By Jeff Slaughter

When IC Medan Pastors Tim and Kelly Pollick received an Instagram message from an Indonesian woman asking for an appointment, they had no idea what to expect.

Vanessa,  a 21-year-old university student walked into their office and said, “I’m not a Christian – I’m a Buddhist. But I study at the Christian university, and I’ve been learning about all religions. Honestly, Christianity makes the most sense.”

She then shared her struggle with suicidal thoughts.

Tim and Kelly didn’t hesitate to invite her to become a Christian. Vanessa looked up and asked, “Am I allowed? Just like that?”

As they shared the Gospel with Vanessa, they were surprised at how much she already knew.

“But nobody had ever invited her to know Jesus,” Tim noted. “It was as simple as that!”

A Love Story
Tim, a native of Pittsburgh, PA, grew up in a Christian home. Kelly, the daughter of missionaries, spent her childhood in Indonesia. They met at the University of Valley Forge in Phoenixville, PA, dated, married, and moved to Indonesia in October 2017.

Their first assignment was serving as missionary associates at International Christian Assembly of Surabaya. During part of that two-year term, they served as interim pastors for the 500-member East campus. There, they fell in love with the role which included preaching, counseling, and ministry development.

“We knew then that we were called to pastor,” said. Tim.

After an unplanned furlough in the United States during the Covid lockdown, they returned to Surabaya and were eventually invited to serve as lead pastors of IC Medan.

An Island of Diversity
To understand the nature of international church ministry in Indonesia and more specifically in Medan, one must first understand the region’s unique distinctions.

Indonesia, a country of several thousand islands, is about one-fifth the size of the United States.

Medan, located on the northwestern point of the island of Sumatra, is Indonesia’s fifth largest city with a population of 2.5 million. This diverse city includes Javanese, Batak, Chinese, Malay, and Indian ethnic groups and is home to a large Indian-Indonesian population and Chinese-Indonesian population.

All of this together, defines Medan.

“Although the city is striving toward modernity, most of the city remains in abject poverty,” says Tim. “The uneducated earn as little as $125 while college graduates earn about $200 a month.”

Due to its proximity to Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, Medan’s international culture permeates the city. Tim describes the city as ‘in your face’.

“Historical influence and modern-day business still shape the tone of the city, while at the same time, clashing with ethnic ties of the past,” he says. “Therefore, a lot of yelling, fighting, and screaming followed by eating happens all around us!”

Tim continues: “If Java is the ‘American South’’ (sweet, slow-paced, kind), Medan is New York City: culturally tough. However, this intensity shouldn’t be misunderstood as poor character. I like to view Medan as a passionate city.”

We Worship As One Family
IC Medan is unique as the only English-speaking church in the city, bridging cultures.

“The greatest thing about an international (global) church is its ability to demolish ethnic/cultural barriers,” he says. “This is especially crucial in a culture-crossing city like Medan. The international church ministry model places value and focus on the integration of cultures as the key to effective ministry.”

Due to the clashes of culture, Tim explains that Bataks and Chinese do not mix – unless they attend IC Medan.

“We host these two major ethnic groups at IC Medan, with approximately 40% Batak and 55% Chinese,” he says. “And we worship as one family. District leaders are amazed at the unity of our church family, which is experienced by no other churches in our region.”

Tim says he hopes that this philosophy encourages other local church leaders to do the same. “We believe our multi-ethnic church serves as the key that unlocks the door to less-reached areas,” he said. “Effective outreach and missions to the lost involves the diverse Body of Christ.”

Although the church family is comprised of 99% Indonesians, the draw of learning English or worshipping in a more modern context attracts many to the church. And while the attractional pulls are exciting, IC Medan’s missions focus is the glue that holds the congregation there.

“By focusing on outreach and missions, we remind the church of their role and purpose,” says Tim. “We have a desire to see them grow, not just attend and get fed.

Spiritual Victories in the Face of Evil
However, IC Medan is not without its challenges.

Political corruption is rampant in the city, which can result in roadblocks to advancing the ministry. While Christianity is an ‘approved’ religion, it is by far the minority and often victim to active extortion.

In a culture where black magic, witchcraft or ancestral worship practices are common, church leaders in Medan are often subject to spiritual and supernatural attacks.

“When these forces are met with the power of God, we often see manifestations, sickness or difficulties in everyday planning,” says Tim. “And we find that most of these attacks rise up just before or after a major ministry push.”

Despite these attacks, spiritual victories are won.

Since Tim and Kelly took over as lead pastors of IC Medan in July 2022, the church has seen:

• 296 decisions for Jesus
• 34 baptisms
• 9,329 homes fed
• 1/10 local churches launched (built)
• 850+ in average weekly attendance

Making a Difference in the Life of One
One of those decisions for Jesus was Vanessa, whose life is not the same as the day before she walked into the church as a Buddhist questioning her faith.

Today, Vanessa serves as a greeter at IC Medan, is making new friends, and learning more about Christ.

“She has told us that her suicidal struggles are 50% lower, and decreasing every week,” said Tim. “And she prays to make a difference in the life of ONE more person with a similar story. We’re so proud of her and amazed how God works!”

To connect with Pastors Tim and Kelly, you can email them at: timpollick@gmail.com. To learn more about IC Medan visit: https://icmedan.com/.