“Here you are constantly surrounded by believers, but at home, you are constantly surrounded by opportunities,” said Raymond Chahyadi, a sophomore economics major, as we sat across from each other in Modero discussing his move to the United States for school and upcoming trip to Mexico.
The introduction to our interview
I went into our interview with a few goals, e.g. enjoy an iced coffee on the unusually hot winter day, hang out with Chahyadi (a friend and fellow member of SGA) and get a few quotes on why he is excited about going to Mexico over spring break.
I, however, did not expect to be learning of a new way that the Lord’s goodness and sovereignty is working through one of my friends.
Chahyadi’s introduction to Christianity
Chahyadi’s parents were not Christians and roughly claimed to be Buddhists until a Christian ministry on campus reached out to them, the now first generation of Christians in their family, while they were studying for their undergraduate degrees in their home country of Indonesia.
“They saw how different the lives of Christians were and wanted to see what Christianity was all about,” Chahyadi said.
I was not too surprised to hear that this played a big impact in his life. It meant that he would grow up in a Christian home, while in the culture around him it was unusual.
This shaped the way Chahyadi grew up and how he interacted with people within his culture. He explained that while there are Christians in Indonesia, it has a large population and the Christians are very spread out, rather than clumped together like in the “Bible Belt.”
We laughed as he said that in Asia you ask what people believe in, but in the United States, you ask people what church they go to.
How he found Union University
Chahyadi spent four years in the United States while his dad went to school at Denver Seminary. Because of his time in the U.S., he knew he wanted to go to school here, but did not know where. Since he would be traveling across the globe, his parents encouraged him to go to a Christian college to be more safe.
He looked up Christian universities in the United States, then narrowed it down to Union University and Lee University, both Christian universities in Tennessee. Chahyadi favored Union over Lee, praying that God would also favor Union for him to attend as well.
“I finally prayed and told God that I would let Him guide me, wherever that may be,” said Chahyadi. “I emailed both schools the next day asking for more scholarship opportunities. Lee turned me down, but Union followed up with me. I believe that was God’s way of showing me where I was supposed to go.”
Chahyadi’s experience in the United States
Living in the south my entire life, I knew the typical Christian culture of the area by heart. I was curious to find out Chahyadi’s perspective.
“At times, it can be harder to be a Christian in the U.S.,” said Chahyadi. “You can’t just say, ‘Hey, you should trust in Jesus.’ They will most often say they already do. You have to look at their actions and see if they line up with their words.”
Hearing that from a student who lived in Asia his whole life, it is convicting to hear that it could be harder to live as a Christian in a place that it is populated with so-called Christians than a place that is made up mostly of people practicing a variety of religions.
Chahyadi expressed that in Indonesia, if you are a Christian, you are breaking all cultural norms to be that. So, to him, it must be authentic. However, in the United States, he says that it is a daily battle because people can become so comfortable.
The decision to go
For Chahyadi’s spring break, he imagined he would be hanging out with his friends. However, Stephen Neu, coordinator for service and mobilization in the University Ministries office, asked Chahyadi to consider going on a GO Trip.
“GO Trips at Union University provide opportunities for students, faculty and staff to join field partners throughout the United States and around the world in proclaiming Christ,” according to http://www.uu.edu/oum/mobilization/go-trips.cfm.
Chahyadi told me that he never even considered going on one of these trips, but within 12 hours of Neu mentioning this to him, he had already called his parents to discuss the idea, filled out the application and began praying about the potential opportunity to go.
Chahyadi later found out that he was placed on a team that will be traveling to Mexico over spring break.
Discipling in Mexico
“Do you think that discipling in Mexico will somehow connect you to Indonesia?” I asked.
“I once heard a quote that went something like, ‘Only a real risk can test the quality and genuineness of your belief,’” said Chahyadi. “It makes sense because when you’re constantly surrounded by people that do test your beliefs, it makes you hold fast to your faith. This is true in Indonesia, and I am sure it will apply in Mexico. ”
He talked to me about the challenges the trip will bring. The main one we discussed is the sacrifice of comfort.
“The thing I am excited about is also the thing I am most scared of,” said Chahyadi. “Living day-to-day you get the sense of complacency. Going on discipling trips is when you really get calloused and realize that what you have is more than what some people can ever dream of.”
Discipleship Everywhere
From the beginning of my coffee until the last sip, I started the conversation with a friend that went on to become a lesson on discipleship. Hearing this from someone that is originally from across the globe, I was quickly reminded that God calls us to share the gospel and love on people all over the world, but also right where you are.
Chahyadi finished up our conversation about discipleship by saying, “I am starting to realize that you can minister and serve in all places, whether it is back home [Indonesia], here [United States] or Mexico. At the end of the day, we must truly grasp this because there are people who aren’t really Christians everywhere. Knowing and constantly being reminded of this can help us show people Christ, even if they say they are already a Christian.”
