In Indonesia, a country where Christians account for only 7% of the population while Muslims make up 88%, Protestant Christianity, and Methodism in particular, continues to grow, develop, and be engaged in mission, service, and ministry.
Methodism first came to Indonesia in 1905 after American missionaries had begun work in Malaysia and Singapore. The Methodist Church in Indonesia was the only one that had not been started by Dutch or German missions. In Indonesia, American missionaries started working in Java, Kalimantan, and Sumatra. In 1913, upon the arrival of Bishop J. Robinson, the first conference was held in North Sumatra. The Methodist Church in Indonesia was unique in North Sumatra, because it was the only church whose members consisted of both indigenous and nonindigenous persons.
In August 9, 1964, the Methodist Church in Indonesia became an autonomous church and since then has been called the Gereja Methodist Indonesia (GMI). Throughout the years, the Gereja Methodist Indonesia has worked closely and cooperatively with Methodist churches in the United States, Korea, and other countries.
The Gereja Methodist Indonesia ministerial area covers almost half of Indonesia's region: from Banda Aceh in the western part of the country to Bali in the eastern part. It ministers to the salvation of the soul and to the welfare and education of humanity. The Gereja Methodist Indonesia has one Methodist Hospital, several clinics, and schools from kindergarten to university level, including a theological college.
Presently the Gereja Methodist Indonesia consists of 276 churches, 248 preaching posts, 157 ordained pastors, and hundreds of lay speakers who serve 40,183 full members and 49,913 potential members. Approximately 80% of the parishioners live in small villages.
The Gereja Methodist Indonesia encompasses people from various ethnic and language backgrounds. The worship services are usually conducted in Indonesian, English, Mandarin, a form of Batak, and other local languages.
The church in Indonesia, like all other places, is presently facing some difficulties and challenges. These include religious pluralism, modernization, and traditionalism in the villages. According to Dr. H. Doloksaribu, Bishop of the Gereja Methodist Indonesia, "Religious pluralism challenges our Methodist form of evangelism. It pushes us to be more creative. Modernization challenges our faith, creeds, and beliefs. Traditionalism challenges us to show our light and to pour salt to the . . . superstitious beliefs which are prevalent in the village folk's lives."
(10/15/97)
[Sources: "United Methodist Church Relationships in Southeast Asia," GBGM; "A Bird's Eye View of Gereja Methodist Indonesia, 1905 - 1997," Bishop Dr. H. Doloksaribu; "A Reflection of This Study as Applied to the Methodist Church in Indonesia," chapter 3 of a PhD dissertation by P.W. Bone]
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