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IL News 012/2013
50th and 51st Citizenship Education
Buol and Tolitoli (Central Sulawesi), July 15-19, 2013
The presence of Christians in Buol and Tolitoli (Central Sulawesi) has a long history. Starting from the origin of Minahasa employees placed by the Dutch colonial government in gold mining companies, Mijn Bouw Maatschappij in Lintidu-Paleleh in June 1897. Christianity then continued to grow in the regions of Buol and Tolitoli.
After the company’s closure in 1929, the workers and their families chose to settle in Paleleh. With a number of 80 households (450+ people), in the early 1900’s they had actively held Sunday services from house to house on the initiative of the Christian teachers. J.H. Tumiwa, C.N. Pantouw, and Z. Kawatu took turn to lead the house-to-house worship services. In Buol, in 1919 there were already 19 Christian households who actively carried out worship activities led by Lukas Watulo and H.Th.J. Tan.
Currently, they gather in the Indonesian Protestant Church in Buol Tolitoli (GPIBT) that has 35 churches in Tolitoli and 18 churches in Buol.
It was in partnership with the GPIBT Church Synod that Institut Leimena held the 50th and 51st Citizenship Education. That was the third time Institut Leimena visited Tolitoli, a 12-hour drive from the airport in Palu, the capital city of Central Sulawesi. Leimena facilitators in this team were Matius Ho and Daniel Adipranata.
The 50th Citizenship Education was held in the 2nd Ministry Council region with the GPIBT Immanuel Buol church as the host. The program was conducted on July 15-16, 20013, and was opened by the GPIBT Synod Chairman Rev. Cornelius Montol. In his sermon, Rev. Cornelius Montol emphasized that GPIBT congregations should be involved in God’s renewal in His created world. The renewal must be seen in the church’s involvement in the community. This two-day event was moderated by Mr. Dwi Yogyo Suswiharto, a member of the GPIBT Synod.
From Buol, the facilitator team returned to Toliltoli by traveling overland for 5 hours. In Tolitoli, the Leimena team met with the GPIBT Synod working committee and alumni of previous Citizenship Education program to dicuss the implementation of Citizens Discussion program in GPIBT churches.
On July 18-19, 2013, the GPIBT Bethesda church hosted the 51st Citizenship Education. In his opening sermon, Rev. Pietson Kumiang—member of the church synod working committee—stressed the importance of the double citizenship of the people of God in Indonesia. There were lots of ideas and action plans that the participants wanted to do in the context of Tolitoli society. Church members should be involved in God’s renewal in His created world. The following are some comments from the Citizenship Education’s participants:
I understand better that there are so many little things that we can do to build this nation, starting from our own surroundings, without having to become a famous person. (Youla Ratela – GPIBT Imanuel Buol)
I want to start immediately a Citizens Discussion program in the women’s ministry group and open a mini library in our church. (Fera Anton – Head of Women’s Ministry in GPIBT Bethesda church)
I want to start a Citizens Discussion on the flood problem and solution in our neighborhood and on the issue of non-voting in our society, so that they use their voting right responsibly. (Meyta Seska Songkilawang – Head of ASM Ministry in GPIBT Synod)