Pray for Indonesia on Sunday, April 17, 2016

Pray for recently elected Synod Moderator of the Church in West Timor (GMIT) and member of CGMB, Rev. Dr. Mery Kolimon (second from left) and the recently re-elected Dean of the Theology Faculty of Artha Wacana Christian University, Rev. Evie Maria Ratu-Pada (fourth from left).

Lectionary Selection: John 10:22-30

Prayers for Indonesia:
O Great Shepherd, unite us in prayer with the churches of Indonesia as they seek to discern and bear witness to your Word of hope and salvation. Be with our brothers and sisters gathered today in worship across the islands—in the militarized regions of Papua, next to chemically-saturated rice paddies in Java, longing to be heard amidst the cosmopolitan confusion of Jakarta, struggling to survive on the parched plains of south Timor, resting from their labor on palm oil plantations in Kalimantan. Grant these your sheep, guidance for their journeys, protection from exploitation, and comfort in the face of loss and despair. We pray for the Church of West Timor. May its new leadership encourage repentance, heal wounded relationships, reform broken systems, instill hope and be strengthened by your grace. We pray for the Christian University in West Timor. Bless its teachers and students that they may grow together through research, study, reflection, and community service. Help especially the Theology Faculty and its Truth and Reconciliation Team as it seeks to break a long tradition of campus violence. O God, make your presence known in all these places that your sheep may be saved. Amen.

Male theology students resemble army recruits; patterns of a military-style student orientation continue despite the end of Indonesia’s era of repression in 1998.

Mission Stewardship Moment from Indonesia:
How do we heal brokenness within our own church institutions? Take a moment to consider the journey of a mission partner. Two years ago the Theology Faculty where John and I serve was shaken by an incident of violence that involved a faculty member. Lacking clear guidelines for a response, a worship service of confession and forgiveness was quickly conducted, and a Truth and Reconciliation Team formed. When asked to head this team I accepted, for this too is part of our common ministry. The team’s findings reveal a tradition of hazing and violence since the school’s founding in 1971, when memories of anti-Communist violence were intimidatingly fresh. Beginning in 1965, at least 500,000 people were killed in a US-sanctioned wave of terror; many others were subjected to sexual violence, torture, and forced labor. In such a climate, submission to authority as modeled by a powerful army became the unquestioned aim of student orientation. The dominant philosophy of “spare the rod and spoil the child” never merited theological reflection. Habits of looking the other way damaged the collective ability to hear Jesus, who must still explain to us over and over again who he is. Stories of past campus violence will now be heard. Naming and confronting institutional demons so close to us hurts, but it is part of our common mission of repentance and healing. May this struggle for integrity in West Timor inspire us to acknowledge unspoken truths and listen yet more closely when Jesus says: “My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me.”

(Prayer and Mission Moment by Karen Campbell-Nelson)

Mission Partners in Indonesia:

Partners

More information on Indonesia: http://www.globalministries.org/indonesia

Global Ministries Missionary in Indonesia:
Karen Campbell-Nelson serves with the Evangelical Church of West Timor. Her appointment is supported by One Great Hour of Sharing, Our Churches Wider Mission, Disciples Mission Fund and your special gifts.