Banners calling for a ban on churches and religious services Photo from Compass Direct
On Sunday, August 17, a group of Muslims stormed a church service in Cipayung, East Jakarta, Indonesia, according to an August 19 report from Compass Direct. About 20 church members, including Pastor Chris Ambessa, were gathered in celebration of Indonesia's Independence Day at the Pentecostal Church of Indonesia when an angry mob gathered outside the church building. Despite efforts to keep them outside, the mob forced its way into the church and overturned furniture. The church members were chased into the street and warned not to return for future services. The mob then erected large banners which called for a ban on churches and religious services. Although citizens are required to get permission before erecting banners, the authorities made no effort to intervene or remove them.
Pastor Ambessa, who has hosted a house church in his home for the past 12 years, recently built a second floor addition to accommodate the growing congregation. On July 3, the Cipayung civil engineering department ordered him to dismantle the second floor. On July 13, he was also ordered to cease all religious activity at his home for an indefinite period of time due to neighbourhood protests and the lack of a Religious Building Permit (IMB).
Pray for Pastor Ambessa and the other Christians in Indonesia. Pray that their church services can continue unhindered. Pray that believers in Indonesia will echo Peter's sentiment and remain determined to obey God regardless of what man says (Acts 5:29).
For more information on the persecution facing Indonesian Christians, go to the Indonesia Country Report.
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.
For two consecutive Sundays, approximately 20 opposing Muslim residents in the village of Gerendeng Pulo have prevented a church congregation from gathering for worship. The opposition stems from concerns that the believers began meeting in a new location without the approval of local Muslim leaders.
Children in Indonesia. Photo: ILO / Yodhi Prasetyo (cc)
On July 27th, a violent incident occurred in Padang City, Indonesia, when several men attacked a prayer house, which was established to provide religious education to Christian children. Armed with sticks, the assailants ordered the believers to disperse, and then they proceeded to smash the building's windows. During the attack, two children (ages eight and eleven) sustained injuries after being struck by objects that had been thrown amid the violence.
As the church in Indonesia continues to grow, opposition to the construction of various worship facilities remains a major challenge. One Catholic church in the Bulukumba Regency of South Sulawesi has been waiting for 45 years to receive a building permit. Although the congregation was initially granted permission in 1980, their permit was revoked following public protests. Since then, members of the church have attempted to secure approval for multiple locations, but each application has been met with rejection.
An eight-year-old boy, referred to as "KB" in Indonesia's local news reports, tragically died following a severe beating he received from a group of older male students at a school in Pangkalan Kasai, a village located within the province of Riau. According to various sources, the incident occurred because the boy was a Christian and belonged to a different ethnic group.
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