PROGRAM KERJA MENCAPAI VISI MISI GEREJA

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etiap Gereja menyusun program kerja yang mengacu terhadap Visi Misi yang telah ditetapkan oleh Pejabat Gerejawi masing masing. Visi Misi tersebut tergantung kepada skala besarnya wilayah pelayanan, lokasi beradanya Gereja dan kemampuan Sumber daya dan Sumber dananya. Ada yang berskala lokal, ada yang national ada pula yang internasional.

Semakin besarnya skala pelayanan semakin besar pula program kerja dan kebutuhan anggarannya. Agar anggaran yang terbatas itu dapat memberikan program yang berkwalitas, maka perlu disusun program kerja yang tajam mengarah, sesuai dengan Visi Misi Gereja.

Ketajaman program kerja akan tercermin dari komposisi atau percentase besarnya anggaran. Komposisi yang ideal adalah apabila besar anggaran untuk progam pokok atau program inti lebih besar dari program pembantu. Persentase program pokok dibanding dengan program pembantu yang ideal  adalah 70 %: 30% atau 60 % : 40 %. Jangan sampai terbalik, justru anggaran untuk program kerja pembantu lebih besar dari program kerja  pokok.

Apa yang disebut dengan program kerja pokok adalah aktivitas untuk mencapai Visi Misi. Sedang program kerja pembantu adalah aktivitas pendukung untuk melaksanakan tugas pokok tersebut. Contohnya antara lain adalah pengadaan sarana prasarana Gereja seperti Gedung modern , peralatan canggih, kendaraan, kegiatan rapat rapat, kegiatan retreat, pelatihan dsb.

Apa yang merupakan program kerja pokok itu adalah apa yang telah ditetapkan dalam Visi setiap Gereja. Sebagai benang merah Visi dari berbagai Gereja dapat disebut beberapa, misalnya :
1. Menjadi mitra Allah mewujudkan Kerajaan Allah dan damai sejahtera di dunia
2.  Menjadi Jemaat yang bertumbuh, terbuka dan membawa perubahan
3. Membawa Syalom Allah bagi karya penyelamatan dunia
4. Menjadi  Gereja yang inklusif , dialogis dan terbuka demi kemuliaan Allah

Dari beberapa Visi Misi tersebut diatas dapat difahami bahwa program kerja Gereja harus keluar  mewujudkan Kerajaan Allah dan damai sejahtera untuk keselamatan dunia, terbuka atas perubahan dan melakukan dialog dengan masyarakat luar. Gereja jangan exclusive, tertutup, sibuk dengan dirinya sendiri, sibuk beribadah, sibuk bertengkar, membuat kelompok kelompok di dalam Jemaat.

Program kerja keluar baik ekumenis dengan Sinode Gereja lain maupun dengan sosial masyarakat luas yang berkeadaban dan turut memelihara lingkungan hidup, ciptaan Allah.

Program kerja lain yang termasuk inti adalah kegiatan meningkatkan spiritual anggota jemaat, keluarga dan melaksanakan kesaksian dan pelayanan didalam masyarakat untuk mewujudkan kasih Kristus sesuai pula dengan perkembangan zaman.

Agar Visi Misi Gereja dapat menjadi acuan bagi Majelis dan seluruh Organisasi, maka Visi Misi tersebut perlu disosialisasikan dan diingatkan terus pada kesempatan kesempatan tertentu. Bahkan perlu ditayangkan pada tayangan multi media, dicetak dengan jelas di Warta Gereja yang terbit setiap minggu.

Jangan hanya menjadi  hiasan dinding Gereja yang dibingkai dalam pigura berwarna emas tapi minim realisasi .

Realisasi Visi Misi tersebut kemudian disusun dalam Program kerja yang akan dilaksanakan oleh Majelis dengan Perangkat Organisasinya.

Untuk member gambaran tentang cakupan Visi Misi Gereja, dibawah ini saya copy dari 4 ORGANISASI :

Visi dan Misi SINODE GKI (Gereja Kristen Indonesia)

Visi
GKI menjadi mitra Allah yang melaksanakan karya keselamatan dengan mewujudkan keadilan dan damai sejahtera di dunia. 

