Lessons From the EastSample

Kingdom Focused

A few years ago at a large conference of pastors from around the world, I sat with two men, Eddy Leo and Sam Sung Kim. It was my introduction to these remarkable leaders. Eddy is a pastor in the largest Muslim country in the world, Indonesia, and Sam Sung started a church in a very repressive country in Central Asia. They live thousands of miles apart, but they came to the same conclusion about the kingdom of God. They realized God wants all believers to make a difference in their communities. There is no “upper story” of pastors and “lower story” of the rest. All believers are called, all are ministers, and all can have an impact on the people around them. We may be doctors or farmers, plumbers or executives, teachers or housewives, pastors or city council members, but all of us follow the king and represent him through our words and actions.

As Eddy thought and prayed about the kingdom of God, he wondered what it would look like for the people in his church to have a radical impact on their city. A businessman bought land and started a plantation to grow lettuce. He invited street kids who had no hope to come there. Many of these kids were orphans, and others had run away from home. The man patiently taught them how to work with discipline and excellence. This plantation grows the lettuce used in the McDonald’s restaurants in Indonesia.

I’ve already shared the story of the medical professionals who were moved to care for the mentally ill living on the streets of Jakarta. Instead of lobbying the government to care for them, Eddy and the psychologists created a place for them, treated them with respect, and taught them the skill of cutting hair so they could earn money and live with dignity. Many of these men and women came to Christ. The congregation is called The Crazy People Church. They wear this badge with honor.

These and the other global pastors aren’t devoted to building a church; they’re devoted to building God’s kingdom on earth. They don’t just teach about God’s love and power; they demonstrate it in very tangible ways. They proclaim the good news, but only after they’ve won the right to be heard by providing medical and social services to the community—not just for the Christians in the community, but for everyone in need.