nigeria. As an auditor, I travelled throughout Nigeria with the gospel of Christ in mind. I met people of different cultures and values, as Nigeria has over 250 ethnic groups and 500 languages. During this time, I was involved in the Pentecostal church, Winners chapel, which is spread throughout Nigeria. I was actively involved as a cell minister and part of the church financial board. I began to see the movement of God as I prayed for people, with healing following, shared the gospel of Christ, and most importantly, experienced winning souls for Christ. I followed up with these people to continue the nurture, and I experienced great joy as they were still standing strong in the Lord.

As my 40th birthday approached, I desired to leave my career in banking and start my own business in producing palm kernel oil. I usually inquire of God before I undertake any task, and this time my spiritual mentor was involved. We both prayed separately. Not long into the prayer time, my spiritual mentor said that Lord wants me to relocate to the US for mission work and not pursue the business I want to do. This came as a shock to me.

I then went on a retreat of fasting and prayer. On retreat, I heard the Lord clearly tell me, “I am sending you to the US, but you must ensure you work in ‘righteousness’ and do everything right.” Acts 1:8 was the matching order, paraphrased, “God will release his power; you will witness in the US and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

Pastor Chidi Ihezuoh (right) and his wife, Stella Adigo Ihezuoh.

My journey to California was contrary to the initial plan of settling in New York. This, in my opinion, was orchestrated by God. We joined Los Angeles Faith Chapel, and on the first Sunday of worshipping at the church, a woman walked up to me, laid hands on me, and started to pray for me. The woman started making declarations saying, “I see the call of God upon your life, the land will hear of your name, and you will do great things for the kingdom of God in the land.”

After church service, I realized the woman, Pastor Grace Pam, was the co-founder of the church. This was a confirmation of God’s call in my life.

The Los Angeles Faith Chapel became home for my family and me. Pastor Chuwang Pam graciously allowed me to lead prayer meetings and offer pastoral care, and God showed up and healed people.

Eventually, Pastor Chuwang Pam encouraged me to enroll in the Journey Program, a missional leadership development program through Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary (AMBS). I am happy to say I completed the program in September 2021. I was installed and licensed as a Pastor with Mennonite Church USA on February 10, 2019. In December 2021, I was ordained and credentialed as a Pastor within Mosaic Conference.

For me, we can never run away from his calling, “For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable” (Romans 11:29, AMP). You may decide to go do your own business and not pay attention to his divine purpose, but God will always find you, for His calling is final.

Never Too Young for God

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I remember feeling a calling to the ministry as a young boy growing up in the Catholic Church. In third grade, I was preparing to receive my communion for the first time. I took this very seriously; it was a big deal.  

Leading up to this time, I recall being picked on and teased for my faith. “Kyle is going to be the priest of the family,” I heard.  Even though I was teased, I found a love for God’s church. However, due to unfortunate circumstances, my family stopped going to church before I started high school.  

This was the beginning of some very dark years for me. During my high school years, I was involved with the wrong group of friends, my family relationships were distant, I did not care about my studies, and I had little to no relationship with God.  

In my early college years, I met Alicia, who later became my wife. Alicia told me more about Jesus than I had ever known before. This also led me to have my first interaction at Franconia (PA) Mennonite Church, where I felt a real sense of welcome and community.   

During the Good Friday service in 2015 at Franconia Church, I heard the voice of God. God told me, “This is where I want you; this is where you will raise your family. This is where you belong.” This was the first time I heard the audible voice of God, and I have desired to be obedient to his calling for me to be at Franconia.  

Prior to that, my plan for my life had been one of destruction and sin. Yes, I felt a calling to ministry when I was a boy, but I wanted to ignore that calling. But when I heard God speak, I was open to his guidance and will for my life. I was tired of keeping my back to him. When God spoke, I realized that his plan for my life was better than my own. When God spoke, I was ready to listen. Since then, I have developed a strong desire to share God’s truth and God’s truth alone. 

I have been told that I am too young to be a pastor, too young to be preaching the Word, or too young to be so conservative. In the past, these comments would hurt, and it would cause self-doubt. Maybe I am not ready?  

