Papers of Leonard Hendrik E. Sumule - Collection 524

Table of Contents

Brief Description of This Collection

Title Page and Restrictions

Biography

An Essay on the Contents of the Collection (Scope and Content)

List of Audio Tapes

Collection 524 [November 23, 2009]
Sumule, Leonard Hendrik E.; 1967-
Interviews; 1995-1996
Audio tapes (5 reels, .02 cubic feet)

Restrictions: None.

Brief Description. Oral history interviews in three sessions in which Sumule described his family, childhood in Indonesia, conversion and spiritual development, being a Christian in a predominantly Muslim nation, his experience at Wheaton College's Honey Rock Camp, comparison of Honey Rock with Christian camps in Indonesia, the 1995 revival at Wheaton College, his goals for ministry in Indonesia, involvement in youth ministry, camping and Christian education in the country, and education and church involvement while at the Wheaton College Graduate School. The events described in the interview span the years 1945?-1996.

Biography

Scope and Content

Leonard Sumule was interviewed by Paul Ericksen on October 25 and November 3, 1995, and June 27, 1996, at the Billy Graham Center Archives office. The events described in the interview cover the time period 1945?-1996.

T1 (68 minutes). Conversion of his grandfather and all ten of his children (including Sumule’s father) in response to Christian & Missionary Alliance ministry, family’s tribal and regional history, his own parents’ impact on him and his siblings, impact of daily early-morning family devotions and prayer, father’s role as spiritual leader, his own conversion at a church camp and teenage rebelliousness (due to negative impact of peer pressure), renewed faith as a sixteen-year old and changed behavior, being called a “little preacher” in highschool, protective impact of his parents’ prayers for their children, self-taught in music and songwriting to express his faith, parents’ character, contact with missionaries as he grew up (including Janet Kuhn; see Collection 390 in the Archives), regular contact with Muslims and friendship evangelism, pressure on Christians by Muslims, view of himself as a Christian in midst of Muslim pressure, the church in Indonesia and obstacles to unity, committing himself to ministry, government regulation of religion, teaching Christian religion classes, starting Bible studies across denominational lines, early ministry experiences, developing his preaching skills and style, impressions of America, observations about American children, Western (American) influence and television in Indonesia, being a counselor at Honey Rock Camp, seeing children praying and depending on God away from the abundance at their homes, observations about boys in his cabin (little respect)

T2 (15 minutes). Continuation about Honey Rock Camp (HRC), comparing respect for elders by American and Indonesian children, handling campers, choosing HRC for his Grad School internship and to develop camping ministry in Indonesia, comparing camping ministry in Indonesia (with emphasis on speakers and evangelism) with HRC (with emphasis on relationship with counselor and discipleship), most campers were Christians, impact of death of Glen Town’s daughter [Emily], writing a song about joy based on campers’ statements to convey lesson to them, his love for children, campers’ childlike responses

T3 (75 minutes). Continuation about HRC, being a counselor and leading counselors, homesickness and other student issues, comparing with camping ministry in Indonesia, new experiences (sailing, skiing, climbing wall and repelling), acknowledging fear to campers, lessons learned at HRC, suggestion for Americans to live simply and appreciate rather than waste food, impact from the 1995 Wheaton College revival on HRC, counselors being invited to area churches for their testimonies about the revival, spiritual battle for counselors, impact of Emily Town’s death (including conversions of campers), appreciation for his experience, using English lessons in camping program in Indonesia, Wheaton College revival, 1995 (41 of the 75 minutes on T3): Delayed in coming to Wheaton because of his English proficiency, witness to Japanese student while studying English at Concordia University in 1994, participating in World Christian Fellowship, anticipation of revival based on events at Howard Payne University and praying for Spirit’s movement, impact of revival in the Grad School, confessions and prayer during revival, his prayer for students in the College directory, prayer in classes during the revival, staying until the end of the first night of revival, counting missionary names on Blanchard wall and his desire to challenge students, praying for one hundred students to make commitment to world missions (300 students made a commitment), impact of the revival on him and learning only the Holy Spirit can transfer knowledge to the heart, role of music in the revival, impressed by seeing young people lined up to confess, seeing students recognizing their part in the Body of Christ and the healing of their friends, God’s purpose in purifying a person is to share His life with others, exposing darkness at Wheaton College, speaking with other Wheaton students at the revival at Trinity Seminary, comparing revivals at Trinity from Wheaton, struggle about what to say on Thursday night meeting at Wheaton and his emphasis on being available to God, the using example of his grandfather’s conversion through missionaries and challenging students to carry on that ministry, observing confessions including aborting a child, assuring her of the forgiveness of her sin

T4 (17 minutes): Continuation on Wheaton College revival, 1995 (7.5 of the 17 minutes on T4): Temptation to see people as their confessions and not forget after the forgiveness, praying for Jaffray Theological College and the revival there, Indonesian culture and surprise of public confession, impact of revival at Jaffray, Catholic emphasis on social ministries compared to Evangelicals’ emphasis on evangelism, the need for the Evangelical church to also provide for physical needs, C&MA’s contribution in Indonesia, concern for pastors’ children and their need for fellowship away from home, poor living conditions for youth in Indonesian cities, seeing “ministry” only in church context, Lyle Dorsett’s advice to focus on one talent or ministry to avoid burnout

T5 (52 minutes): Options for future ministry, returning to teach at the Tenggarong Bible College in East Kalimantan during the school year and in a camping/youth ministry program in the summer, courses he will teach in Youth Ministry pilot program, value of camping ministry, assessing the challenge, Muslim tensions in Indonesia and political instability, the economic class of Christians in Indonesia and outreach to Muslims, development services viewed as evangelism by the government, first impressions of the Wheaton College Graduate School (luxury of facilities, value of friendship among students and faculty), the challenge of writing in English, outgoing and engaging with undergraduate students and student groups, Gospel Choir, morning, afternoon and evening church attendance (Blanchard Alliance Church in Wheaton, with Filipinos in Westmont and Faith Alliance Bible Church in Des Plaines), being encouraged to stay in the US, volunteer at Outreach Community Center in nearby Carol Stream as the only male teacher, students relating to him as an Indonesian, World Christian Fellowship at Wheaton College, impact of his classes, wanting to model servant leadership – cross-cultural in Indonesia, appreciated Lyle Dorsett’s teaching and focus on prayer, American ignorance about Indonesia, American church practices (programing based on money, regularly updating facilities), Indonesian C&MA churches strengthened by challenges of persecution and restrictions, poor in church administration, expectation that an Indonesian pastor is married, comparing youth needs and ministries in Indonesia and America, looking forward to good Indonesian food and seeing parents, a closing request for a humble heart

*****

Provenance

The materials in this collection were given to the Archives of the Billy Graham Center by Sumule in October and November 1995 and June 1996.

Accession: 95-145, 95-152, 96-57
November 23, 2009
Paul Ericksen

Accession: 95-145, 95-152, 96-57
Type of Material: Audio Tapes
The following items are located in the AUDIO TAPE file.

Item# - Reel or cassette, speed, length, number of sides, contents (title of session, participants) according to the program, date.

Send us a message

Return to BGC Archives Home Page
Last Revised: 12/31/09
Expiration: indefinite