By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
JAKARTA (Worthy News) – Lutheran Christians on the outskirts of Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta, faced eviction from their church on Sunday, but their supporters told Worthy News they have appealed for prayers as they want to maintain a presence in this area of the world’s most populous Muslim nation.
Local authorities demand that the HKI Juanda Church in Depok city in Indonesia’s West Java province closes down “due to its proximity to the Indonesian International Islamic University,” Worthy News learned.
However, the move is controversial as Christians have been worshiping there “for nine years,” confirmed the advocacy group Voice Of the Martyrs Canada (VOMC).
VOMC told Worthy News that the university took over the property of the neighboring land after it was founded in September 2021.
In comments shared with Worthy News, an elder from the church proclaimed: “We aspire to remain here despite our lack of power. With the collective prayers of our friends, we hold onto hope.”
The HKI Juanda Church has its roots in the Indonesian Christian Church (Huria Kristen Indonesia, HKI), a Lutheran denomination that grew out of the Rhenish Missionary Society from Germany.
Christians told Worthy News that European missionaries were vital in establishing churches before Indonesia’s recognized independence from the Netherlands in December 1949.
NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUE
“As negotiations over the land dispute continue, pray that God will intervene in the ongoing hearings so that a peaceful, amicable solution will be attained,” VOMC added in a prayer appeal.
“Amid this difficult situation, may the members of the HKI Juanda Church serve as effective testimonies of the Lord’s love, peace, and saving grace to the opposing university officials.”
VOMC said that the standoff comes at a time of growing concerns about devoted Christians in Indonesia. “In general, please pray on behalf of all churches throughout Indonesia that are encountering various challenges due to opposition from their local authorities.”
It was crucial to “ask God to grant the leaders and members of these congregations needed wisdom, guidance, and strength,” VOMC said.
In September, Pope Francis was due to visit Indonesia, but it remains unclear whether the pontiff will raise concerns about the plight of non-Catholics in the country.
Religious Christians comprise up to 11 percent of Indonesia’s mainly Muslim population of roughly 282 million people, according to estimates by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
Evangelists and Christian leaders have told Worthy News the actual figure of “born-again Christians,” people who choose to follow Christ regardless of religious background, is higher.“Among them are many who appear as Muslims on the outside to avoid persecution” from their families or authorities, they said.
Copyright 1999-2024 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
Latest Stories from Worthy News
Saudi Arabia has softened its position on Palestinian statehood, telling Washington that “a public commitment” from Israel to a two-state solution “could be enough” for the Gulf kingdom to normalize relations with the Jewish nation, according to Saudi and Western officials.
One may be forgiven for thinking twice about enjoying a coffee here. Yet a South Korean border observatory overseeing a quiet North Korean mountain village was precisely where the Starbucks coffee chain decided to open an outlet on Friday.
Syrian opposition groups have breached Syria’s second-largest city, Aleppo, after blowing up two car bombs and fighting with government forces on Friday in clashes that have killed some 200 people, a Syria war monitor and witnesses say.
British legislators have agreed to legalize assisted dying for some terminally ill people, despite concerns the law could be misused to pressure patients deemed ‘unfit’ to live longer.
Setting a benchmark for jurisdictions worldwide, Australia has banned social media for children under 16. with the government saying that ” the safety of our kids is a priority.”