Bible-based church flourishes
on vision and prayer

JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya, Indonesia — “God is doing wonderful things in Wamena and the churches are growing. But we do need Bibles and Scriptures to help people grow in faith,” said the Rev Bangun Manurung.

Mr Manurung was speaking after a week’s mission in the central highlands town, organised by the Bethel Church of Indonesia and sponsored by the church in Irian Jaya’s capital Jayapura.

An Indonesian man praying at a Bethel Church near Wamena, where a mission was being held. Irian Jaya, Indonesia. Photo: UBS/Geoffrey Stamp (INO00C-20/21A)

“Many people here are caught up with traditional religion and they will only be clear about this with the correct biblical teaching, or by reading the Scriptures for themselves,” he said.

“Our church is very strongly based upon the Bible. We are in the process of setting up a Bible school in Sentani, nearer to Jayapura. We like to train our elders and church leaders in Bible teaching as soon as - and as much as - possible. We organise regular Bible studies in every church or centre at least once a week, and Sunday Schools or study groups for younger people.

“In the Sunday morning service several Dani youngsters gave their lives to Christ. They will now be given Bible education through the church,” he said.

The Rev Roebyn F H Weohau is the pastor of the main Bethel Church in Irian Jaya. He has 530 members and looks after several other congregations totalling an estimated 31,000 people.

“The most successful group in our church is the hospital visiting group,” he said. “They regularly go to the hospital and pray with people, read from the Bible and encourage them. Many people coming to the hospital have had some church background. Our group often finds that sickness or injury forces people to re-examine their lives and return to the Bible.

Woman healed

“One woman, Mrs Sewo, was healed of breast cancer and she has become a key worker in this group. We get up to five new members a month from our hospital work,” he added.

“We need the Bible Society and its work in supplying the Scriptures. We encourage new members to obtain a copy of the Bible so that they can learn the laws of God.”

He is helped by two assistant pastors, volunteers who also run their own businesses.

“The Bible is so important for us: it is our first resource,” said Assistant Pastor Awie. “We have Bible study groups every morning in our church. Our prayer groups meet in the evening. Freedom from demonic possession, revival and healing - these are three of the most frequent topics of our prayers.

Holy Spirit active

“We can pray effectively if we have the Holy Spirit active in our lives. Satan can and does attack us but we are protected, and knowledge of the Bible is a key part of that protection.”

The Bethel Church of Indonesia is a strong supporter of the Indonesian Bible Society in its efforts to supply Scriptures where they are most needed.

A Dani woman praying at a Bethel Church near Wamena, where a mission was being held. Irian Jaya, Indonesia. Photo: UBS/Geoffrey Stamp (INO00C-20/20A)

Pastor Awie was formerly involved with traditional Chinese religion. His wife persuaded him to attend church with her and he was challenged by the message he heard.

“I realised that if I opened my heart to Christ I would know who Jesus really was. I am a businessman and I used to be completely involved in my business. Now I spend just a couple of hours a day with it and then help the pastor. I have been able to let go and trust my staff; before I had always feared they would rob me,” he said.

Mr Manurung is the church’s evangelist, organising and leading mission teams drawn from the membership. Mrs Awie was a member of his team in Wamena in September. John Wesley, an evangelist from Papua New Guinea, was also in the team. He had been to Jayapura before with a team from his young people’s group in Lae.

“I need to reach out to the Papuan people,” he said. “I still have to learn Indonesian, but my heart goes out to these people, who are quite close to the Papuans of Papua New Guinea. We come from the same traditions, which is why I understand them well.