by Trevor Garrett
The Indonesia we sometimes see on TV or in ads for luxury vacations to a tropical island paradise has little in common with the reality outside the resort or the airport. Along the road, you will see men carrying heavy stones for construction and wearing flip flops. They are unequipped and unprotected in the hard work they do. Their livelihoods, and perhaps those of their families, depend on their caution and care. A misstep or a stumble can cost them a limb, or worse.
Believers in Indonesia find themselves in a similarly precarious position.
In the most populous Islamic nation in the world, minarets cast long shadows over neighborhoods, and the call to prayer sounds five times a day. While legally, freedom of religion is protected in Indonesia’s constitution, social and cultural pressures create a challenging context for ministry.
On a recent visit with a few long-time Every Home partners to a particularly difficult region of Indonesia, we met with the wife of a local pastor.
When we asked her what it was like to minister in this region, she broke down into tears. She is in constant fear for her husband’s safety.
In her area, Christians face persecution ranging from social ostracization, estrangement from family and friends, and lost business opportunities to beatings and even death. She worries that, one day, her husband won’t come home. Her fears are not exaggerated.
The testimonies of new Indonesian believers are reminiscent of Acts and the stories of the early Church. One new believer from a Muslim background shared how every time she attended church, her family would beat her. After one beating left her with almost no hearing in her right ear, this new believer left home, believing in faith that the God whose love, Word, and people she could not resist would provide for her. Her church family embraced her, praying for her safety and healing.
Eventually, her hearing was restored! Despite the cost, this new believer remained steadfast. And her faith brought her life nothing else offered.
In another village, our team met three widows who live together in a tiny house in the shadow of a Mosque. Their stories are a sort of cross-section of the religious landscape of Indonesia. One of the women comes from a Muslim background, one from a Hindu background, and one from a Buddhist background. All three are believers and have committed to reaching their community with the gospel. It will not be easy. As women, widows, and Christians, they have no power, little influence, and few resources. But the love evidenced in their lives is a mighty testimony. Not only do these women from entirely different backgrounds live together in harmony but they have adopted a young boy with special needs. The love of Jesus overflows their small house, touching and transforming the lives of those around them.
If there is one thing that sets Christians apart in this region, it is sincere love expressed through continued, faithful presence.
Both Muslims and Christians visit the places inhabited by refugees, displaced people, and people living in poverty. Both groups bring aid and a message. But the recipients of these outreaches have noticed that the Christians sit down, they listen, they pray, and then later they come back.
Transformation is happening because of compassion, because believers show up and offer their attention. The believers who met with our team share a profound sense of calling to love their neighbors so that those around them notice something different, something full of life and hope. They are committed to this calling regardless of the cost. They are mindful of the danger, cautious but not deterred. Their evident passion to carry Christ to their nation inspires others to rise to the challenge.
Witnessing the faithfulness of these largely unsung heroes left an impression on me. It is likely what I will remember most about the trip. I could not help but wonder, as I heard the call to prayer radiate over homes and streets five times a day, what about those of us who live in places that seem, in some ways, “easier”? We know we won’t be killed or beaten for the sake of Christ. Can we be as bold? Our brothers and sisters in Indonesia are setting an example for us.
The Asia Pacific region is one of the most challenging in the world for ministry. Some nations impose strict restrictions on outreach and even in nations without legal restrictions, Christians experience social pressure and persecution. Unrest, violence, and war disrupt ministry, and this region’s geography creates unique obstacles. Every Home leaders work tirelessly to strategize how to reach thousands of islands and remote communities.
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