Above the town of Makale in Tana Toraja stands a large statue of Christ. His arms are raised in blessing over the surrounding area. “A beautiful message,” writes missionary consultant Rev. Arjan Witzier in his travelogue. “The statue itself, well, tastes differ.” He was with missionary deputy Rev. Willem van ‘t Spijker in the summer in Indonesia to visit our sister church Gereja Toraja Mamasa (GTM). The bond with the Christian Reformed Churches is deeply rooted. “We are a daughter of the CGK,” is heard everywhere he goes. At the same time, it is clear that this church has now matured and become independent. A look behind the scenes of a working visit.
A strong and well-organised church
The GTM has a well-structured organisation based on the synodical-presbyterial system. There is a central board with an important steering role. Among other things, it is responsible for the placement of ministers, the sermon schedule and the national coordination of diaconal and missionary work. Even the men's, women's and youth work is coordinated nationally.
The central administration also reassigns ministers to different congregations every five years. Ministers may remain in one place for a maximum of two terms.
We have a meeting with the board in the new office of the church association, which is currently under construction. They tell us that they are facing three major challenges: staffing, theological level and finances. The first is going well; there is no shortage of ministers. However, further training and deepening of knowledge are desirable. The biggest bottleneck remains financial capacity. Support from the Netherlands is being withdrawn, which is seen as a loss. Our conversation partners emphasise that asking for help is not a sign of dependence, but of friendship. “Friends ask friends for help,” they explain. In Indonesia, it would be shameful if a friend discovered that help was needed but he had not been asked to help. For us Dutch, this is an important reminder that different cultures view requests for help differently.
Takes some getting used to
We are allowed to stay with host families a few times. Simple, certainly, but above all very hospitable. For those of us who are used to European luxury, it takes some getting used to. But we slept well. The meals are very generous. It is important to go for regular walks, at least to prevent putting on too much weight.
Church life and religious practice
The worship services in the GTM are more formal than we are accustomed to: ministers wear robes and stoles in the colours of the church year, and all churches follow the same sermon schedule. This creates recognisability and unity.
There are significant differences between municipalities. Some are large and prosperous, with beautiful church buildings. Others are small and simple. In the Mamasa area, Christians make up about 80% of the population, making the GTM a true national church there. In other places, where Christians are in the minority, the GTM is a small but visible witness.
We have been invited to the inauguration of the new church in Minake. A festive service. The Bible, the baptismal font and the communion set are carried in a procession of more than thirty ministers from the old church to the new one.
A warm relationship with the CGK
The people within the GTM speak with great respect about the missionaries from the Netherlands who were at the origin of the church. Their names are mentioned with honour, and as representatives of the CGK, we are received with great respect. Both local churches and the national administration are strongly committed to maintaining the relationship with the CGK.
They make it very clear that, even without financial support, the GTM is keen to maintain lasting, warm contacts, for example through regular visits, joint conferences and theological cooperation.
At the ministers' conference, we convey greetings from the Mission Deputies and our churches. The ministers present return our greetings.
Missionary and diaconal zeal
The GTM is buzzing with missionary initiatives. Rev. Marselius Samad, responsible for missions, is working with conviction to renew missionary awareness. He explains that there are legal restrictions on evangelism: officially, only five religions may be practised in Indonesia. Nevertheless, creative ways are being sought to share the gospel, including with Muslims.
In addition, diaconal work receives a great deal of attention. We visited schools, the hospital in Mamasa and an agricultural project. The vision of those involved made a deep impression. There is a high level of professionalism within the limited (financial) possibilities. The missionary opportunities that can be seen in the personal attention that can be given through the projects are well thought out. Further support from the Netherlands, for example through funds, would mean a lot here.
Surprise about the end of financial support
During various meetings, we noticed that not everyone was fully aware of the planned termination of financial support by CGK Zending. This news came as a surprise to many. Nevertheless, those involved responded with understanding: they recognise that the GTM must take responsibility for itself. Rev. Marselius even conveyed this message emphatically to his colleagues.
Family in Christ
Everywhere we went, we were welcomed with great hospitality — from simple villages to the hospital in Mamasa, where a bamboo flute orchestra welcomed us. Time and again, people expressed how valuable their friendship with the CGK is and how they hope that this family relationship in Christ will continue to exist.
In short, the GTM is an independent, vibrant sister church with deep roots in the work of the CGK. It does not ask for dependence, but for continued involvement — as friends, as family in faith, called together to let Christ's light shine in Indonesia.
Rev. Arjan Witzier, missionary consultant
