Together Beyond Borders: 1Gen Mission Trip to Ngabang, Indonesia

Stepping Out in Faith

As followers of Christ, we have a given responsibility by Jesus as a final command for us as believers before ascending to heaven. In Matthew 28:19 to 20, Jesus says to His disciples to “Go, make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit and to teach them to obey all that God has commanded us to”. He also gave a promise that he will be with us “always, even to the end of the age”. With this given promise in mind, an empowered team of eight of our youths from 1Gen, from Kajang Assembly of God, embarked on a journey to Ngabang, Indonesia from the 13th of September till the 16th September 2025. It has been a short trip yet the most meaningful one indeed.

Preparation

This community outreach was unlike any other. There were a few challenges that came about throughout the trip, but God’s power was more evident than any of those obstacles. Forming the team was the first challenge as we could not get the number, which followed along with a lot of discouragements. But I knew that these challenges marked a great purpose ahead of us. A few of us began praying and committing this trip to the Lord. And we saw Ecclesiastes 3:1 come to life – For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven. At the right moment and at the right time God completed the team. The power of prayer was displayed mightily throughout this trip.

The preparation of this trip started with multiple plannings and despite everyone’s busy schedules, we gathered every week to spend some time in prayer, worship and just soaking in God’s presence. The emphasis of spending time with the Lord has impacted our young ones as we learnt to depend on God and listen to His voice. The Holy Spirit has been the best teacher as He equipped us in ways we never could have imagined. Some of our youths preached, some led worship and some shared testimonies for the very first time. It’s so beautiful how the word of God says in Philippians 2:13, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.When we learn to put God first, He will equip us and enable us.

The Journey to Ngabang

We started our journey by leaving to the airport at approximately 6 a.m. in the morning. Our flight was almost a two-hour ride to Pontianak, Indonesia. The journey from Pontianak to Ngabang took more than five hours by road as it was filled with bumpy, roller-coaster-like rides! To add on, the rain slowed us down, making our journey longer than anticipated. Despite the rough roads, we had a pleasant and joyful time of fellowship with the local pastors, Pastor Krendo and Pastor Berkat throughout the drive. Upon arrival, we had the privilege to connect with a cell group in Praise Community Church (PCC) Ngabang.

Even in our tiredness, God gave us the strength to share our testimonies, speak His Word, and lift our voices in a song medley. The day ended with a wonderful time of fellowship with the members of the church. Though language was a barrier, the Holy Spirit bridged the gap, and we believe the people were deeply blessed. Just as Jesus promised in John 14:26 that ‘The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have said to you.’ We knew He was present, teaching and guiding us.

Visit to Tabik

Our second day began under grey skies and a steady downpour. Regardless of the rain, our mission continued. We visited a local church in a small village called Tabik. We had a powerful time of engagement with the youths and children, witnessing how God moved among them.

We started the day with an icebreaker, moving into a time of worship, testimonies, and a creative skit session, followed by the sharing of God’s Word. God enabled us to pray and reach out to some of the members, many rededicated their lives to God. It was heart-moving to see even the children come before requesting prayer for their parents. The church graciously blessed us with a delicious meal, and we had such a meaningful time interacting with the people there. The people here greeted us with such warmth and kindness. It was deeply moving to see how God is working in these rural areas. Many of the youths here had such boldness and courage in their faith. One thing that truly touched our hearts was the spirit of gratitude among the people and though they have so little, their joy and contentment spoke volumes.

After our visit in Tabik concluded, we headed back to PCC Ngabang. Initially, we were supposed to head over to a nearby waterfall for a baptism service, but once again, the rain came in the way. As a result, the baptism had to be cancelled. We took the opportunity to rest and prepare for the evening session.In the meantime, some of us enjoyed a wonderful time of fellowship with the church youths. We took this time to bond and get to know them better.

One powerful lesson we learned from them was to always have a heart ready to serve God. Despite having repetitive worship practices back-to-back for the upcoming sessions, they never complained. Instead, they served joyfully, with smiles on their faces and hearts willing to honor the Most High God. At times, we ourselves may feel overwhelmed to serve God because of life’s struggles. Yet, let us be reminded that God is El-Roi, He is the God who sees. He is the God who never fails. When we put His kingdom first, He will honor us, sustain us, and carry us through every season.

