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Indonesia

• Christian Businessman Sentenced for Evangelizing Muslims

  In 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."
• Church in West Java Forced to Close

  While 190 Christians met for worship on March 26, a large mob of Muslims surrounded the building. The angry mob stayed there for five hours, claiming that the Church of Pentecost in Indonesia (PTDI) in the Griya Bukit Jaya Housing Complex, Bogor County , did not have a permit to meet.  Police were finally able to organize a meeting between Fekky Daniel Yangki Tatulus, pastor of the church, and Muslim representatives.  Following the meeting, Tatulus agreed to stop meeting in that location.  However, as Tatulus said, "If this church is closed down, where can my congregation and their children worship the Lord?"

  Pray that Pastor Tatulus and his congregation will find a place to worship without opposition. Pray that the gospel will be preached and the church's testimony will remain strong through this difficult time. Ask God to show His love to the Muslims of Indonesia and that many people will come to Christ through that love expressed in the lives of Christians.

  For more information on persecution of Christians in Indonesia ,click here. Various video reports on the persecution facing Indonesia 's Christians are also available on VOMC's multimedia website, https://www.vomcanada.com/.

• Constitutional Appeal Rejected

  An appeal challenging the constitutionality of Indonesia's Child Protection Act was rejected by Indonesia's Constitutional Court on January 17.  In September 2005, the Child Protection Act was used to convict Rebekka Zakaria, Eti Pangesti and Ratna Bangun to three years in prison for attempting to convert Muslim children. The women's lawyer, Posma Rajagukguk, intends to appeal the women's conviction to a higher court. For more information on the persecution in Indonesia, visitIndonesia's country report.

  A new video clip on the events surrounding the verdict last September, along with the actual court ruling, is now available on VOMC's multimedia website, https://www.vomcanada.com/.

• Eight House Churches Ordered Closed

  Despite a report from AsiaNews on January 10 that Indonesia's Interior Ministry was establishing new regulations intended to ease the rules required for the establishment of new church buildings, eight house churches in Bandung, West Java were ordered to stop services following a January 12 meeting.  According to a January 19 report from Compass Direct, each of the eight churches in the Rancaekek Kencana housing complex had previously applied for a permit but had been rejected.  Despite the order, several of the churches met on January 15 anyway, since there was no other place for them to worship.

  Pray that the believers will be bold in their determination to carry on in their service to Christ. Pray that they will find places to meet and that their testimonies will be strong and effective in their communities.

  For more information on the persecution of Christians in Indonesia,click here.

• New Policy Relaxes Restrictions on Church Building Permits

  

  For the past several months, The Voice of the Martyrs has been monitoring the on-going opposition to small churches in Indonesia and the closure of several buildings.  The lack of a building permit is often used as an impetus by those wanting to stop Christians from meeting. In the past, churches wanting to build a facility often met with deaf ears when they applied for a building permit.  Delays were long and ultimately very few permits were issued. Most churches were forced to worship in virtual secrecy. According to a January 10 report from AsiaNews, new policies from Indonesia's Interior Ministry have been established to ease the rules and streamline the process.  Those wishing to build a church facility must apply to local authorities for a building permit.  After consulting with local residents, all permits should be issued within six months of applying. 

  In 2005, thirty-five churches were closed in West Java by militant Muslims because they lacked the appropriate building permits, even though they had operating licenses from the Religious Affairs Office.  A recent report from VOMC sources in Indonesia name seven previously unreported churches that had been closed in December 2005.

  Praise God for this progress in government policy for the churches of Indonesia. Pray for increasing religious freedom for believers. Pray that churches that have been closed will be allowed to reopen. Pray that the hearts of government leaders in Indonesia will not only be softened to religious freedom, but to Christ Himself.

  For more information on the persecution of Christians in Indonesia,click here. Video reports on Indonesia may be viewed on https://www.vomcanada.com/.

• Bombing Kills Eight in Market

  The death toll from a December 31 bomb blast in a traditional marketplace in Palu, Indonesia has risen to eight with at least fifty-six injured, according to VOMC sources. 

  The market in the Mahesa district of South Palu was well known for selling pork and dog meat; favorites among Christians in the area but forbidden for Muslims.  It is generally acknowledged that the bombing was the action of Islamic militants against those in the predominantly Christian area.  Most of the injuries were the result of shrapnel from the ball bearings and the head of a mortar round used in constructing the bomb. A second, unexploded, bomb was later found in the area. The attack has been widely condemned by Indonesian authorities and there have been a series of arrests.

  Pray for the families of those who died from the explosion:  Tasman Lahasa (39) and his wife, Postedina Malis (35), Agustina Mande (30), Yopi Monon (42) and his wife, Meiso (40), Bambang W Saputra (50), Meme (38) and Puspatina (38). Pray that each grieving family member will find comfort in the fact that their Saviour suffers with them. Ask God to make the victory of the resurrection such a reality that they will find joy in the midst of their pain. Pray that those responsible will find the healing grace of Jesus Christ and be drawn into a personal relationship with Him. Pray that the surrounding communities will witness a Christ-like response to this crime.

  For more details on the persecution of Christians in Indonesia,click here. There are number of video reports on the persecution facing Indonesian Christians available for free viewing on VOMC's multimedia website, https://www.vomcanada.com/.