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Indonesia

  • Church Leader Released from Prison

    After more than two years in prison, The Voice of the Martyrs is pleased to announce the early release of Rev. Rinaldy Damanik from Palu Prison in Central Sulawesi on November 9.

    Despite the danger he may face from militant groups, Damanik is determined to continue serving the Indonesian Church .  He was recently elected president of his denomination.

    Pray for safety for Rev. Damanik.  Pray that he will continue to have a fruitful ministry, demonstrating the love, forgiveness and reconciliation of Christ to Christians and non-Christians alike.  We want to thank each of you who has prayed and written letters to, and on behalf of, Rev. Damanik.

    For more information on the challenges facing Christians in Indonesia ,click here.
  • Christian Found Beheaded

    On November 4, Carminalis Ndele, one of the leaders of Pinedapa village near Poso, was murdered by an unknown assailant.  His head was found the next day, severed and thrown from a car.  Inside the bag with his head was a note threatening to target the heads of one thousand Christians.  Later that afternoon, his body was found two kilometres from his home.  According to VOM sources, the situation in Pinadapa is tense, as the people fear for their lives.  Police have been unable to identify the murderer.

    Pray for peace and comfort for the Ndele's family, as well as the people of Pinedapa and the surrounding area.  Pray that the one responsible will be brought to justice. 

    For more information on the persecution of Christians in Indonesia ,click here.
  • Large Mob Vandalizes Church

    On the evening of Saturday, October 23, a group gathered in a home in Karawang, Indonesia for a choir rehearsal, in preparation for Christmas Eve. At around 9:00, a group of Muslims came to complain, annoyed by the music. According to VOM sources in Indonesia, nothing further happened that night.

    The next evening, a police officer came to the Nusantara Indonesia Christian Church and warned the pastor and his family to flee for their safety. After taking his family to the home of a church elder, the pastor returned fifteen minutes later to find approximately five hundred people surrounding the building and beginning to vandalize it. Again, he fled for his safety, but the destruction continued for two hours. As a result, the door and windows were damaged, the pews destroyed, and the sound system vandalized.

    The next day, representatives from the mob met with local authorities to discuss the closure of this church.

    Pray for this congregation and the pastor, as they assess their situation and look to the Lord for guidance. Pray for wisdom and strength to endure, despite such opposition. Pray for the protecting hand of the Lord on this ministry.

    For more information on the trials facing Christians in Indonesia,click here.
  • Renewed Violence Faces Christians

    Christians in the Poso area of Indonesia have experienced renewed violence in recent weeks. This violence comes only a few months after many of the troops were withdrawn from the area, believing it was secure. Intermittent attacks by militant Islamic groups have threatened to re-ignite the tensions between Christians and Muslims.

    According to VOM sources in Indonesia, more than ten gunmen raided the village of Mauro on the night of October 13. Going house-to-house, the gunmen would shout for help and wait for the occupants to come out. When the villagers would not come out, the gunmen shot through the doors and windows. Three people were shot, one fatally.

    Just over a week later, in the evening of October 22, the Tabernakel Church in Gebangrejo was attacked by two gunmen. When Hans Laniti, who lives in the church working as security, heard shots, he went to a terrace he was shot. He is being treated in the Poso General Hospital.

    VOM has also received a number of reports of homemade bombs being found and diffused. On October 26, 123 bombs were found hidden in a Muslim cemetery in the village of Moengko Lama in the Poso area. Police believe they were intended for future attacks against Christians. On October 22, at least fifteen bombs were found in the Maranatha Protestant Church in Ambon, the capital of Maluku. Two days before, similar bombs were found at the Silo Church in Ambon.

    Pray for the physical strength and recovery for Hans Laniti. Pray for those injured in the attack on Mauro, as well as those facing the fear that comes from such attacks. Pray that tensions will not escalate in the area.

    For more information on the trials facing Christians in Indonesia,click here.
  • Two Christians Killed in Sword Attack Two Protestant Christians were killed on October 13 when attackers wielding swords stopped them on a crowded street in Jono Oge, a village near Palu. One man, Yahya Yuta Jama, died immediately of neck wounds. The other, Sakeas Tesa, died on his way to the hospital. According to AsiaNews, police are pursuing leads but were unable to give details on who was behind the attack or the motives.

    While police have been taking action to suppress militant Islamic groups operating in the Sulawesi region of Indonesia, Christians continue to face sporadic violent attacks.

    Pray that the peace that formerly existed between Muslims and Christians in Indonesia will be restored. Pray that Christians in Indonesia will demonstrate the love and grace of God, despite the opposition they face. Pray for the families of these men who were so brutally murdered.

