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.

  • Country Information

    Population
    279,476,346 (2023 est.)

    Ethnicity (%)
    Javanese (40.1), Sundanese (15.5), Malay (3.7), Balak (3.6), Madurese (3), Betawi (2.9), Minangkabau (2.7), Buginese (2.7), Bantenese (2), Other (23.8)

    Religion (%)
    Muslim (87.2), Christian (9.9), Hindu (1.7), Other (0.9), Unspecified (0.4)

    Leader
    President Joko Widodo (2014)

    Government type
    Presidential republic

    Legal system
    Civil law system based on the Roman-Dutch model and influenced by customary law

    Sources: CIA World Factbook.

  • Pray for Indonesia

    Pray for the continued growth of the church in Indonesia, despite the intense opposition and persecution that has taken place. May the destructive plans of the enemy to eradicate Christianity be frustrated and nullified.

    Pray that whatever is intended for evil, God will turn around for good – causing such hatred and violence to not only discredit extremism, but to also compel many to seek salvation in Christ... including the perpetrators of persecution.

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