On the Church in Indonesia (Pastors Talk, Episode 284)

Summary

This video shares an insightful conversation about church life and ministry in Jakarta, focusing on community, discipleship, and the challenges of pastoring in a busy, family-oriented society. The speaker highlights their church's emphasis on expositional preaching, intentional prayer, and a strong sense of community, where members are encouraged to treat one another as family. They reflect on the importance of pastoral care, the impact of integrating faith with family life, and the need for more gospel preachers in Indonesia. The conversation offers a hopeful view of church health and growth in the region.

Takeaways

• 😀 The church faces cultural and logistical challenges in Jakarta, with work-life demands and family obligations often pulling members away from regular church activities.
• 😀 The church emphasizes the importance of expositional preaching, but acknowledges that many churches in Jakarta don't prioritize this approach.
• 😀 Members of the church are encouraged to treat each other as family, which is a unique and distinguishing feature of their community life.
• 😀 Unlike traditional churches, the church in Jakarta fosters openness and vulnerability by encouraging members to share their struggles with one another and seek help from their church family.
• 😀 The church has longer and more intentional prayers compared to many other churches, incorporating prayers of praise, confession, thanksgiving, pastoral petitions, and more.
• 😀 The church includes songs focused on themes of lament and sorrow, which is a notable and distinct feature for many churchgoers.
• 😀 One of the key differences visitors notice is the welcoming, community-oriented atmosphere where members immediately invite newcomers to join meals or social gatherings.
• 😀 The church models a deeper sense of community and faith by living out their beliefs in ways that transcend just Sunday services, including singing together outside of the church setting.
• 😀 The pastors at the church are highly intentional about knowing and praying for the state of each member, with regular prayer sessions covering the entire membership directory.
• 😀 The church leadership demonstrates a high level of vigilance and care, ensuring that they are aware if any members are missing or struggling, with active follow-up.
• 😀 The church is encouraged by the growth of other churches in Jakarta, and there is a vision for raising up young leaders who will go on to preach the gospel and plant more churches in the future.

Q & A

Who were the main speakers in the podcast episode?

The main speakers were Jonathan Leeman, Mark Dever, and guest Eric, who is a pastor in Jakarta, Indonesia and an intern with Mark Dever.

What was the main topic of discussion in the episode?

The discussion focused on Christianity in Indonesia, exploring how it functions in a predominantly Muslim country and the challenges and opportunities faced by churches there.

How is religion officially recognized in Indonesia?

Indonesia officially recognizes six religions: Islam, Protestantism, Catholicism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Confucianism. Each religion is meant to have equal legal standing.

Are Indonesians free to convert from one religion to another?

Legally, individuals are free to convert to another religion, but since every person has their religion listed on an official ID card, conversion can be socially and administratively complex. It is generally tolerated if done voluntarily, without coercion.

What challenges do Christians face when sharing their faith in Indonesia?

While evangelism is allowed, it is culturally discouraged due to an unspoken social agreement that people should not attempt to convert others. This cultural tolerance limits active evangelism and makes conversions rare.

How did Eric’s English-speaking church in Jakarta come to exist?

Many Indonesians educated abroad after the 1998 riots returned home seeking English-speaking churches with the type of biblical preaching they encountered overseas. Eric’s church emerged to meet that need, with most members being Indonesian but fluent in English.

What is the estimated percentage of Christians and Evangelicals in Indonesia?

Approximately 10% of Indonesians are Christian, around 7% are Protestant, and roughly 3% are Evangelical.

What theological challenges are common in Indonesian churches?

Rather than the Prosperity Gospel, many churches in Indonesia emphasize a 'therapeutic gospel' that focuses on self-improvement and emotional comfort rather than repentance and salvation through Christ.

What factors make discipleship and church involvement difficult in Jakarta?

Severe traffic, demanding work culture, and strong family obligations make it difficult for church members to attend gatherings and small groups regularly, hindering consistent discipleship.

How does Eric’s church stand out from others in Jakarta?

The church emphasizes expositional preaching, longer and structured prayers, songs that include themes of lament and sorrow, and a strong sense of community where members care for and support each other like family.

What did Eric learn during his internship with Mark Dever’s church?

He observed the pastors’ intentionality in prayer and pastoral care—regularly praying through the membership directory and ensuring each member is known and cared for—which deepened his understanding of faithful shepherding.

What are some signs of encouragement Eric sees in Indonesia’s Christian community?

He noted a growing number of church plants, increasing exposure to expositional preaching, and other signs of health developing among local congregations in Jakarta.

What are practical ways listeners can support Eric’s ministry in Jakarta?

Supporters can pray for the work of the gospel in Indonesia and connect with Eric’s church through its website, jakarta.hmcc.net, or Instagram at hmccjkt.