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Indonesia

• Church Seriously Damaged by Fire

  Unknown attackers set fire to the Beth Eden Protestant Church in Manado, Indonesia on the night of December 8.  There were no injuries, even though the pastor and his family were living in the building.  However, the building received extensive damage.  Stephen Liow, the church's pastor, told Asia News that he had been receiving anonymous calls for the past few months from people threatening to burn down the church building.

  The Christmas season in Indonesia has often been a time of suffering for Christians who are targeted by Islamic militants.  Due to the heightened threat of terrorism, thousands of police officers have been put on alert.  A police spokesman said, "Churches and other worship buildings have become our top priority to secure along with entertainment centres, shopping compounds."

  Take time during this season to cover the Indonesian church with prayer for safety. Pray that Pastor Liow will have the heart of Christ as he leads the congregation through this stressful time. Pray that the church will have a Christmas full of celebration. Pray that the attacks on Christians in Indonesia will be stopped. Pray that the faithfulness of believers will spark a new work of the Holy Spirit throughout Indonesia.

  More information on the persecution of Christians in Indonesia is available at Indonesia'scountry report or through video reports available on our multimedia website, https://www.vomcanada.com/, including two recent features from "Overcomers TV."

  (Source: AsiaNews)

• Five Churches Demolished

  VOMC sources in Indonesia have reported that the Pamong Praja Police bulldozed five church buildings in an area of Tangerang county on November 30 while church members stood in front of their buildings and watched.  When the churches initially heard about the proposed demolitions, they requested a delay until after Christmas.  However, at 11:00 a.m., hundreds of local security officials moved in.  They cleared the buildings of their contents and destroyed the buildings.  The five churches were the Indonesia Protestant Christian Church, Indonesia Pentecost Church, Protestant Batak Christian Huria Church, Indonesia Haleluyah Pentecost Church, and Indonesia Bethel Church.  Officials claim that the church buildings violated residential bylaws.  Church leaders believe, however, that political interests motivated the destruction.

  Pray that the churches in Tangerang county will continue to remain faithful to the Lord despite government opposition. Pray that they will find alternate places to worship soon. Also pray that the Lord will give them a joyous Christmas season of worshipping Christ.

  For more information on the difficulties experienced by Indonesia's Christians,click here. A twenty-minute video on the persecution of Christians in Indonesia entitled "Island Jihad" is also available for viewing on the multimedia website, https://www.vomcanada.com/. 

• Mob Terrorizes Sunday School

  As approximately thirty children were gathered in a home in Curug, Indonesia in Sunday, November 27 to study the Bible, a mob of Islamic militants descended upon the home and caused the children to scatter in panic.  According to VOMC sources in Indonesia, the militants destroyed guitars, a keyboard, an organ and a fan as well as several desks and chairs.  They forced the teachers and children out of the house and then "sealed" it with posters denouncing the Sunday school.  One of the teachers, Anton Neta, said that the Sunday school had agreed several months ago, under threat, to stop meeting in the home on January 1, 2006.  They have been meeting there since 1992.

  Uphold these children in your prayers. Ask the Lord to surround them with the quietness of heart that overcomes the fear they experienced during the attack. Pray that the leaders of the Sunday school will have clear direction from the Holy Spirit to know where they should meet next. Pray that what was lost through vandalism will be replaced and that the Sunday school will continue to reach young souls for Christ.

  The Voice of the Martyrs has released a video report on the persecution of Christians in Indonesia entitled "Island Jihad."  To view this video, go to https://www.vomcanada.com.  For more information on persecution in Indonesia,click here.

• Sunday School Teachers Lose Appeal

  On November 22, three Sunday school teachers in Indonesia lost an appeal to have their prison sentences reduced or overturned.  One appeal remains for them.  The three were sentenced on September 1, 2005 to three years in prison for attempting to convert Muslim children to Christianity.  For more information on the persecution of believers in Indonesia, visit Indonesia's country report. To view video clips of the violence that accompanied their original trial, go to https://www.vomcanada.com.

• Continuing Attacks in Sulawesi

  

  The Christian community in Sulawesi, Indonesia is in shock after two more attacks this past weekend left one person dead and three others injured.

  In Palu, 150 km from Poso, two women and one man were attacked by men with machetes on Friday, November 18.  Three attackers on a motorcycle approached a second motorcycle carrying 20-year-old Supriyanti and her friends Anca (23) and Evi (20).  Supriyanti was slashed in the neck and Evi's arm was almost severed.  Anca escaped serious injuries.  As they sought medical treatment, they were turned away from the first hospital because the wounds were considered too serious.  Supriyanti died from severe blood loss before they reached a second hospital.

  A second attack in Palu on the following day has left Novlin Pallinggi (37) in critical condition and her husband Pudji Laksono (45) in stable condition after gunmen shot them at close range shortly after they left a church service that evening.  Doctors at the Undata General Hospital in Palu managed to remove a bullet from Pudji's chest.  At last report, they have been unable to dislodge two bullets from Novlin's chest and ribs.

  A city official in Palu has suggested that since the attacks in Poso did not stir up violence between Christians and Muslims as desired, militants may be trying to do so in other communities like Palu.

