Mennonite Central Committee

"Go to the great city": the story of Ev. Andreas Christanday

Press Release, June 2000
Semarang, Indonesia
by Lilik A. Setiyanto

One day in 1969, Andreas Christanday was reading the book of Jonah while having his personal devotion. He did not understand how the text - "Go to the great city.." (Jonah 1:2) - related to his life.

Soon after, he was chosen by the GKMI Synod board of the Mennonite Church in Indonesia to go to the United States with MCC as a member of the International Volunteer Exchange Program (IVEP). He and Widyastuti Surjohatmodjo would be joining IVEP as pioneers, because this was the first time Indonesians participated.

Christanday now realized the meaning of the devotional that he had a couple of days before. He believed that God had a special purpose for choosing him among so many youth, so he prepared himself to do anything in the U.S. to fulfill this calling. In his free time, Christanday tried to witness about Jesus Christ to his neighbors and people he met. He joined with groups to do some ministries, such as witnessing at restaurants and distributing Christian literature.

For his first IVEP placement, Christanday stayed with Rev. Paul C. Sieber, a pastor at Arthur (Ill.) Mennonite Church. Christanday had not been given a permanent assignment for his first term, so he worked in several places before finally settling at Rock Home Garden. It was a "muscle" job — collecting and taking care of plants. He did all of it with joy. He made friends with several Amish who worked there.

Christanday spent his second semester in Lancaster, Pa. and lived with Robert Eby. He worked at Provident Book Store, a job he really enjoyed because he loves books.

"When I came back to Indonesia," Christanday said, "I had learned many new things. I learned to see people as equals and appreciate the differences between them. The most important thing I learned to appreciate was being Indonesian, because I realized that I can stand equal with people of other nations."

Following his return, he worked as a co-pastor at GKMI Kudus for two years. He then started an interdenominational ministry called All for Christ (based on II Cor. 5:14-15 "Christ died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him.") The one-year IVEP experience was "a kind of preparation to begin this holistic ministry," Christanday said.

The All for Christ team began as a preaching and singing group that traveled from one church to another. The Lord blessed this ministry. All for Christ later became Christopherus Foundation, which grew to include Theological Education by Extension, Orphanage and Sisterhood, Mustard Seed Fellowship, a music course and many other programs.

In 1995 Christanday was named the president of Asia Mennonite Conference. He believes that the confidence he gained through IVEP gave him strength for this new position. He recently retired from the conference after serving as president for four years.

Christanday is still working at Christopherus Foundation. When he recalls his time in the U.S., he treasures the experiences of his one-year stay.

Since that time, more than 120 Indonesian young people have joined IVEP. Christanday's stories and experiences have inspired many to join this program.

"Touch Any Corner," a brief history of the International Volunteer Exchange Program from 1950 to 2000, is now available. In this anniversary volume, IVEP participants tell their own stories—of new friendships, of homesickness and of growing faith. "We are all one in the Lord no matter where we come from," said one participant from the Philippines. To obtain copies of "Touch Any Corner," free of charge, contact the MCC offices in Winnipeg or in Akron. Also available is a "Celebration Packet" of materials for congregations planning IVEP anniversary events.