Misi
1.Mengembangkan spiritualitas yang berpusat pada hubungan yang hidup dengan Allah, sesama dan lingkungan hidup.

2.Meningkatkan kerjasama ekumenis dengan Gereja lain dalam hal pemberdayaan.

3.Meningkatkan keterlibatan GKI dalam transformasi sosial kemasyarakatan.

4.Meningkatkan kesadaran umat dan pimpinan gereja untuk mengambil bagian dalam Pengembangan Demokrasi dan Penguatan Masyarakat Berkeadaban.

5.Meningkatkan kesadaran dan partisipasi umat dan pimpinan gereja untuk mengambil bagian dalam pelestarian dan penyelamatan Lingkungan Hidup.

Visi Misi GKI Kwitang 2010-2016 :
Menjadi jemaat multi budaya yang bertumbuh, terbuka dan membawa perubahan sesuai panggilan sebagai mitra Allah.

Misi :
1.Meningkatkan spiritualitas pribadi untuk menumbuhkan karakter dan perilaku seperti Kristus.

2.Meningkatkan kualitas kehidupan keluarga yang berpusat pada Kristus.

3.Meningkatkan kualitas kehidupan berjemaat (Lingk. GKI Kwitang) dan bergereja (GKI Sinode GKI) yang plural dan dinamis sebagai tubuh Kristus.

4.Meningkatkan kualitas sumberdaya dan organisasi untuk peningkatan kehidupan berjemaat.

5.Mengembangkan keteladanan, kepemimpinan dan ketokohan jemaat di masyarakat.

6.Memperjuangkan keterbukaan, kebersamaan dan kemitraan dengan organisasi Kristen dan gereja-gereja lain dalam rangka perwujudan keesaan gereja.

7.Melaksanakan kesaksian dan pelayanan yang bermanfaat dan memberdayakan  masyarakat dalam mewujudkan Kasih Kristus

VISI GMIT (Gereja Masehi Injili Timor) 2010

1.Gereja yang memahami diri sebagai keluarga Allah yang  terikat oleh Kasih Kristus dan secara bersama-sama ikut serta  dalam karya penyelamatan Allah bagi dunia

2.Gereja yang memahami diri sebagai umat keluaran yang diutus ke dalam dunia untuk membawa Syalom Allah di mana semua anggota GMIT berfungsi sebagai surat Kristus  yang hidup untuk membawa kabar baik bagi dunia sesuai dengan teladan Kristus, Sang Diakonos Agung;

3.Gereja yang jemaat-jemaatnya saling membina, membangun dan bertumbuh menuju kedewasaan penuh sesuai dengan kepenuhan Kristus (MS-GMIT, 2010).

Visi pelayan GMIT tersebut dapat dicapai apabila dalam menata pelayanannya sebagai sebuah organisasi gereja, selalu

melakukan pembinaan bagi warga gereja sesuai dengan hakekat, wujud dan pengakuannya baik dalam konteksnya maupun dalam dunia seutuhnya.

Demi pelaksanaan panggilan pelayanannya

terhadap warga gereja, maka GMIT menempatkan sejumlah karyawan atau pendeta sebagai pelayan dalam jemaat.
Bagi GMIT jabatan pendeta adalah wujud pemberian Kristus melalui gereja kepada mereka yang terpilih dari antara anggota sidi untuk menjalankan fungsi khusus dalam memperlengkapi anggota jemaat bagi pelaksanaan amanat kerasulan gereja .

Visi, Misi HKBP( Huria Kristen Batak Protestan)

Visi
HKBP berkembang menjadi gereja yang inklusif, dialogis dan terbuka, serta mampu dan bertenaga mengembangkan kehidupan yang bermutu di dalam kasih Tuhan Yesus Kristus, bersama-sama dengan semua orang di dalam masyarakat global, terutama masyarakat Kristen, demi kemuliaan Allah Bapa yang mahakuasa.

