Good News from the Bangka Congregation - Jun Kong

Winning the Battle of the Flesh

The opportunity to know God is not limited by age, as long as a person has faith and the willingness to keep learning. Such is the personal experience of Jun Kong, a 68-year-old father who was born and raised in Pangkalpinang.

Since childhood, Jun Kong was taught to honor his ancestors and hold fast to the worship traditions passed down to him. He did not have the opportunity to know God deeply, until his child and child-in-law became disciples of Jesus, seven years ago and a year after that, respectively. They were the ones who made every effort so that he could receive the same joy. Praise God, on Sunday, December 22, 2019, Jun Kong gave himself to be baptized and became a disciple of Jesus.

Efforts to reach Jun Kong began six years ago. He was quite open and willing to study the Bible. Unfortunately, the study was not completed because there were still principles in his life that he was unwilling to change. Even so, he still often attended worship together with the Pangkalpinang Congregation. 

In 2019, Jun Kong was again helped to strengthen his faith in God. He studied the Bible regularly every Thursday. Even this time, he was still hindered by tradition, and there was also one matter he had not been able to settle, namely going to make peace with a neighbor with whom he was in conflict.

The disciples of Jesus involved in helping him had at one point become discouraged, seeing their efforts seem to end in vain. However, they decided to remain patient and keep loving Jun Kong. In addition to reading the Bible, they also prayed together every Saturday morning. Jun Kong also seemed to greatly enjoy fellowship with the community.

God loved Jun Kong, and by the power of the cross of Christ, he finally became willing to visit his neighbor to ask forgiveness. This was a difficult thing, because he did not feel that he had done anything wrong. However, looking to the cross of Christ, he realized that Jesus truly was not at fault either. He, who was without sin, was willing to come down into the world as a man and die on the cross for sins He did not commit. Not only that, Jun Kong also stopped the idol worship that had been difficult for him to give up all this time.

Jun Kong has taken a big step to begin repentance. It is not easy to apologize to someone who has wronged us, especially when we are already Jun Kong's age. It is also not easy to let go of traditions that have been practiced since childhood. However, Jun Kong has won the battle against his fleshly nature. After settling all of that, he said that he felt an extraordinary sense of relief.

At present, Jun Kong hopes that his wife can also be baptized and become a disciple of Jesus. His wife is now studying the Bible, and her progress has encouraged everyone involved in helping. She is open and has a gentle heart that is willing to be taught.

We pray that Jun Kong's wife can follow her husband's footsteps in carrying out each act of repentance and becoming a disciple of Jesus. Their story has encouraged the disciples in the Pangkalpinang Congregation who are helping their parents become disciples of Jesus. May this story also inspire you who are striving to win your parents in the Lord. Amen!

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Church GKDI is currently in 35 cities. We have Bible Study activities in every area; if you need information or would like to be involved, contact us at Church GKDI Official:

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