With more than 17,500 islands and more than 280 million people, Indonesia is the fourth largest country in the world. In this island nation, 70% of its people are unreached by the gospel. Approximately 220 million Indonesians adhere to Islam. But in this Muslim-dominated country, change is on the horizon. This change starts with the next generation.

“By reaching the next generation, we believe that Indonesia will be the first Muslim-majority country to come to Christ,” says Jamie Kemp, Assemblies of God World Missions global worker in Indonesia. “We believe that if we can reach young people, especially university students, we can see substantial change in Indonesia. We could see a whole culture change. There is hope, and that hope rests in the next generation.”

Jamie and his wife, Tasha, have served in Indonesia for 16 years. During their time with Chi Alpa, they endeavored to foster hope through their English center in Yogyakarta, Indonesia’s educational hub. At the English center, Indonesians can learn English and encounter Christ. It functions as an education facility and a place for Bible studies and evangelistic gatherings.

God called Jamie to the nations as a university student. As a recently saved freshman at Central Bible College, Jamie was on fire for the gospel. He befriended a small group of missions majors who gathered each Friday night to pray for the world and meet with missionaries. One day, a missionary visited campus and preached on Isaiah 6. Still newly saved, and responding to every altar call, Jamie stood when the missionary quoted Isaiah 6:8 and asked, “Who will go for us?” Jamie recalls, “I didn’t hear a voice. I didn’t see the writing on the wall. There’s nothing supernatural that happened, other than I felt God speaking to my heart, saying, ‘Jamie, if you’re willing to go, I’m willing to send you.’ From that moment on, I centered my life on preparing for missions.” The next year, Jamie went on a MAPS trip to El Salvador. This provided valuable practical experience and helped him understand the need to continue his studies. After serving as a youth pastor for several years, God opened the door for Jamie and Tasha to become AG World Mission global workers to Indonesia.

Just as God called the Kemps into ministry, He is calling Muslim students to the gospel. “We found that 18 to 25-year-olds are open to the gospel,” says Jamie. “They’ve never met a Christian or seen a Bible. To them, Jesus is a mythical, mystical figure. They have no real safe place to talk about Jesus. They don’t have a Muslim campus ministry where they can go and ask questions about their faith.” To reach Muslim students with the gospel, the Kemps, their team members, and Christian student leaders conducted prayer walks to connect with university students who were interested in learning English, seeking community, or were ready to study the Bible.

For many students, young adulthood is the first time they seek to understand their faith and why they believe. “Many students have had a vision or dream of Jesus as a child or teenager, but they had no outlet to talk about these. So, our prayer and goal is to always have our spiritual radar on,” explains Jamie. The students Jamie encounters have many of the same worries as young adults in the United States. They carry the same thoughts about graduation, future employment, marriage, and other insecurities that plagued them in high school. These students desire community, friendship, and belonging.

Weekly Bible studies have been at the center of the Kemp’s ministry. The students’ desire for community contributed to the success of these weekly Bible studies, which eventually averaged 100 Muslim university students. Hosted at the English center, these evenings begin with a 15-minute message about Jesus. The remaining 45 minutes are small-group discussion, which allows students to share their perspectives and ask questions. Several discipleship-oriented small groups meet throughout the week, as well. “It takes about two years for a Muslim to come to faith. Once we get them in Bible study, once we get the Bible app on their phone, and if we can disciple them for two years, it’s a matter of time for them to come to faith,” says Jamie.

Lilly is among the many students impacted by the Kemps’ ministry. She was one of the first students Jamie met on a prayer walk. Lilly was an English literature major and had never met a Christian. Jamie invited her to the English center. Soon, Lilly began faithfully attending Bible studies, asking questions, seeking to learn more about Jesus, and developing new friendships. This continued for eight months. Although she faithfully attended and engaged in discussion, she never professed her faith in Jesus. One Friday, Lilly came early to Bible study. Jamie shared why he was a follower of Jesus. He walked Lilly through Romans Road. Reaching Romans 10:13, Jamie explained, “Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (NKJV). Jamie asked Lilly what the word “whoever” meant to her, and whether an Indonesian could come to faith. After considering this, Lilly bowed her head and replied, “Yes, a Muslim can be saved.” Jamie asked Lilly if she was ready to call on the name of Jesus and be saved. Lilly looked up, tears streaming down her face. “Jamie, not yet.” Lilly realized if she chose to follow Jesus, it would cost her beliefs. Her family, her scholarship, her finances, and her future would all be on the line if she chose Jesus.

The next week, Lilly texted Jamie and asked to meet early. She barged into Jamie’s office, slamming the door shut. “What did you do to me?” Lilly demanded. “Every time I pray to Allah, all I can see is Jesus.” “Lilly, Jesus is calling you,” Jamie explained. “You’re like the lost lamb. Jesus is trying to find you. He’s calling out to you tonight. Lilly, are you ready to be found by Jesus?” “Yes, I’m ready for Jesus to find me,” Lilly replied. Lilly and Jamie began to weep and pray. That night, Lilly confidently proclaimed how Jesus had found her.

Lilly’s story is not isolated. Indonesian young people across Indonesia are making decisions for Jesus.

Local church-based university ministry groups across Indonesia continue to grow. This growth is a testimony to Indonesian university students’ desire to know Jesus, the hunger of local churches to see university students come to Christ, and the evidence of the Holy Spirit, stirring in hearts who have yet to proclaim His name. “The goal is to mobilize students who then make disciples, that lead to small groups, and then hopefully transition them into the local church context,” says Jamie.

Through Jamie and Tasha’s faithful ministry through Chi Alpha, they witnessed a miraculous move of the Spirit as more than 1,000 Muslim university students around the country gathered each week to encounter God. Although the gospel has impacted countless lives throughout Indonesia, there is still work to be done. In 2025, the Kemps were involved in establishing 40 new university ministries and training 400 campus missionaries. The Indonesian Assemblies of God has 187 churches involved in campus ministries. The goal of Chi Alpha and the Indonesian Assemblies of God is to have 250 churches engaged in campus ministry by February 2027.

With the increased number of salvations, the need for more churches and ministry leaders is growing. “We feel like it’s harvest time here in Indonesia. The harvest is ready, but the workers are few. If we can get more workers, we can get a bigger harvest,” says Jamie.

The fourth largest country in the world — a nation held captive by unbelief — is slowly transforming into a nation won for Christ. As more pastors, leaders, and students are trained, more university students are forming a relationship with Christ. Change is on the horizon in Indonesia as the spiritual climate shifts from lost to found at the hands of the next generation.

Ministry is changing for Jamie and Tasha. In July 2026, they will become pastors of an international church in Jakarta, Indonesia. While assuming this new role, they will continue to be involved with Chi Alpha Indonesia.

Holly A.V. Knapp
AG World Missions Communications