Misi
HKBP berusaha meningkatkan mutu segenap warga masyarakat, terutama warga HKBP, melalui pelayanan-pelayanan gereja yang bermutu agar mampu malaksanakan amanat Tuhan Yesus dalam segenap perilaku kehidupan pribadi, kehidupan keluarga, maupun kehidupan bersama segenap masyarakat manusia di tingkat lokal dan nasional, di tingkat regional dan global dalam menghadapi
tantangan Abad-21.

Untuk melaksanakan misi menuju visi tersebut di atas, HKBP berpegang teguh pada prinsip di bawah ini:

1. Melayani, bukan dilayani (Mrk. 10: 45)
2. Menjadi garam dan terang (Mat. 5: 13-14)
3. Menegakkan keadilan, perdamaian, dan keutuhan ciptaan (Mrk. 16: 15; Luk. 4: 18-19)

 

FORGAVE AND YOU WILL FORGIVEN, ADE SARAH MURDER (9)

 
 Suroto hold Ade Sarah pic and Elizabeth in white

In my holy bible wrote amazing verses about forgiveness. The verse asking a simple mathematical question : "How many time you forgive other ?". The answer is 7 x 77 or 539. So we have to forgive 539 times, right ?. Wrong. What's the meaning of  this parable is that we must forgive endlessly.
Another verse say almost the similar meaning, that we are forgiven by God unless we are forgave other who doing something wrong to us.
I was surprised to watched a TV news who broadcast High court verdict "Life sentence" of murdered Ade Sarah Suroto, 19 years, a student did by his former boy friend, Hafitz and his other new girl friend, a class mate of Sarah. The verdict much higher then lower, sentenced them both only 20 years.

The parent of  Ade Sarah, Suroto and Elizabeth actually welcome the verdict for 20 years and forgave the brutal crime of their only daughter. The spouse sincerely forgave the murdered based on their faith on God Almighty that not every body able to accept the cruel took life of their love one. 

The parent didn't happy to let the murderer pay their wrong doing to suffer more behind bar. They said it when they try to see the murderer in prison to gave them strength.


The duo murderers


The new girl friend

The duo murderer  invited Ade Sarah to hang out in one place to end their relation and then took her for drive around town. Inside the car her boy friend helped by his new girl friend shocked her with electric device and fill her mouth with shoe socks until stop breathing. Then throw the body in the side of the toll road.

I didn't really understand why the character of duo murderers so cruel and no passion at all to human being. How their parent rise them up in daily life, be able to end other life without thinking of the consequences. Just because of love blind and jealousy they did everythings.

CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION in INDONESIA in 2012

Indonesia Republic is the biggest moslem country in the world beside 4 other religions, legally free to worship, including Christian.The constitution allow every citizen to implement their religion free without fear.

Christmas service and celebration mostly full house, even over loaded, beyond church's buildings. Malls decorated with huge Christmas tree, lamps, snow alike and the carols all day long since the beginning of December.

From time to time, year by year, slowly but sure, western cultures influence local culture as well. Children are expecting gifts wrapped under Christmas tree. Malls copy midnight sales in the west to serve only 10% of  Indonsian population. The mall's owner  are mostly Christian chinese.

Few days before Dec 25, all TV channels feel free to perform Christmas songs, drama, film and service. Even Republic Presidents and vice President attending Christmas celebration broadcast across country by TV and Newspaper.

In the last decades, after Soeharto era, Christmas celebration just like war zone, the churches guarded by police forces and securities to keep the service safe from terorists bombs. They use detector to every single church goer who enter the gate. Search every bag and also searching under the pews inside the building.

That war situation meaningless to the conggregation not to miss the special celebration on eve of Christmas, to sing Holy night with candle light and see blinking lamps in the big Christmas tree in front of the altar and a short drama play of the born of Christ Yesus.

Meanwhile, strange policy state formally by Majelis Ulama Indonesia, an Ulema Moslem Organization, a special body set up by the Government that Moslem has no obligation to say Merry Christmast to Christian citizen. But a lot of friends in social media didn't care to the statement, keep write Merry Christmas. Some just say Happy New Year, without  mention Merry Christmas.

