MCC Summer Service worker in California focuses on building

POMONA, California — In this city a half-hour west of Los Angeles, Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) Summer Service worker Ruben Agus spent the summer helping his Indonesian Mennonite congregation's dream of a church building come true.

Gereja Kristus Injili, or Evangelical Church of Christ, had gathered in a hotel meeting room for its first three years and for the past year has rented space in a local Chinese church. Church activities are held in the home of the pastor or of members of the congregation.

"We as a church believe that having our own church building would strengthen our spirit as a congregation and would also be a good opportunity for the church to spread the gospel to the community around us," Agus said.

The congregation has now purchased land in Pomona, and Agus, who is an architecture major at Rio Hondo College in Whittier, California, spent the summer working on some of the complex requirements for building on the site.

He met with the city planner's office to learn more about building permits, explored the city engineering department's requirements for the new building, researched acoustics and lighting for rooms and met with the public works department — viewing even the small details of planning this complex project as part of his service to God.

"I am very grateful for the opportunity that has (been) given to me through MCC to serve my community during this summer service project, and also thankful for making our hope of having our own space for worship to come true," Agus said. "I believe, in this summer service program, God has chosen me to use my skills to build His temple."