Youth Revival Night

That evening, our session continued with a Youth Revival Meeting at PCC Ngabang. Our team led worship, icebreakers, testimonies, the sharing of God’s Word, and prayer. God’s presence was tangible as we ministered to youths facing real-life challenges. During prayer, a young girl came forward. I asked the Lord, “What shall I pray for her, and is there any word You have for her?” As I prayed, I suddenly felt a heavy burden on my shoulders and began interceding in the Spirit. Tears flowed uncontrollably. I simply couldn’t hold them back.

Later, I was reminded of Romans 8:26:“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.” That moment felt surreal. I had never wept for someone without even knowing their situation. Yet, it was a beautiful reminder that God is close to the broken-hearted, and He loves us deeply despite our wounds and flaws.

The revival meeting ended around 11 p.m., and it was such a wonderful time of connecting with the youths and witnessing how God moved powerfully among them. It was uplifting to see how He used our team to speak life into their hearts. Truly, our God is a wonder-working God! The night ended with dinner at a nearby restaurant and a fun, memorable bike ride through the streets.

Empowering Behind Bars

The third day began bright and pleasant after two days of heavy rain. For the first part of the day, the team split into two. While one group spent the morning bringing hope to those in Ngabang Prison, the other joined the Sunday service at PCC Ngabang.The Sunday service was filled with the presence of God. Our team led a powerful time of worship, followed by the Word shared by our pastor. It concluded with an uplifting prayer session for Pastor Krendo, Pastor Fara, and the entire church.

Meanwhile, at Ngabang Prison, the other half of our team encouraged the prisoners by sharing testimonies and the Word of God. Personally, this was one of my favourite moments of the entire trip. Witnessing how God used our youths to bring hope in a prison was truly remarkable.

Many of us had never been to a prison before, and this experience opened our eyes to how God can use anyone – regardless of background or status. We don’t need to be someone of high standing for God to call us. All He asks for is a heart of obedience and faith in Jesus. I was reminded of how God used Paul mightily, even though he was once a persecutor. Worship at the prison was led by some of the inmates, and I remember one of my teammates saying, “I felt like crying.” Their worship brought down heaven, and the power of God was moving so mightily in our midst.

After the sharing, we told them that we were willing to pray for anyone who wants to be prayed. Many of them came forward to be prayed without a second thought. I was reminded that we are not called to judge, but to love. If God could use fishermen and tax collectors in the Bible, He can certainly use these inmates for His greater purpose. In these last days, God is looking for hearts that love Him passionately. This visit truly changed my perspective, and we were deeply grateful for the opportunity.

Little Hearts, Big Faith

After the prison visit, our team gathered again at PCC Ngabang for Sunday school with about 20 to 25 children. It was an impactful time of fellowship and interaction. We led worship, played icebreakers, shared the story of Jesus feeding the five thousand, and guided the children in a colouring activity. As a team, we felt privileged to encourage people of all ages such as the adults, youths, and children. Each encounter reminded us of God’s faithfulness and the beauty of serving His people. After Sunday school, we had lunch and a lovely time of fellowship with Pastor Krendo, his family, and the church youths known as “Empower.” We rested briefly before preparing for the evening session.

The Final Outpouring

The final session of our community outreach was the evening service, where our team once again led worship, shared testimonies, and delivered the Word of God. It ended with a powerful time of prayer. This trip stretched us as a team as it challenged us to go the extra mile in preparing worship sets, testimonies, and sermons. Despite the language barriers, God worked in extraordinary ways.

After the evening service, we packed our bags and began our journey to Pontianak. Despite the rough roads, the drive was filled with joy, laughter, and heartfelt conversations. We truly cherished the friendships and memories that will last a lifetime. We arrived in Pontianak around 1 a.m. and checked into a nearby hotel for the night.

Our trip ended with a short but meaningful time of fellowship over breakfast with Pastor Krendo and Pastor Berkat before heading to the airport. This mission trip was truly rewarding as we witnessed firsthand how God moves when His people obey. When we put our faith in Jesus, He does the impossible. It was amazing to see how God used our team in ways we never could have imagined. Our young people expressed gifts and talents that they had never expressed before. Even when we felt unqualified or unsure, God revealed His greater plan. Throughout the trip, His grace sustained us.

We returned safely, healthy, and filled with joy. This journey reminded us to obey when God calls because when we surrender to Him, the rest is in His hands. As Psalms 55:22 declares:

“Cast your cares on the Lord
    and he will sustain you;
He will never let
    the righteous be shaken.”

This trip has been a true blessing indeed. All glory to our Lord Jesus Christ!