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Indonesia

  • House Church Forced to Close
    Photo fromAsiaNews
    As many as fifty members of the Anti-Apostasy Division of the Indonesia Muslim Ulemas Forum (FUUI) stormed a house church in Bandung, Indonesia on February 11, according to VOMC sources in Indonesia. The militants smashed the keyboard and demanded that the worship service stop, insisting that they were meeting illegally. According to Alner Mbaloto of the Bethel Church, the church plans to move their church service to another area.

    Pray that attacks on house churches in Indonesia will cease. Pray that the believers of the Bethel Church will continue to meet together and find mutual encouragement and support in each other (Hebrews 10:23-25). Ask the Lord to work in the hearts of those persecute Christians so that they will come to know Him as Lord.

    For more information on the persecution facing Christians in Indonesia,click here.
  • Church Leader Killed in Sulawesi

    Reverend Irianto Kongkoli (42), acting head of the Central Sulawesi Christian Church (GKST), was shot at close range and killed while shopping with his wife and five-year-old daughter in Palu on October 16. After the shooting, the unidentified gunman and an accomplice fled on a motorcycle.

    Kongkoli had been an outspoken advocate for justice and peace in a region fraught with religious tensions for several years. The tensions increased with the execution of three Catholics on September 22 for their part in religious conflicts in 2000. Christians in the region believed there was unfair treatment in singling out only these three Christians and not prosecuting Muslims involved in the violence. While some officials have tied this killing to Kongkoli's opposition to the executions, Christians in the area suspect this may an attempt by Muslims to stir up violence in the area. Catholic Bishop Joseph Suwatan said, "The killing is linked to years of violence and not just to the execution of the three Christians. It seems to me too simple to limit it only to that."

    VOMC sources in Indonesia report that Kongkoli may be buried in Palu rather than the predominantly Christian area of Tentena in order to quell anger and prevent possible reprisals against Muslims. Police are reported to have information on the identities of those responsible.

    Pastor Irianto is survived by his wife, Rita Arianti Kopa and his three children, Gita, Ade and Dea.

    Pray that Rita and the children will find the Holy Spirit's comfort to be more than sufficient to carry them through their grief (2 Corinthians 1:5). Pray that the challenges faced by Indonesian believers will result in more boldness to share Christ with others (Acts 4:29-31). Ask God to bring a peaceful resolution to the longstanding tensions between Christians and Muslims in the Sulawesi region.

    For more information on persecution facing Christians in Indonesia,click here.
  • Christian Dragged from Bus and Stabbed in Poso

    Religious tensions continue to escalate on the island of Sulawesi, Indonesia where armed Muslim militants blockaded a road in Poso on October 1 and stopped a bus. They forced five passengers from the bus and stabbed an unidentified Christian man. Police arrived before there were any further injuries. The victim was admitted to hospital with serious stab injuries to his back.

    That same day, two small bombs were detonated in Poso, causing no significant damage or injuries. A mob also burned a partially constructed church building on the island.

    It is believed that these attacks may be attempts by militant Muslim factions to further stir up religious tensions between the Muslim and Christian communities.

    Pray that peace and love will dominate the lives of Christians in Sulawesi (Colossians 3:14-15, Galatians 5:22,23). Pray that those who have lost their church building will know that they have "better and lasting possessions" (Hebrews 10:36, 37).

    For more information on the difficulties facing Christians in Indonesia,click here.
  • Church Burned in Aceh

    VOMC sources report that on the night of September 1, a Muslim mob burned down the Indonesia Evangelical Mission Church building in Siompi, in the Singkil area of Aceh. News reached local Muslims that the church was planning revival meetings. This angered those who are intent on making their province strictly Islamic. The church is now meeting for worship in a local home.

    Earlier this year, the Indonesian province of Aceh became the first to institute and enforce Shariah law. Pray that the believers in Siompi will be steadfast in their service for the Lord
    (1 Corinthians 15:58). Pray that they will be able to actually rejoice in their loss as they look forward to their eternal possessions (Hebrews 10:36-37). Pray that they will rejoice in the opportunity to grow in Christlikeness through these trying times (James 1:2-4).

    For more information on the persecution of Christians in Indonesia,click here.
  • Bomb Attack on Church

    As the people of the village of Gebang Rejo in Poso, Indonesia were waiting for the World Cup soccer match to begin on July 1, the quiet of the night sky was pierced by an explosion heard two miles away as a homemade bomb exploded next to the Eklesia Church. Authorities described the explosive as "an empty bomb that only caused a loud blast" since it did not contain a metal casing or other metal materials which could have caused significant damage. No one was injured in the explosion and there was no significant damage to the building. A spokesman for the provincial police suggested the attack may have been an attempt to revive old tensions between the Muslim and Christian communities in the area.

    Ask God to rule the hearts and lives of His people with peace, knowing that He holds the power of ultimate justice (Romans 12:17-21). Pray that all attempts to stir up violence will be thwarted. Thank God with us that there were no injuries or serious damage. Pray that the leaders in the church will have God's wisdom in dealing with the difficulties the Body of Christ is facing (James 1:5).

    For more information on challenges facing Indonesia's Christians,click here.
  • Christian Businessman Sentenced for Evangelizing Muslims

    Abraham BentarIn 2000, Abraham Bentar, a Muslim, came to faith in Jesus Christ. When he was baptized three years later, he told his pastor that he wanted to evangelize Muslims. Since then, Abraham has been actively involved in evangelism to Muslims in Tasikmalaya, West Java through his clothing business.

    According to VOMC sources in Indonesia, Bentar was talking to his Muslim brothers on March 7 when three men burst into his home and assaulted him. He was dragged out of his home where a mob joined in, severely beating him until police intervened. He was then charged with attempting to convert Muslims to Christianity.