However, I have taken a new approach to this mindset. I desire for God to use me for the church today and the church of the next generation. Too often I see youth and others feel like they need to take a back seat because they feel too young and inadequate. I want to help them be open for God to use them, whether they are 11 or 43.  

While in my pastoral role at Franconia, I have seen God use the youth in powerful ways, ways that have taught me, and other adults, a thing or two. So, I challenge you: How is God using the children or youth in your life? What can you learn from them? Don’t say they are too young. God can use them just like he can use you!  

Called to Hope

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After 20 years of pastoral service, is it surprising that the Salvatori family is answering the call to serve in the Dominican Republic as missionaries?  Most of our friends have answered emphatically, “No!”  Most people who know us well thought God might use us in intercultural ministry.

The Salvatori family: (L-R) Stacy, Talia, Franco, Micah (in back), and Anna. Photo provided by Stacy Salvatori of Salvatori Photography.

However, our ministry call story begins long before we met each other, as the legacy of serving others for the Gospel of Jesus Christ began in our families of origin.  

For Franco, his story started as a young boy when Jesus radically transformed his family.  His father, an alcoholic and addict, came home one day reporting a new faith in Jesus had changed him.  It would only be a few short years before his parents began working in the local church and eventually became the executive directors of a local mission.  

Stacy’s legacy of ministry runs even deeper.  Her maternal grandfather was a Methodist pastor in rural Kentucky, and her father’s family spent two generations in foreign missionary service in the Democratic Republic of Congo.  As a martyred missionary, her grandfather’s legacy sent all three of his children into full time mission service and Stacy’s parents still serve in the Democratic Republic of Congo as career missionaries. 

As a family, we have often prayed about opportunities to serve interculturally.  For years, God led us to serve in local churches and pastoral roles.  At this time, it is the training, education, and pastoral ministry experience that will be central to our role as missionaries. Bold Hope International has invited us to join their team in the Dominican Republic in three main areas:  Development, Pastoral Training, and Advocacy.  

Trains are used to transport sugarcane from the countryside to the central processing plant in La Romana, Dominican Republic. Photo provided by Stacy Salvatori of Salvatori Photography.

These three points of interest have led us to serve in the Dominican Republic:

  • There are migrant workers (primarily Hatians) who have found asylum in small sugarcane villages (bateys) that allow them to survive, but not thrive.  
  • Approximately 85% of pastors globally have never received any theological training.
  • We believe the good news of Jesus Christ overcomes this lack of resources and we want to be part of the solution.  

In the bateys, our family will work alongside the child sponsorship and educational initiatives to help bring hope in these villages.  We will work to strengthen and develop the pastoral networks to provide the training and resources that pastors and churches need to further the gospel.  And we will help partner individual bateys with churches and organizations in the Dominican Republic and abroad to offer long term investments and impact in these communities.  

Bateys are villages that house sugarcane workers.  This half-court basketball court serves as a central gathering point for the young people in this batey. Photo provided by Stacy Salvatori of Salvatori Photography.

We believe in the hopeful news that God offers humanity through Jesus.  We believe in the work of Bold Hope International.  And we believe God has been preparing us for this for a long time.  

We are excited about the opportunity God is calling our family to and ask you to partner with us in prayer. If you would like to offer financial support or become a partner organization in a batey, please visit our website at The Hopeful Endeavor.

Faith that is Worth Everything

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I would describe my call to ministry as something of a gradual, unfolding process that took place over time rather than anything resembling a one-time event. I became a Christian in 1972, just months before beginning college in a very secular setting in rural New Hampshire. 

Although my family had attended church regularly while I was growing up, I do not recall ever hearing a clear presentation of the gospel during that time. So everything about the faith felt very new to me. I was reading the Bible and was involved in meaningful Christian fellowship for the first time. I simply was trying to learn what it meant to cultivate an actual relationship with God.  

The first conviction I remember dawning on me as a believer was that being a follower of Jesus was the most important thing in life. That was a significant paradigm shift for me. I can recall it occurring to me that if this faith was worth anything, it must be worth everything. I wanted to live consistently with that truth. 

The second conviction was related to the first: while I had very little idea at the time of what it would mean for the future, I became aware that the primary thing I wanted to do with my life was to serve God in some full-time capacity. I probably did not have a very good understanding at that point of the priesthood of all believers and that one could serve God in any vocation; I simply knew that I wanted the focus of my life to be some form of ministry. 

