Martin was curious.

You might even say he was nosy. A father intent on knowing exactly what his daughter, Daisy, was doing. 

So when Daisy told him that she and her husband planned to participate in a discipleship training, Martin felt it was his duty to investigate—even if it meant hours of travel on the back of a motorbike.

He planned to observe the first day of training then go on and visit friends in another community. But curiosity can change your plans.

“It surprised us at the end of the first day when Martin came and asked to join for the whole ten days!” the program director said. “Of course, we welcomed him with open arms.”

The second day of training included a lesson on “right relationships.” And the Holy Spirit opened Martin’s heart and mind to see where he fell short. He became painfully aware that he was a hard-hearted husband and father who had abused his family verbally and even physically.

As the Lord touched his heart, Martin publicly confessed his sins and failures and immediately asked his daughter Daisy, and her husband to forgive him. In grace and tears, they forgave him, and the team prayed for their family to know God’s healing and restoration. Daisy said it was the first time she felt real love in a hug from her father. Her husband experienced relief too from bitterness and wounds caused by his father-in-law.

Martin’s story doesn’t stop there. After ten days of training, it was time for outreach, and Martin shared that God was speaking to him through Mark 5:19. Jesus had healed a demon-possessed man and then told him: “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you…”

Martin knew he had people to tell! His home community was about five hours away and predominantly Muslim with a long history of brokenness, conflict, and violence. He had friends and relatives there, so he went to them and began rebuilding relationships. He shared the transforming work of Jesus in his life. Soon he was hosting a small meeting for those seeking answers or in need of prayer. Other participants from the training committed to faithful prayer, and in December, several disciple-makers joined him to launch this new fellowship. Martin is encouraged. He believes that many more will soon come to faith in Jesus.

Curiosity—for Martin—led to a life transformed by the Spirit of God. And his story is just one of many that God is writing in Indonesia.