Prayer news – Indonesia

One of SGM Lifewords key partners in Indonesia is SETIA Bible College, a mission training school that sends out hundreds of students around the country every year. Gunar Sahari, National Director of Lifewords in Indonesia, has been a senior lecturer, and it is through these close links with SETIA that the Visible Story programme emerged, as a way of connecting rural Indonesian communities with the Bible.

In recent months SETIA has been expanding, buying land with a view to erecting new buildings. They have met with serious opposition, working as they are in a majority Islamic community. Building materials were delivered, and subsequently burned by opponents set on preventing any expansion of the college.

Last friday, the campus itself was attacked by a mob. Hundreds of demonstrators surrounded the women’s dormitories, armed with rocks, clubs and torches, and besieged the campus until Sunday. A number of students were injured.

The college has now been evacuated. Details are still emerging, but this is a worrying time for SETIA, and for Lifewords in Indonesia.

Please pray:

• For all the students and faculty affected, for their safety, and that their resolve will be strengthened, not weakened, by these hard times.
• For those who have been injured, for healing of body and mind.
• That the campus itself will be secured, protected from further attacks, and that building work can resume uninterrupted.
• That students will be able to return soon, and teaching resume without threat.
• For the local authorities as they defuse the situation. Thank God that the police are positive about the college and have so far been helpful.
• For Lifewords‘ ongoing work in Indonesia, and particularly the Visible Storyprogramme.

Thank you for praying with us.