After college graduation, I worked for a year and then got involved with “A Christian Ministry in the National Parks.” I spent six months in Death Valley National Monument (now Park) in California, working during the week and leading church services for visitors on the weekends. That was my first experience preaching regularly and served to confirm the desire of my heart to be involved in full-time ministry. 

In the fall of 1978, I began a masters of divinity program at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Massachusetts. I had numerous opportunities to serve in a local church during those years and received a lot of encouragement from people. I finished seminary in 1982 and have been engaged in pastoral ministry ever since. I was called to serve as Care Pastor at Souderton (PA) Mennonite Church in early 2017. 

Looking back, I resonate with the Lord’s statement to Paul recorded in 2 Corinthians 12:9, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (NIV). It has been a great privilege for me to serve in Christ’s church and to preach “the unsearchable riches of Christ” (Eph. 3:8, KJV).  

I am conscious, however, that any fruit borne has been the result of God’s grace manifested through my own weakness. Scripture and experience have taught me that “we have this treasure [the ministry of the gospel] in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us” (2 Cor. 4:7, NIV). 

As I come down the homestretch of full-time ministry, I hope to keep relying on God’s grace and power so that God will be glorified, the church edified, and many brought to Christ. Beyond that, all I really desire is to hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant,” on the last day! 

Provoked by God

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by Melky Tirtasaputra, Whitehall (Allentown, PA) congregation

I grew up with one older brother and two younger sisters, all with various religious beliefs.  My grandmother was a mystic from Banten (Indonesia) and converted to Christianity.  My mom only believed in God and my father was an animist.  My brother attended a Catholic school since kindergarten, while my two other sisters went to a Christian school.  I used to lived in a Buddhist temple, learned mysticism, and went to a Muslim school where I learned how to pray and follow the Muslim lifestyle. I searched for my religious identity.   

God’s purpose for my life started in 6th grade.  The way God called me was amazing.  At an early age, I was an independent child who sold goods to make money. I was fascinated by money. A friend invited me to go to church. Every time I walked to church, I found money on the street. God “provoked” me through money. 

On April 24, 1981 (Good Friday), I was baptized.  Since that day, I became more and more interested in serving God and always longed to go to church, until I was almost kicked out of my home. God changed my life not only to be His servant, but also by helping my parents see the changes in my life. Finally, my parents became believers and were baptized. On Pentecost my entire family went to church together. 

When I was 16 years old, I felt a strong calling from God for me to be more engaged in the Bible so I took an online course while I also studied psychology.  For three years, I took Bible classes at night and then started to preach at our church. 

Through the years, earning money came very easily for me. It caused me to almost forget what my calling was, even though I was a high school religion teacher. 

One day I met a girl who has now become my wife.  She saw my potential and God’s calling on me as His servant. This is why she wanted to marry me.  However, I ignored that calling because I wanted to be a businessman who could also serve God. 

In 2001, we moved to the USA and lived in Philadelphia. We started a new life, working at the factory. Every Sunday I attended church services and sometimes served as a singer. 

In 2005, we joined Philadelphia Praise Center (Philadelphia, PA) and served together with Aldo Siahaan as Head Elders. 

In 2007, I pursued an opportunity to start a business with FedEx as an Independent Contractor, while still serving as an Elder at Philadelphia Praise Center.  In 2010, I moved to Nations Worship Center (Philadelphia, PA) to assist Pastor Beny Krisbianto and the congregation, who had just joined Franconia Conference. My duties were to serve as an elder and head of the church construction, while my wife was in charge of the church’s finances. 

In 2015 I began taking pastoral ministry classes at Eastern Mennonite University, graduating in 2018.  In October 2019, I responded to God’s calling as a pastor at Whitehall Mennonite Church (Allentown, PA), joining Pastor Rose Bender.

It turns out I enjoy my calling as a pastor.  I thank God for His faithfulness and love as God waits for my response to His calling. Thanks to my wife who always supports me and never gives up either. Thank you to EMU and to Mosaic Mennonite Conference who helped me fulfill my calling.