INDONESIA – Church Closed Again
Muslims recently closed a church and blocked Christians from entering and holding services in Jatimula, Bekasi, West Java, Indonesia.
According to The Voice of the Martyrs contacts in Indonesia, “Muslims blocked the alley leading to the church building. Pastor Anna and Huta Julu had to lead worship outside their church building and believers had to sit in the dirty alley to pray outside their church.”
VOM contacts added, “The sign outside the church building stated, ‘This church building is sealed,’ and it was written on a letterhead belonging to the Tambun Selatan district of Bekasi local government.”
This is the second time Muslims have closed the church in Bekasi. The church was first closed on September 10, 2005, when a mob of 100 Muslims nailed boards over doors and windows and prohibited believers from entering the building. This incident is the latest crackdown on Christians in Indonesia. In the last decade, several hundred thousand Christians have been forced out of their villages and houses while 900 churches have been burned or destroyed. Four thousand Christians have been killed. Of the 62,806 villages in Indonesia, 10 percent do not have a single church.
The Voice of the Martyrs actively supports persecuted believers in Indonesia. VOM stood alongside and encouraged believers when their church was closed in 2005. VOM encourages you to pray for believers in Indonesia, especially members of the church in Bekasi. Praise God for their unwavering faith. Ask God to watch over Pastor Anna and Huta Julu as they continue to lead other believers in Indonesia. Pray for protection for believers as they courageously live for Christ in the midst of hardships.
Tags: Bekasa, church, Indonesia, Muslims, West Java
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