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The city we call home is very much a two-in-one type of place. On one hand it has the reputation of being the premiere Christian city of Indonesia. Christianity first entered Indonesia via this island/city. In this city we see tall church spires and hear church bells. In this city we awaken each morning to the sound of a devotional broadcast over loud speakers in our community. From our apartment it is ten-minute-or-less walk to one dozen places of worship where Jesus is proclaimed as Lord.
 Many natives of our city and province have migrated to other parts of the country and the world. Muslims from around the country have come to this city in numbers large enough, joined with the local Muslims who trace their Islamic roots to Arabic traders who came before the Europeans, to now compose half the population of this city and province.
We can praise God that this city has a greater-than-
 average-for-Indonesia per-capita number of bibles and churches, but our hearts break for the non-Christian population of our city that has been increasing steadily over the past two decades or more. 
Many of the large unreached people groups of Indonesia have significant populations in this city and province. Locals refer to these as BBMs (BBM is the Indonesian abbreviation for petroleum fuels) meaning the Butonese, Bugis and Makasar. These large Muslim groups have migrated here in huge numbers from the island of Sulawesi to the West of Maluku.
 I can ride public transportation from our apartment to parts of our town that are totally Muslim — home to BBMs, as well as Javanese and Minangkabau. Two things about these populations concern me. First, there are militant elements among them, who long to see our nation transformed into a Caliphate, ruled by Islamic law. They fervently believe that the greatest need of our nation is for strong implementation of Syariah Law.
My second, and far greater, concern is that so few of our believing neighbors are intentionally endeavoring to share the Good News of Hope and Forgiveness in Jesus. An hour outside the city, Mike is growing vegetables and building bridges for the Gospel with the SKT, an indigenous Muslim group, that a few months ago was still considered an UUPG (Unengaged Unreached People Group). Now at least someone is engaging them in Jesus’ name. A friend, Jerry, has had several good conversations with Muslims recently. O and L from the Bible College in Java are trying to find the strength and wisdom to point the Muslims they meet toward the love of Jesus. All of these need your prayers and God’s strength. Thank you for praying.
Since Easter one of the most-anointed evangelists to Muslim I know has been here in our city, seeking out the specific people
group to whom he is called, telling them, and their neighbors, boldly and clearly of Jesus’ unique power to save. We ask that you join with us praying for him to secure the approval of his supporting partners, legal paperwork needed to live here with his family, and the specific direction of God in the making of Disciples who make Disciples …
Until all Clearly Hear,
Dennis and Lynn Free
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