Mennonites weathering Indonesia's storm

JAKARTA

As Indonesia continues to swirl in uncertainty, Mennonites in the island country have not been unscathed, but have not had to endure the degree of terror suffered by others.

According to Indonesian Mennonite leaders and North American visitors, no church members have been killed, beaten or raped, and only one of the nearly 500 churches destroyed during the country's current upheaval, spawned by economic and political disintegration, has been Mennonite. Still, congregational life has been shaken; some Mennonites have had their stores and homes vandalized and robbed. Some are preparing to leave the country.

Two of Indonesia's three Mennonite synods--the 13,000-member GKMI and the 3,500-member JKI--are comprised predominately of people of Chinese ethnicity, many of whom have been in the country for generations. Chinese Indonesians, considered the country's wealthy, have been targeted by rioters during the turmoil. The third and largest synod, GITJ, is made up of indigenous Javanese.

"When at the same time you are Chinese, Christian and rich, you are a triple minority," said Mesach Krisetya, GKMI's presiding officer and president of Mennonite World Conference. "We live in a very uncertain situation, he said. "We know who holds the future--that's God."

Don Jacobs, executive director of Mennonite Christian Leadership Foundation, Landisville, Pa., recently returned from visiting Mennonite business and professional people in Indonesia. "In a way, it's a shining hour for the church because it's never been more difficult," he said. "They're falling back on their faith more than ever."

The condition of church life ranges from looking for new ways to minister to suspending congregational activities. Some congregations are starting or discussing ways to meet victims' needs, including a thrift store and computer on-line assistance for rape victims who become pregnant, reports Andreas Christanday, a GKMI administrator and Asia Mennonite Conference president. Among other church activities are political advocacy and organizing groups for prayer and fasting.

In any case, other congregations are struggling. "Some are very apathetic; some are preparing to [leave Indonesia] in case; some are still doing routine work," Christanday said. "Some are questioning: `What should we do? Should we learn self-defence>' "

The tensions between Indonesians of Chinese descent and those of indigenous background apparently have not affected relations among the Mennonite synods."To Chinese Christians or Mennonites, [GITJ] always gives respec," said Christanday.

"Sheldon Sawatzky, interim executive secretary of the Commission on Overseas Mission, spoke about attending a worship service in Jakarta which included Indonesians of both Chinese and Javanese ethnicities. Sawatzky was in Indonesia to attend the Asia Mennonite Conference August 3-6. He also visited a Mennonite furniture store. "Around the shop were stores and supermarkets that were gutted", he said. "His was spared for some reason."

The only Mennonite church to be destroyed during the current upheaval was burned last November. Another church was torn down by a mob three years ago, and another scrapped plans to dedicate its new sanctuary last October after receiving threats.--

Rich Preheim for Meetinghouse

The Situation in Indonesia

In July 1997, Indonesia experienced a severe monetary crisis, paralyzing the economy and sending companies into bankruptcy and people into unemployment. As a result, the costs of living rose between 200 and 300 percent. Despite the appointment of a new president, the economy is unchanged. According to the World Bank, Indonesia is one of the poorest countries in the world. Demonstrations climaxed May 13-14, when riots broke out in Jakarta. About 40 malls and 2,470 stores were destroyed, looted and burned, mostly in Jakarta and Solo; 1,188 people died, and 468 Chinese-Indonesian women were raped, including some under 15 years of age. On July 7, 1998 riots broke out in Jepara. A shopping centre of 25 stores was looted or damaged, including four stores owned by Chinese-Indonesian Mennonites. Many threats continue to be made against the Chinese.

MBMS International's partner conference in Indonesia, the Muria Church (GKMI), which began in 1920, now has over 12,000 members. Dale and Joyce Warkentin were MBMS International workers in Indonesia 1975-84. While the mission agency doesn't have workers in Indonesia, it continues to support Indonesian church planters and community development workers there, and has budgeted $11,930 US for Indonesian Mennonites in 1998-99: Community development - $1,920; Agriculture - $1,320; Bible school students - $2,040; Leadership seminars - $3,900; A scholarship at Fuller Theological Seminary - $2,750.

from MBMS International reports

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