In some cities, towns the Governor and high officials - Moslem - visit curches to make sure that the celebration run in peace and safe, Like Jakarta Governor Jokowidodo stop a while in GPIB church in Menteng area, central Jakarta to say Merry Christmass.

Special case happened to two Churches, 2 hours drive from Jakarta, the capital. One church GKI Yasmin in Bogor town and one church HKBP Philadelphia in Bekasi town, where local Moslem blocked the road, not allowed them to celebrate Christmast in their church. So they take advantage to celebrate it in front of President's palacein Central Jakarta. Mayors in Bekasi town and Bogor town did nothing at all to interfere the cases.

That is the recent situation in Indonesia, a Moslem country in Christmas celebration between war and peace.






  

10. TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE

When I need something, going to my room, kneel down and beg for help. Believe that your prayer answered, cause He knew beforehand what we really need and fullfill it in His time, just like our hairs, God counting. It is my faith, rely solely on Him then my plan. 
My testimony in chronology order as describe below.

06/13/2012...01.38 pm

A misterious email come in from someone I never met, name Sugianto inform that our 6.000 meters land intend to sell by ex owner cause me, the real owner never show up in 2 decades, never planting anything, never pay a visit except when issued the land title. 

He asked me to come down far away outside town, 3 hours drive from Jakarta, located in remote village. He leaved phone number to contact. We had been forget if we had a piece of land and never consider as a source of funds.

I was bought this land when Indonesian economy growth rapidly before economic crisis in 1997, any plan that in our land will build a real estate.

06/23/2012...06.30 am

Before answer above email, I hospitalized for 20 days in VIP room of Jakarta International hospital, of course with expensive rate. Thanks God ,the costs beared by 2 insurance companies.

07/13/2012...6.30 pm

Leaving the hospital, now the cost of medication on our own. Praised God He blessed 4 my children with good job, can afford some of the costs. The rest from our own saving. Then recalled those misterious email above as a possible source of funds for my medication.

09/16/2012...02.00 pm

After ignored some calls from the misterious man, this time we meet and negotiated the price. Through hard discussion we come to the agreement at some point. They paid 10% in advance payment, before administration process. 

09/22/2012...01.00 pm

Now our saving could afford to bear my medication costs and the rest of funds may buy a brand new car to replace the old one. 

This story too good to be true but it is real in our life. God send someone to email me a week before I fall sick, that in short period of time I need some funds and remind me to sell a piece of land useless for so long.

If we are depend our faith on Him, God always loyal to His promised and we will lay over the green grass beside clear river.

8. EVENING PRAYER AND READ HOLY BOOK ARE THE BEST PROTECTION

If we want to grow fruit trees in the field, the seed should be choose,  build the fence, watering, fertilizing and maintain regularly basis until bear the fruits for the owner or for the market as well.

This principle applied in our household in teaching our kids early in their childhood. Waiting until teens a little bit late. In order to prevent them from bad environment influence, we fenced them with God verses, whatever our religion are.

God verses teach daily basis by setting up gathering ritual all family members including small children, reading holy book and prayers by involving every member to read or leading a prayer. It may take turn one by one for a whole week. Also sing songs or chanting your religion ritual to make the prayer live not so rigid.

The ritual may take place over the desks or better off seat in the floor over sheet in relax mode, free discussion two way traffic.

By reading and surrender to Almighty, the kids easily to understand what is good or bad in their peer. They will say no to the bad habits of teens they are interact in daily life or they encourage to share in discussion in the evening prayer.

If they are going to the college away from home even abroad the dogma taught in the evening prayer will echo when a temptation come. We no longer available to monitor closely our children communities, but by prayer by parents and the children as well.

The fruit of evening prayer in early childhood will appear decade later or more when see the children become activist in their church or when they raise own children  will copy the evening prayer in their own.

It was we did since 4 of our children seated in the basic school even the parent blessed in a good position as Bank branch manager.

Beside, peace and abundant life will follow guided by God Almighty in their jobs and household who fear God as the consquences of evening prayer.

