Spreading Hope as a Nation to Karo People

IL News 019/2014

58th Citizenship Education (Training of Trainers)

Medan (North Sumatera), September 1-4, 2014

Mejuah-juah (”Greetings”)! Karo people nowadays face many challenges. Sinabung volcano continues emitting warm clouds, and there are more than 3,000 refugees who have been taken care of by the Karo Batak Protestant Church (GBKP) Synod for months. Karo local goverment is also still in a period of transition after the changing of the regency’s leadership.

However, all these conditions became a challenge that brought the spirit and enthusiasm of around 50 participants of the Citizenship Education Training of Trainers (TOTPW), September 1-4, 2014. The participants—pastors, church district leaders, youth and women ministry leaders, and pastors-in-training in charge of the refugee camp—realized further the important the role of the church as a part of the society to bring welfare to the city. The church should not sit still and do nothing.

The TOTPW program was held by the Leimena Institute in partnership with the GBKP Synod, at the “Sukamakmur” Retreat Center, Medan, North Sumatra. The Synod’s Human Resources Director, Rev. Rosmalia Barus, and her team members, Rev. E.P. Ginting and Mr. Purba, participated fully in the program.

In this program, for the first time the Leimena Institute’s team— Budi Setiamarga and Daniel Adipranata—involved two people from within the GBKP church as trainers too. Ananta Purba, an alumni of the Leimena Institute’s Johannes Leimena School of Public Leadership, taught the module on “Your Vote Matters”, while Rev. E.P. Ginting, author of more than 70 books, trained the participants on Writing Citizen’s Voice.

In the Action Plan session, the participants agreed and made a commitment to hold several Citizenship Education trainings in their areas. They will also translate the teaching materials into Karo language, so that they are easier to understand by the congregations in the countryside.

The following are some comments from the participants about Citizenship Education Training of Trainers (TOTPW).

“It is very useful for me, especially to increase my awareness as an Indonesian citizen of my role and responsibilities.” (Rev. Jennie Elliyani, Chair of the GBKP Synod’s Women Commission (Moria))

“The module is simple enough to be used in ministry field.” (Lasmawati Perangin-angin, GBKP Ate Keleng Foundation)

“Politic is the stage for God’s glory. I am committed to educating the congregation, we are one nation and one language. Let’s get out of our exclusivity. Me, them, become us, for our common good. Freedom!” (Rev. Makmur Ginting, S.Th., Runggun Samura GBKP church)