By Barry Manembu – Denver, Colorado … In September, the Colorado Indonesian-American Adventist church welcomed their new pastor, Praban Barna Lim, with a special induction service.
The gathering included 300 attendees from five states and many more viewing online. The service was the first official event for Mic Thurber, RMC president, who began on September 1.
Addressing the congregation, Thurber said, “You are getting a pastor who is very committed to doing ministry. You should be thankful to God, and I hope you love and embrace him and his family. As a conference, we also feel very privileged to have pastor Praban. He will be a great asset to us.”
The former pastor Yoram Tumbarante, who retired this year after pastoring for more than 20 years in RMC, commented to the crowd that “Pastor Praban had been sent by God to us. I have known him for a long time, and I believe he’s the right person to lead and shepherd our church.”
Parban Barna Lim remarked in his inaugural address that the decision to move to RMC was difficult. “Honestly, it wasn’t an easy decision for my family and me. My congregation at Upland Indonesian Church in California loved me, and my younger daughter is still attending La Sierra University.”
He added, “I felt that it’d be very hard to be separated from my daughter. But surprisingly, she supported whatever decision I was making. She, along with my older daughter in New York, suggested that I just need to pray about it.”
Parban concluded by thanking his wife, Wanda Lim, for her unwavering support. “I wouldn’t” be here, doing this ministry, if not for my wife.”
He moved from Bloomington, California where he served as senior pastor of the Upland Indonesian Adventist Church.
–Barry Manembu is the Pathfinder director for the Colorado Indonesian-American Adventist church; photos supplied
