Scriptures for displaced people

JAKARTA, Indonesia — Bringing the comfort of God’s Word to displaced peoples is an ongoing challenge for the Indonesian Bible Society (LAI) as the country continues to suffer ethnic and religious disturbances. Most recently, LAI’s ministry has involved distributing biblical material to people who have fled their homes in Tobelo and Poso, and to Indonesian labourers who have been expelled from Malaysia.

The distribution of 3,000 Bibles and 7,700 Portions to 200,000 people who have left Tobelo, in northern Halmahera, and Poso, in northern Sulawesi, as a result of social conflict was made possible by financial support from the Opportunity 21 program. LAI has been involved in a number of similar initiatives over recent years, including the distribution of biblical material in Ambon in mid-1999 (see World Report 348/18), Poso in 2000 (see Latest News #100), Tentena in 2001 and Tual in 2002.

Many of the refugees were forced to leave their Bibles behind when their villages were attacked, and LAI hopes that, in providing them once again with the Word of God, they will gain “consolation in facing the problems that they are dealing with right now so that they will feel peace and comfort,” according to Didin Oktavia Prihadini of the LAI information department. The government now has clear policies for tackling the refugee problem, including ensuring that refugees can return home and regain their independence, but LAI believes that, for the refugees who remain displaced, “the Bible and Scriptures will be useful to strengthen their faith.”

Through its One in Love team (see World Report 350/34), LAI is also demonstrating its willingness to tackle the country’s social problems by distributing biblical material, food and medicines to the many thousands of Indonesian migrant labourers and their families who have been evicted from Malaysia and are now living in very basic accommodation on the remote island of Nunukan.