View East Timor Country Profile
Dili is the capital of East Timor, accessible by a seventy five minute flight north west from Darwin. It is a poor country but for our sixteen brothers and one sister they have found the “pearl of great price” “without money and without price”. East Timor is 98% Catholic and so our members have made tremendous changes in their lives to leave church error which is mixed with traditional beliefs, and have embraced the hope of the gospel.
So that the truth grows in this country we have set some goals which we believe will assist greatly. All our members are young. Most have been university students, who were attracted to the truth through the diligent preaching of one particular brother.
Firstly, our goals for the future until our Lord returns are to encourage all in personally preaching the truth of God’s Word. Secondly, given there is only one sister, for practical reasons there is a need to attract female converts to the truth. Our aim is that all fieldworker visits should include sisters as a means of introducing the Truth among East Timor’s female population.
Thirdly, We intend to develop ecclesial management skills, so the brethren might grow into an autonomous ecclesia. That is always the aim in Mission areas, but with a young ecclesia it takes time.
Exhortations have been provided weekly over the last few years but we are encouraged that as our brethren grow in the Truth they are taking on these roles and sharing these duties. They will obviously benefit from their own personal study as well as the ecclesia as a whole.
The Bible week in Solo Indonesia was a highlight of this year’s activities. Through some very generous donations, ten of our brethren and the one sister were able to travel to Indonesia for the Bible Week. All who attended gained much from the studies on Samson and Ruth. They also developed new friendships with brethren and sisters from their nearest neighbours in the region.
We earnestly look forward to the return of our Lord Jesus Christ when all our brethren and sisters will be united with him from “every kindred, tongue, people and nation”.