    In May, Bentar appeared in court. His brothers were among those who testified that he had tried to convert them to Christianity. The judge sentenced him to four and a half years in prison.

    When VOMC's contact spoke with Bentar's wife, Kristowati, she asked for three Bibles for her husband so that he could share them with the six cellmates he is sharing the Gospel with.

    Pray that Abraham will have many opportunities to share Christ with those around him and that their hearts would be open to the gospel (Colossians 4:2, 3). Ask God to place a hunger for truth in the hearts of those Abraham comes in contact with. Pray that Kristowati and their daughter Rinda will be filled to overflowing with the comfort of the Holy Spirit while Abraham is in prison (2 Corinthians 1:5).

    For more information on the persecution of Christian in Indonesia,click here.
  • Arrests in Beheading Attacks

    More than six months after three teenage girls were beheaded and another seriously wounded in Central Sulawesi (click here to read more), police have arrested seven Islamic militants for the attack.  According to the Jakarta Post, three of the men have confessed on video and expressed remorse for their actions. One of the men, Irwan Irano, also confessed to being a part of other attacks, including a deadly attack on the Efatha Presbyterian Church in Palu in July 2004 (for more information, click here) and the bombing of a market in Tentena which killed twenty-one people in May 2005 (find the story here).
  • Churches Stopped from Holding Services

    For the past several months, militant Muslims have been conducting a campaign against churches in parts of Indonesia by attempting to force them to stop holding services. On May 2, Compass Direct released information on three additional churches that were forced to cease holding services.

    St. Clara Catholic Church in the North Bekasi district of West Java province, whose building is presently under construction, planned to hold Good Friday services in a tent on the property.  However, a militant Muslim group threatened the church and police asked that the services be cancelled.  The church was forced to hold the services some distance away, while a large mob armed with knives arrived at the original location to ensure that the services were not being held.

    On April 17, approximately 150 people met with leaders of the Shining Christian Church in West Semper, North Jakarta to protest services being held in their community.  They presented a letter from West Semper authorities requesting the church to cease their activities even though the church is officially registered.  The neighbours threatened to call on two militant groups to close down the church if they did not permanently cease operations.

    A mob of approximately 500 Muslims also forced the Ciledug Catholic church in Tangerang province to cease services.  Local officials had given permission to the church to hold services in the residential building but the official building permit was still being processed.  The 3000 church members are temporarily meeting in a rented office block. Church members noted that many of the protestors did not even live in the immediate vicinity of the church.

    Pray that these and other churches facing pressure to close will have wisdom as they face their oppressors.  Pray that the Indonesian authorities will support these churches as they seek to meet together to worship.

    For more information on the persecution facing Christians in Indonesia,click here.
  • Christian Organizations Face Pressure to Close

    Two reports were received from Indonesia this week underlining the pressures facing Christians in this predominantly Islamic country.

    According to an April 25 report from Compass Direct, a Muslim study group raided a Christian social institution in West Bekasi district, West Java on April 8, demanding they cease all operations.  The group claimed the Apostolic Nation Building Foundation (ABB) was attempting to Christianize the community.  Police arrived to monitor the situation and there was no violence in the incident. Sarah Fifi, director of ABB, denied allegations they were operating a church. "We are a Christian social institution, non-profit and independent," she said. "We have a vision to strengthen our nation through education, free medication and environmental programs – any activities that help the community."  This is the fifth time this year that ABB has received such demands to cease operations.

    House church in Bogor
    VOMC sources in Indonesia report that a house church in West Java was surrounded by approximately two hundred militant Muslims on April 23 who demanded that they stop using the home for worship. Because of the pressure, the owner of the house in the Gunungputri House Complex in Bogor agreed to stop holding services in his home. After receiving this assurance, the mob moved on to a local house-store which is also used for Sunday worship.  Before the crowd arrived, however, the worshippers had left and the owner had locked the building.  The protestors warned the security guard they would return if the building was used for worship again.

    Because of difficulties in gaining permission for constructing buildings to hold church services in Indonesia, many Christians gather in homes for worship.  Muslim militants have been putting significant pressure on the government and on local Christians in recent months to stop these gatherings.

    Pray that Indonesian Christians will not become weary in carrying on the work of the Lord, knowing that their faithfulness will result in the furtherance of God's kingdom (Galatians 6:9,10). Pray that the church leaders will have the Holy Spirit's wisdom in the midst of ongoing harassment.

    For more information on persecution of Christians in Indonesia,click here.
  • Church Pressured to Close

    Muslims in a neighbourhood in Bandung, Indonesia are pressuring the Baithani Pentecost Movement Church to stop meeting, according to VOMC sources.  On March 18, leaders of the Baithani church met with police officers and were told that local residents were protesting against the presence of the church in their community.  In a follow-up meeting on March 24, representatives of the church, the local neighbourhood, police, military and Muslim clerics met to discuss the issue.  At the conclusion of the meeting, the Christians were told that the church "disturbed" the residents.  They were also told that the store-house where the church met would not be attacked as long as it is not used for church activity.  The church representatives were asked to sign an agreement to close the church but they refused.

    Pray for a unified spirit among Indonesia's Christians as they seek the Lord's wisdom in dealing with demands such as the one facing the Baithani church. Pray that they will have the freedom to meet and that the local police will support that freedom. Pray that those who oppose the church will come to Christ.

     

    For more information on the challenges facing Indonesia's Christians, go toclick here.  Various videos reports are available at no cost at VOMC's multimedia website, https://www.vomcanada.com/, including a 20-minute video entitled "Island Jihad."

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