    For more information on persecution in Indonesia,click here.
  • Sunday Mass at Missionary Center Disrupted

     

    Students from Sang Timur School
    St. Bernadette Missionary Complex
    Cileduk, Indonesia
    Early on October 3, about 50 armed Muslim militants stormed the missionary complex of St. Bernadette in Cileduk, in Benten province west of Jakarta. Claiming that the facility was being used for proselytism, they burned the front gate and blocked the other entrances. Witnesses claim that police at the scene did little to intervene. The mass being celebrated in the main hall (which had been used for the past ten years as a church) was forced to stop. The nuns operating the facility were forced to sign a statement that it would no longer be used as a church. According to AsiaNews, many local Muslims, however, are supportive of the nuns, particularly because of their work in education.

    Pray that this church will be able to continue operating and that necessary permits will be approved so they can build a church facility. Pray that violence will not escalate in Indonesia and that the authorities will be willing to restrain militant groups operating in the country.

    For more information on persecution of Christians in Indonesia,click here.
  • Damanik To Be Released on Parole

    On September 24, Rev Rinaldy Damanik received some unexpected news; he was to be released on parole in November. Arrested in September 2002 on false weapons charges, Damanik was sentenced to three years in prison (for more information on Damanik, follow the links here). Rinaldy is excited about the possibility of release, but asks for continued prayer that nothing will arise to prevent his release.

    For more information on persecution of the Indonesian Church,click here.
  • Twelve House Churches Closed

    On September 1, VOM reported that church leaders in Bandung City had been warned churches meeting in homes would be closed (click here). On September 10, sources from Indonesia reported that the Mayor of Bandung city has issued a letter, officially closing twelve house churches in the city.

     
    The Matoneng family, featured in the September 2004
    Voice of the Martyrs Newsletter

    The churches closed were:
    1. Pasundan Christian Church (GKP)
    2. Protestant Batak Church (GBP)
    3. Pentecost Church (GP)
    4. Catholic Church
    5. Indonesia Christian Church (GKI)
    6. Indonesia Gospel Camp Church (GKII)
    7. Indonesia Independent Baptist Church (GBII)
    8. Oikumene Christian Church (GKO)
    9. Tabernacle Pentecost Church (GPT)
    10. Indonesia Pentecost Church (GpdI)
    11. Java Christian Church (GKJ)
    12. Protestant Karo Batak Church (GBKP)

    VOM sources report that the congregations are concerned and nervous about not being allowed to continue holding services. Please pray for encouragement for these believers during this time of uncertainty.

    For more information on persecution facing believers in Indonesia,click here. The feature article of the September edition of The Voice of the Martyrs Newsletter features a story on the persecution of Christians in Indonesia. To view the story and to subscribe to the monthly newsletter, click here.
  • Churches Face Threats and Attacks Several churches in Indonesia have faced threats or attacks from mobs, forcing some to close. According to VOM sources in Indonesia, a mob forced three churches to close in Bogor City on August 23, claiming that the churches did not have permission to operate.

    On the evening of August 29, a mob attacked the Christ Assembly Church's Ministry Post in Bekasi City, West Java. The gate of the church, windows and tiles were destroyed. Twenty people have since been arrested, including a prominent leader in the community.

    In Rancaekek Subdistrict, Bandung City, church leaders were gathered together on August 19 and informed that houses used for church meetings must close, effective September 6.

    Pray for the leadership of these churches, as they guide their people in facing this opposition. Pray for strength to endure and wisdom in dealing with government and community leaders.

    For more information on the challenges facing the Church in Indonesia,click here.
  • Gunmen Kill Pastor; Injure Four Others


     Desrianty Tengkende

    The relative calm in the Central Sulawesi region of Indonesia in recent months was shattered on July 18 when five men armed with machine guns overpowered a security guard at the Efatha Presbyterian Church in Palu during an evening service and opened fire. The gunmen then fled, leaving the pastor dead and four others injured; one critically. Rev. Susianty Tinulele died instantly with gunshot wounds to her head. A seventeen-year-old girl, Desrianty Tengkende, remains in critical condition after being shot in the left eye. When the attack started, Desrianty instinctively pulled her Bible to her face; the bullet went through the Bible into her eye. Also injured were Kris Midianto (18), Farid Mehingko (15) and Lustiani (15).

    According to a report from International Friends of Compassion, Christian leaders received text messages on their cell phones following the attack, claiming that its purpose was to provoke a response. They were obviously hoping that Christians would respond violently. This attack culminated a weekend of violence in Central Sulawesi. The previous evening in Poso, a bomb exploded outside of a cultural event and a Christian woman was killed outside her home after being stabbed nine times.

    Rev. Susianty was twenty-six and had been ordained only weeks before. She was due to be married in September. She was a strong supporter of Rev. Damanik who is in prison after being framed on weapons charges. She had visited Damanik only two days before, bringing him food.

    Pray for the family and friends of Susianty during their grief. Pray for those injured, that they will fully recover. Pray that the Christian community will respond in a Christ-like fashion, refusing to be provoked by this senseless violence.

    For more information on the troubles facing the Church in Indonesia,click here.

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