wfn.org | Gospel Outreach in Indonesia Despite Riots

["Christian B. Schäffler" <APD_Info_Schweiz@compuserve.com>]

September 6, 1998
Adventist Press Service (APD)
Christian B. Schaeffler, Editor-in-chief
Fax +41-61-261 61 18
APD@stanet.ch
CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland

GOSPEL OUTREACH CONTINUES IN INDONESIA DESPITE RIOTS
98/29/04

Medan, Indonesia, 06.09.1998  [ANN] Ongoing civil 
unrest and rioting in Indonesia have not prevented 
gospel outreach programs, with many Indonesians
receptive to the Christian message, according to 
church workers.

"Riots erupted in Medan three months ago," said 
Jonathan Kuntaraf, an associate director for Personal
Ministries at the Seventh-day Adventist Church World 
Headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland. "Many 
churches have been burned across the country, and we 
were advised that our safety could not be assured."

However, Kuntaraf, together with his wife Kathleen 
Kuntaraf, M.D.,  associate director for Health 
Ministries, and Ben Sanidad, M.D., an Adventist 
doctor from Cleveland, Ohio, travelled to Indonesia
and held a number of health and gospel outreach 
programs July 30-August 15.

The civil unrest did not prevent a high attendance at 
the meetings, with more than 1,300 present each 
evening. At the conclusion of the program, 258 chose
to be baptised and join the Adventist Church. 

"This is the highest baptism in the history of 
Medan," reported Sabar Pinem, president for the 
Adventist Church in North Sumatra.

"We were pleased to be able to work in Medan," says 
Kuntaraf. "Many discouraged us before we went, saying
it wasn't safe. But we encountered no problems and 
enjoyed the experience very much. Right now we still 
have the freedom to preach in the country, so now is
the time to take advantage of the opportunity."