Choosing What Is Right Through Pure Resolve

Choosing What Is Right Through Pure Resolve

It is not easy to become a disciple of Jesus by your own decision, and not because of your environment or family beliefs. Yet, a series of life events  eventually led Elone, the eldest son of an evangelist couple in West Kalimantan, to this remarkable decision. 

A hard life in his homeland shaped Elone into an independent person from childhood. Since elementary school, he had to struggle to help his parents work. The distance from his home to his junior high school was about 22 kilometers, and every day Elone had to leave at four in the morning, starting by walking or cycling 8 kilometers until he reached the main road, then continuing by hitching a ride on public transportation.

Elone faced an even greater challenge during high school, namely an unhealthy social environment. He started smoking and rarely went home. After graduating from high school, Elone attended college for half a year, but had to stop because his family could not afford it.

After leaving college, Elone worked in a gold mine for four months while waiting for the announcement of a scholarship from the local government. This scholarship was given to local residents in the hope that one day they would help build their village. In 2016, Elone was accepted on a full scholarship to study in a polytechnic and animal husbandry program in Magelang. He faced difficulties with travel expenses, but God had His own way of helping him. The savings he had gathered through his work as a miner finally covered the cost of his journey to Magelang. 

During college, Elone became an active person and enthusiastically joined various activities. Several times he served as the head of student event committees, and was even appointed chairman of the Christian Student Faculty (FMK). However, Elone's life was still far from God. He often forgot God and was swept up in social life, activities, routines, and campus popularity. 

At the beginning of 2019, Elone met the GKDI Magelang Congregation through Tato, a brother from Yogyakarta, who was his relative. There, Elone was introduced to Febri, a single brother. In their friendship, Febri invited Elone to see what God wanted in his life, and what he needed to do to carry out God's will. 

After Bible Study for about three months, Elone returned to his old life, because he felt it was enough to see God's word as knowledge alone. He distanced himself and avoided the community, and went back to various activities that were not building his life.

In 2020, Elone was overwhelmed by feelings of weariness, boredom, and confusion. In that loneliness and emptiness, he began to seek what God's will was. At the beginning of March, Elone opened himself up to join worship at GKDI Magelang. After that, he decided to begin again Bible Study online through Zoom. 

During his study, Elone experienced growth in faith, mindset, and heart. God's word exposed many areas of his life deeply, until nothing was hidden anymore. Many things were restored, including Elone's relationship with his family. One by one, he began to leave behind the habits of smoking, following sinful desires, and destructive friendships.

On April 14, 2020, Elone firmly decided to become a disciple of Jesus, purely because of his own resolve and not because of his family background. God allowed Elone to choose what is right and to find out what His will is. This decision was not the end of his journey as a disciple of Jesus, but the beginning of following the path of truth that would grow his life.

Now Elone is deeply grateful to have friends, family, and people who always guide and help him so that he can keep living in the truth. Today, he has already brought two of his friends to study God's word. One of them, Heni, eventually also made the decision to become a disciple of Jesus. We are grateful to see Elone continue to be a light in his campus environment. May God's name always be glorified through him. The Lord Jesus bless you!

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The GKDI Church is currently present in 35 cities. We have Bible Study activities in every area; if you need information or would like to get involved, contact us at the contact the official GKDI Church:

WhatsApp 0821 2285 8686 or Facebook / Instagram GKDI Official

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