MATHEMATIC IN THE BIBLE

                      feet cleansing ritual

Many verses in the Bible talking about parables related with mathematic or quotations in order to help us easier to understand what really the meaning behind the numbers.

Lets see some examples like question :" How many times we should forgive ?". The answer are 7 x 77 or 539 times. Its quite funny if someone asked for forgiveness 500 times and not forgiven.
But what the Bible message meaning is that forgiveness should be open ended, unlimited

The basic reason for forgiveness is quite clear that if we turn down forgiven others, God unwilling to forgive our sin. And the reward of sin is dead. So we should be dead by sinning, but by His grace and mercy we apologized not punish to dead. 

The second example is the donation's value not quantify by the number given but by the status.  Poor widow for example with small token donation, given from her shortage,valued higher then the donation given by the rich.

This parable is easy to translated to a quotation such as : 2/1 > 1000/2. The widow had $ 2 in her wallet donate $ 1, while the rich donate $ 2 from his fortune $ 1000
The rich man very proud of his ability to pile his fortune in the barn, talk to himself said :"Be calm my soul, we had everything in our future". God respond to his pride said :"Foolish, tonight is your last time in the world, your fortune unable to save your life"  

11. THE PRAYER AND HOPE

 

                     larantuka harbor, east nusatenggara

Prayers with full of  faith from sincere heart of family, friends and myself , just like smoke fly to God in the highest and help by tools and medication prescribed by the Doctors. The first thing is prayer followed by medication and for my case, exercises is the third factor.

It was happened when I was hospitalized a week in semi ICU room and 13 days in regular room in North Jakarta International hospital, Indonesia. The prayers flow endlessly from families, friends, priests and congregation.

Two of my kids every day never absent and didn't rely absolutely on the skills of medical doctors but put their faith to Almighty. In the end of the prayer  always closed with a prayer that Christ Yesus taught, Our father in heaven, not our will but Your will be done.

My families from my side and  wife side, came far away from out of town some with tears to see how weak my condition is compare to how healthy I  was previously with sport activities. They came in rush to hear how misery my condition. They encourage me with hope and prayer, with hope and faith HE will heal me.

                               bukit kasih chapel, tarutung, north sumatra

4 of my church's priests came in the first opportunity since I was their partner while I was an elder for 7 years. They  read me selected verses from the Bible or leaved verses to be read and always closed by prayer. They are God's shepherd who anointed formally. 
And in the first Sunday service, in July, 10 of our churches across Jakarta, Indonesia capital pray for me with thousand of church goers.

Some activists of my church group by group visit to the hospital too, encourage, joking and before leaving pray with me hoping recover soon to continue my services. In the last 3 years, church elders requested me to be an elder again, but I turn them down cause my age not young any more. Now reconsider to joint the services back.

Beyond my church, a group of priests of 20 in my hometown, Sibolga, North Sumatra set the time of fasting and prayer special for me. They utilized my house as their office and training of their organization more than a decade. 

Hundred of Facebook friends wrote touching messages in my wall made me shed tears. They knew that I like swim and mountain bike, how come  I fall sick and hospitalized. Some of them spend the time to visit to he hospital.

When I passed critical time 7 days in ICU hospital room and so many prayers supported me, any hope that the prayers reach my Almighty, soon He will awarded me with new life and new assignment. Amen

4. WHEN THEY PASSED ME AWAY

 San Diego memorial park, Cikarang, West Java

When the time come we couldn't negotiate to Almighty to extend the minute for any reasons, when the time come we surrender totally to HIM, kids, young, grown nor seniors. But generally speaking, the senior passed away sooner than the younger. From the senior, man called first than woman.

I saw several friends and families passed away ahead of me, I knew them well and wonder why not me, why they got them first, some younger than me. Of course the decision has made by Almighty, we couldn't ask HIM why. But as a glance, I made many observation, maybe not in academic way.

