Sometimes in America, we think we have a hard time being Orthodox in a non-Orthodox country.

But we don’t know the half of it!

Fr. Aleksander Kobesi is a ROCOR priest in Bali, Indonesia, which is 87% Hindu and 10% Muslim. That may sound like a tough environment to preach the Gospel in, and it is! But thanks to you, incredible things are happening! 

This summer, Fr. Aleksandr met a young Hindu man named Kadek. Just 20 years old, Kadek found out about Holy Orthodoxy online and wanted to become a Christian. Now he has been to church several times and Fr. Aleksandr is guiding him as a catechumen. But there are perils – and heartbreak ‒ involved.

Here is what Fr. Aleksandr writes:

“His father, mother, and brothers did not allow him to convert to Christianity. Converting from Hinduism to Christianity is not an easy matter, because he had to leave his extended family and sever ties with his extended family. This takes courage from a Hindu. There are two consequences of this: first, a Hindu is no longer recognized as a member of his family; and second, the presence of the Orthodox Church is considered an enemy by Hinduism because it is considered to Christianize Hindus. This is one of my challenges in introducing Orthodox teachings in Bali.”

Our Lord Jesus Christ said, “He that loveth father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.”

Kadek wants to be worthy of the Lord,
even if it means his family will disown and disavow him.

There is real danger here, too; anti-Christian violence in Indonesia has been on the rise over the past several years. Fr. Aleksandr knows the danger, and remembers the words of Christ:

“Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves” (Mathew 10:16).

Your donations are helping Fr. Aleksandr bring souls to Christ. He is taking the risks, but he needs your help to survive and grow the Church:

“This is the impact of the financial assistance of donors. I have to walk to get many souls to be saved. Donor assistance has had a profound impact on our Orthodox mission in Bali. We really need your support!”

Please support the ROCOR Mission in Bali, and remember Fr. Aleksandr and Kadek in your prayers!