About us

“Desa Ministries was founded by Matthew L. Ralston in 2021, inspired by the sense of ‘desa’ he experienced while serving West Papuans in Oregon from 2017-2020. ‘Desa’ represents a village community, centered on Christ, which deeply resonated with Matthew’s unyielding passion for sharing the gospel. His heart’s desire is to establish Disciple Makers, Leaders, Churches, and Missional Opportunities that will enable people to live a spiritually, biblically, and fully enriched life for Jesus Christ.

Through Desa Ministries, Matthew seeks to promote spiritually thriving and relationally grounded churches that are evangelistic and committed to the Bible. His hope is to inspire and motivate countless Biblical churches and faithful individuals to spread the good news of Jesus Christ in every corner of the world. With joyful evangelizing, hard work, and generous giving, Desa Ministries aims to serve as a tool that equips more people to become ‘tools’ for Jesus Christ, fulfilling His mission to preach the Good News globally, minister to the local and global church, and make disciples of all nations. Ultimately, the goal is to encourage and empower every believer to become a light in their local community and make a lasting impact for Christ.”

The Holy Bible

“At the core of our faith is the belief that the Bible is the inspired Word of God, written by human authors under the divine guidance of the Holy Spirit. It serves as the ultimate authority for Christian beliefs and practices, representing the truth in its purest form without any mixture of error. We believe that it is intended for all people, transcending time and space, and that it provides a comprehensive guide for leading a meaningful and fulfilling life in accordance with God’s will.”

Scripture Support:

Peter 2:2; John 17:17

Timothy 3:16–17; Psalm 119:105–160;

Proverbs 30:5; Isaiah 40:8;

Matthew 5:18; Psalm 19:7, 2 Peter 1:20–21

Trinity

We believe that God exists forever and shows Himself in three persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), each with the same essence, characteristics, and perfections worthy of respect and confidence.

Scripture Support:

Psalm 90:2; John 1:1–2, 14;

Matthew 3:16–17; 28:19;

Deuteronomy 6:4; 10:30; 14:15–17;

Acts 5:3–4; 1 Corinthians 8:6;

2 Corinthians 13:14

Jesus Christ

As an online community, we believe Jesus Christ is God’s Son. He has the same divinity as the Father. Jesus lived a spotless human life and died on the cross as the perfect atonement for all men’s sins.

After three days, He emerged from the grave to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven’s throne and will return to rule as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Scripture Support:

1:1–2; 4:14–15; 7:25; Romans 1:3–4;

1 Timothy 6:14–15; Matthew 1:22–23

Luke 1:30–35; John 1:1–5, 10–14; 14:10–30;

1 Corinthians 15:3–4; Acts 1:9–11

Humanity

We believe that man was formed in God’s spiritual image, to be like Him in character; nonetheless, he is sinful. As a result, man is estranged from God and in desperate need of redemption.

Man was created to exist indefinitely. He will either live eternally isolated from God as a result of sin, or he will live in oneness with God as a result of forgiveness and redemption. Hell is a permanent separation from God. Eternal life means being in eternal unity with Him. Heaven and Hell are genuine afterlife destinations.

Scripture Support:

1 John 2:25; 5:11–13, Genesis 1:26–27;

Romans 3:9–18, 23; Isaiah 53:6a;

Romans 3:9–18, 23; Isaiah 59:1–2;

Ephesians 2:1–3; John 3:16; Romans 6:23;

Revelation 20:15; 1 Corinthians 15:21–22

Salvation

Salvation is God’s free gift to anybody who believes that the death of Jesus Christ is the adequate and essential condition for eternal life. God’s Son is Jesus Christ. As a requirement for attaining everlasting salvation, no act of Christian obedience before or after trust in Christ may be added to or considered part of faith. Eternal life begins the minute one believes in Jesus Christ.

Scripture Support:

Acts 16:31; Romans 4:5;

John 3:16–18; 4:10; 6:47;

Ephesians 2:8–9;

Titus 3:5; Revelation 22:17

The Holy Spirit

As God, the Holy Spirit is equal to the Father and the Son. He is here in the world to draw people’s attention to the need for Jesus Christ. He also dwells in every Christian from the minute they are saved. He gives the Christian the ability to live, the comprehension of spiritual truth, and the instruction to do what is right. Every Christian strives to live under His authority on a daily basis.

Scripture Support:

John 3:5; 16:7–13; 14:16–17;

Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:12; 3:16; 6:19; 12:13;

Ephesians 1:13; 4:30; 5:18; Acts 5:3–4;

2 Corinthians 3:17; Galatians 5:25; Romans 8:29

The Return of Christ

According to the Scriptures, Christ might return and appear at any time. This reality has a significant influence on the personal life and ministry of the believer. Desa Ministry will continue to labor for the Lord and will not succumb to careless, stagnant worship because Jesus will physically return to earth to establish His Kingdom, and there will be a new heaven and a new earth where righteousness will dwell.

Scripture Support:

Thessalonians 4:13–18; Titus 2:11–14;

John 14:1–3; 1 Corinthians 15:51–52;

Revelation 22:7, 12, 20; 2 Peter 3:13;

Isaiah 65:17; 66:22; Zechariah 14:2–4;

Revelation 19:11–16; 20:4–6; 21:1