wfn.org | Church musician, Christina Mandang, killed following international church gathering

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

> News Release

> 27 June 2010

Church musician killed following international church gathering

Indonesian church musician, Christina Mandang, has died from injuries sustained 
when hit by a car on the closing day of a global church gathering in Grand 
Rapids, United States.

Mandang (38) was returning to Calvin College campus shortly after 10:00 p.m. 
following dinner in a local restaurant when she stepped into the street to 
avoid a water sprinkler and was hit by a passing car. She was taken to 
Spectrum-Butterworth hospital where she died in the early hours of Sunday 
morning.

Mandang had been in Grand Rapids as a member of the team that led daily worship 
services for the Uniting General Council (UGC). The Council met 18-26 June to 
create the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC) from a merger of the 
Reformed Ecumenical Council and the World Alliance of Reformed Churches.

The organist and pianist was a lecturer in church music and worship at Reformed 
Seminary in Jakarta, Indonesia.

WCRC general secretary, Setri Nyomi was at the hospital through the night with 
several Indonesians who were with Mandang at the time of the accident. Another 
of the group, John Foeh, sustained a non-life threatening injury to his 
shoulder and arm.

"We feel deep sadness at this loss," Nyomi said in a statement this morning. 
"Christina Mandang's gifts touched us all. She played organ at all the services. The joy with 
which she did that touched each of us."

Newly-elected WCRC president, Jerry Pillay, heard the news from Nyomi as he was 
leaving for the airport to return to his home in South Africa.

"I am shocked and deeply saddened by this news," he said. "We send our condolences 
to Christina Mandang's family and wish to assure them that we are holding them in our prayers at 
this time."

Emily Brink, who headed the team which planned UGC worship services, was at the 
hospital when Mandang died. Brink had worked closely with Mandang for two and a 
half years to prepare the worship life for the global gathering of church 
representatives from Presbyterian, Reformed, United, Uniting and Waldensian 
churches.

Brink, who is associated with the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship in Grand 
Rapids, paid tribute to Mandangâ??s skills as a musician.

â??Christina was very gifted, one of the finest Christian liturgical musicians in her country. 
The final hymn she played at the closing UGC worship service was â??Oh God our help in ages 
past, our hope for years to come.â??â??

UGC delegates are scheduled to gather at the chapel on Calvin College campus 
today at 11:30 for a memorial service planned by members of the UGC Worship 
Committee with John Witvliet of Calvin Institute of Christian Worship and Rev. 
Kardarmanto, a past president of the Reformed Ecumenical Council.

The Uniting General Council 2010 in Grand Rapids, United States (June 18-28) 
marks the merger of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches and the Reformed 
Ecumenical Council to form the World Communion of Reformed  Churches.

> Contact: Kristine Greenaway
> Executive Secretary, Communications
> World Communion of Reformed Churches

UGC News Room ? Calvin College - Hoogenboom Center Room HC 204

> Cell phone: 1-616-826-5540 or 1-616-826-8636

> News Room: 1-616-526-7885
> email: kgr@warc.ch

> web: www.reformedchurches.org

>