Greetings from GKPS – Gereja Kristen Protestan Simalungun (Simalungun Christian Protestant Church), Pematang Siantar, North Sumatera, Indonesia! ‘Selamat Tuhan Baru’ – Happy New Year! GKPS has a congregation of 2,300 members, so to cater for this, they have three services on a Sunday – 7am, 9:30am and 5pm (Modern – Youth focussed). At the end […]

Greetings from GKPS – Gereja Kristen Protestan Simalungun (Simalungun Christian Protestant Church), Pematang Siantar, North Sumatera, Indonesia!

‘Selamat Tuhan Baru’ – Happy New Year!

GKPS has a congregation of 2,300 members, so to cater for this, they have three services on a Sunday – 7am, 9:30am and 5pm (Modern – Youth focussed). At the end of the month they have a Local Cultural Service, spoken in the native tongue (Simalungun language) and a female choir with Bulang (headdress created to look like horns) on their heads.

There are two Powerpoint projectors and screens at the front of the Church, so you can follow the Liturgy somewhat and sing the hymns. Many are familiar in tune, with Simalungun language lyrics.

There are three full-time employees of the Church, Rev. Posma Purba, Assistant Pastor Rev. Lenny Damanik and Bible Woman PW Rosmalina Damanik, who also preaches. They have 70 Deacons and 77 Elders – every four families is allocated a Deacon to tend to them.

The 2018 Christmas Service saw 1,400 attendees, the Indonesian people celebrate Christmas for all of December and January. At the end of January all of their elaborate decorations, including LED lights in the Church, are taken down.

While in Indonesia I am teaching Sunday School, usually with betwen 150 – 200 children in attendance. They run the younger children’s lessons separate to the teenagers. On the first of my lessons I took the full class, after the teachers had opened with singing and prayers. There were approximately 50 or so children, due to many being away with family for the holidays. The children were very inquisitive and tolerant of my non-existent Bahasa vocabulary.

Most of my checked luggage was teaching resources and craft materials. Both the children and adults were very intrigued. The Sunday School uses a Powerpoint projector, keyboard and microphone but the older children bring their own bibles and equipment. On departing, the children shake your hand, many of them bring your hand to their forehead as a sign of respect and you bring yours to place over your heart to reciprocate. After many photos with the teachers and children, I attended the 9:30am church service and was so moved by the passion and power – God’s work being done by so many. The sheer size of the Church reminded be of Bethlehem Church in the Adelaide CBD, with four seated areas running the length of the Church.

I am also teaching at SD HKBP (Elementary school) and SD HKBP Latihan (Elementary School).

As well as my time volunteering, I was also taken into the higher regions West of Pematang Siantar to see the Tea Plantations. As fas as the eye can see, thick hedges of tea owned by the Government and every 50 – 100metres is a new shack selling food and where the workers rest when not tending the Plantations.

I have been truly blessed with the opportunity to travel to Indonesia, under the banner of the LCA International Mission. I have been truly blessed with the wonderful guidance, chaffeuring, friendship and understanding shown to me by Ridwin Purba and his family. Their willingness in speaking English and showing unlimited patience with my somewhat varied conversational topics has been God sent. I could never have expected to travel by public transport, the Indonesian people are fabulous in many ways, but their traffic is out of this world. I am thankful for the Lutheran World Federation National Committee (Komite Nasional Lutheran World Federation) for their kindness also. I have seen so much good being done, an extremely active collection of Lutheran Churches and such a diverse Cultural and Religious location.

If you would like to consider the opportunity to serve as a volunteer in mission, serving in practical ways, teaching English, teaching in the seminaries and institutions of our partner churches, or in local churches, you are invited to phone LCA International Mission on (08) 8267 7317 or email lcaim@lca.org.au. For more information, go to https://www.lcamission.org.au/join-gods-mission/volunteer/

Read more stories about volunteering at https://www.lcamission.org.au/category/join-gods-mission/volunteers/