  Ask God to draw the perpetrators of these crimes to Himself. Pray that Indonesian Christians will continue respond to such acts of violence in a Christ-like manner. Pray that Evi's arm will heal and that she will receive excellent medical care. Pray that Supriyanti's family and friends will be comforted in their loss. Also pray for Anca as he comes to terms with the trauma of having watched one of his friends die from her wounds.  Remember Novlin and Pudji in your prayers as they recover from the gunshot wounds. Pray that the Lord will use these incidents to actually further His Kingdom.

  For more information on persecution in Indonesia,click here.  The Voice of the Martyrs has released a 20-minute feature on the persecution of Christians in Indonesia, entitled "Island Jihad."  To view the video, go to https://www.vomcanada.com.

• Update on Violence in Poso

  Girl Martyred on October 29

  In the past month, horrendous stories have come out of Indonesia with the beheading of three young girls in Poso on October 29 and the shooting of two other girls on November 8.  We are saddened to report that one of the two shot, a Muslim girl walking with her Christian friend, died the next day.  One man has reportedly been arrested.

  News services reported last week that five men had been arrested for the beheadings.  On November 12, they were released for lack of evidence.  The families continue to plead for justice.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  (Source: The Jakarta Post)

• Two Girls Shot in Poso

  

  Two high school girls are in critical condition after being shot point blank at 7:45 p.m. on November 8 near a Pentecostal church.  Ivone (last name unknown) and (Yuli) Siti Nuraini, both 17 years old, were shot by men on a motorcycle in the Gatot Subroto area of Poso. Ivone was shot in the left jaw, while Yuli was wounded in the neck.  They are presently in hospital in critical condition.

  This incident follows the shocking attack on four Christian girls in the same city on October 29 when three were beheaded (click here for the story).  Hundreds of troops have been dispatched to the area. There are reports that the attackers have been arrested but no names have yet been released.  This recent shooting, however, demonstrates that the danger from militant Islamic groups has not abated.

  (Sources: AsiaNews, The Jakarta Post, Kyodo News)

• Three Teenage Girls Beheaded

  Three teenage girls in Central Sulawesi suffered a grisly death on Saturday, October 29. The girls were all students of a Christian high school. Theresia Morangkir, Alfita Poliwo, Yarni Sambue and Noviana Malewa were walking to school through a cocoa plantation in Poso Kota when they were attacked by men dressed in black and wielding machetes. Therisia, Alfita and Yarni were beheaded. Noviana managed to fend off her attackers and run away, but suffered severe gashes to her face.

  The severed heads of the dead girls were found several miles away from the bodies. One was placed in front of a church and the other two near a police station. Upon his hearing of the murders, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono cancelled all his prior appointments in order to meet with security officials. While police have increased patrols in the area, no further violence has been reported and no suspects have been apprehended.

  Please pray for the families who are grieving the terrible loss of these young girls. Pray that the Lord will surround them with comfort and emotional healing. Pray that the pain the people are experiencing will not turn into increased violence again in Central Sulawesi. Pray also for physical and emotional healing for Noviana who is recovering from serious facial wounds. Finally, remember to pray that the perpetrators of the crime will be brought to justice and that they will know and respond to the love of Christ.

  For more information on these and other incidents of persecution against Christians in Indonesia,click here. VOMC's multimedia website, www.vomcanada.com, features a 21-minute video on the persecution of Christians in Indonesia entitled, "Island Jihad."

• Continued Closures Face Churches

  Contacts for The Voice of the Martyrs Canada in Indonesia report a series of new church closures on the Indonesian island of Java.  In each case, the Islamic militant group, Alliance Against Apostasy (AGAP) intimidated the churches and forced the closure of services.

  On October 2, the AGAP put pressure the Efata Church in Bandung, West Java to stop renovations and all other church activities, claiming the church did not have the necessary permissions.  As a result, all activities of the 120-member church have been stopped.

  Three churches near Jakarta, in Jatimulya, East Bekasi, were forced to close five weeks ago.  Since then, they have been holding services on the streets.  In an attempt to stop the services, on Sunday, October 16 three hundred Muslims gathered with their prayer mats to conduct their own service where the Christians normally meet.  When the Christians moved to another street, some militants began insulting and mocking them.  Pastor Anna from the local Presbyterian Church was pushed into a drain.  Police in the area did not intervene. Some even reportedly joined the mob.  Church leaders have been meeting with lawyers to determine an appropriate response.  There are concerns of physical violence if the church services are held this coming weekend.

  Pray for wisdom and strength for the church leaders facing this increasing pressure from militant groups.  Pray that these believers will know how to respond in a way that exhibits the grace and love of God. For more information on the persecution of Christians in Indonesia,click here.  VOMC's multimedia website, https://www.vomcanada.com/, features a 21-minute video on the persecution of Christians in Indonesia entitled, "Island Jihad."

• Church in Bandung Forced to Close

  

  On September 29, an Indonesian Assembly Pentecost Church in the Katapang sub-district of Bandung, West Java was forced to close.  Local community leaders met with the pastor and other leaders, and insisted that the church be shut down.  Eventually the church leaders were pressured into signing a letter agreeing to the demand.