Renovation and Development of the Theological Faculty Facilities

With a population of 212,000,000 spread over 13,000 islands, Indonesia is the fourth largest  nation in the world.  However, Indonesia struggles economically.  Half the population lives on less than U.S. $1.00  a day.  The collapse of the Asian economy in 1997 led to high unemployment and recession, stirring severe ethnic, religious, and economic conflict resulting in violence and instability.  Indonesians are 80-90 percent Islam, 9 percent Christian with the rest indigenous religions, Hindu or Buddhist.  Indonesia experiences some conflict among these religious groups.  Moreover, political conflict between Indonesian West Timor and an emerging independent country in East Timor resulted in many deaths, extensive destruction, and created a massive refugees crisis.  The Theological Faculty at Artha Wacana Christian University sheltered students and families from areas where schools closed and cities were destroyed.

For over 30 years partner Protestant denominations on the Indonesian island of Timor have provided theological education, attracting students from North Sulawesi, Papua, Moluccas, Java, and North Sumatera.  First was a program training 40 rural pastors which then evolved into a theological seminary.  Now church leaders are trained at the Theological Faculty of Artha Wacana Christian University.  The Theological Faculty currently has 620 students. 

Donations
To make an online gift to this project click  here and select West Timor--Artha Wacana Christian University from the designation list. To make a gift by check to this project click  here.