Stenley was eager to take on the challenge of the mission field. A recent graduate of Palembang Bible School in Jakarta, the Lord sent him to the very remote island of Mentawai, Indonesia. Here, inhabitants mix witchcraft and the occult with Islam.
Stenley was very bold in preaching the Gospel, telling Muslims to burn their idols when they received Jesus Christ.
One day a newly-saved Muslim burned his idol, which contained a rolled-up scroll from the Koran. When area Muslims heard of this, they became very angry and reported Stenley to the officials. He was arrested and thrown in jail. The pastor of the Bible school heard about Stenley’s arrest and went immediately to see him.
When Pastor Siwi arrived at the jail, he was told Stenley had been transferred to prison. Days later, when Pastor Siwi finally found Stenley, he found him severely beaten, bruised, and unconscious. Repeated blows to the head had left him in a coma.
Pastor Siwi did what he could to care for Stenley and make him more comfortable. Stenley seemed to revive slightly as he did this. Pastor Siwi asked with tears, “Stenley, this is Pastor Siwi. Can you hear me?” But Stenley could not move or speak. All he could do was lie on his back and cry. Soon after his pastor’s visit, Stenley went to be with the Lord.
Stenley’s death made a great impact on those who knew him. In the middle of the night, seven of his fellow students went to the Bible school superintendent, requesting that they be sent to preach the Gospel on Mentawai Island, where Stenley died. His death also impacted his hometown. There, fifty-three people made decisions to attend Bible school, including Stenley’s mother and sister.
Soon after they graduate, seven of them are going to evangelize where Stenley died. His mother was asked, “Are you not afraid to die?” She answered, “Why should I be afraid to die?”
Stenley’s life made a lasting difference on the island of Mentawai.
Eleven Muslims there have converted to Christ because of Stenley’s faith. There has also been a revival among the more than three hundred traditional Christians on the island. Most of them were once bound by alcohol, cigarettes, and gambling, but now their spirits are on fire to seek God and study the Bible.
Pray for the many Christians whose courageous lives and vibrant, fearless witness are making a tremendous impact on nations such as Indonesia. Although they have been burned, harassed, beaten, and imprisoned, they have refused to deny Jesus. Pray for a harvest of souls from the seeds they have sown.