Let me describe start from my friends in congregation first before friends in my profession and then followed by my close family.
Tree of my friends in the Church, Gereja Kristen Indonesia, Kwitang, central Jakarta, were love music and songs. Then cross to my mind, do God welcome them with music when they come home to heaven with trumpets and angels sing the hymns or songs we love to sing while we are in the world.


                Joris Rahadi

The first friend Mr.Joris Rahadi, 65 years old (photo above), an elder, assigned to administered music section in the Church. His son is a guitarist  and his little brother was a well known singer in Indonesia, Chrisye. The second was Mr. Soebagyo, a choir instructor of our group, Sangkakala choir, now under my management.

                                           Sangkakala choir

The third  was Mr.Edmon Tambunan, 70 years just passed away last week, the one who asked me to joint a choir. What amazing me, I didn't see a tear or two from his wife and 5 children, in the contrary they sing hymns before the funeral along with the crowded. One among 5 children was a priest in one GKI Church in Central Java.

What impressed me from the 3 Church's friends are that one of them was a workaholic till the end of time in academic, lecturer in his background in oil business. I had never heard he took a long vacation, enjoy his senior in relax  but always work and work.
The other two were idol husbands and happy families, every body in the congregation knew them well.
The questions then is effected to myself with questioning, what families, friends and congregation would remember me when I return home to heaven later ? Or in what marks they leaved over my name.

Now, the second group are my friends in my profession in a State own Bank, Mr Trisulo, my superior since in East Java till in Jakarta Head Office. I was his Deputy General manager who knew him well, a flamboyant style. He didn't depended me when Management transferred me then become his Deputy in Jakarta. He felt little bit sinned of me.

Second was my friend, Mr.Djumeri,  who replaced me as Branch manager in Bank BRI Kudus, Central Java and later be my friend also in a morning sport at Cempaka Putih, Central Jakarta. He got faster promotion than any body else because he was closed relationship with the President Director, Kamardy Arief, who originally came from the same clan, Minang, West Sumatra.

                                               My boss room

The third was a HRD General manager, Mr.Untung who knew everything about performace of Bank BRI high officials, including my background, why transferred me to Head office so soon from Bank BRI Surabaya branch.

From professional point of view they had the power in management, knew the wrong doing or weakness of every personnel in the company, but why then they called so soon. Did they had more sin then the other personnel .  From their family background, I had no idea, how their success in the job also balance with success in the family.

The last group were my family from wife side, first Mr.Siagian, high rank in the army. He was a good father in the family and met us often, never had arise any incident between  two families.He was known as a kind and often help his own family. Second is Becca's husband, much younger then me, a business man and ever been cooperate with my family. His bad attitudes never change from time to time, cheating his father in law and cheating my company too.

What impression left in me is why a good, kind man passed away so soon and in the contrary, it was make sense cheating business man rewarded with punishment went away sooner.

From 8 (eight) friends who passed away ahead of me, I come to my conclusion. First that we couldn't negotiate to extend our time, it was His  right. Second, no matter what,  the person was good or bad, how much sins did in the world, once He decided to stop, we couldn't say No, wait. Third, it was a logic consequences  if sinners rewarded with punishment and called back first in line.
So be ready anytime to go to meet Him. Do the right thing in your life, so you may left a nice marks to be remembered and to be followed, go in peaceful and family may let you go in joy not in tears.

MET THE ANGELS IF WE HELP OTHERS

In the Old testament we read how an Angel saw up suddenly to someone, Prophet or someone designated by God. Or our parent, teachers told the tales of an Angels. The image of the Angels just flying  in our mind and not real physically saw them in front of our face.

 What I want to share was my experiences when I spend a whole October 2011 on my Sumatra Journey over a bike  in 5 towns in 3 Provinces, start from Pekanbaru,Southern part of Sumatra, North Sumatra and West Sumatra provinces. Unexpectedly I met someone to help me, not known before, just saw up suddenly. From my inner faith, they are my Angels that God sent to help me when I need one.

One of my Moslem friend in Jakarta ever told me that someone help me when I need one,  since I spend my time and talent to help needy  people in my Congregation in my Church when I was an elder.

The first Angel saw up when I pedaled my bike for 5 kilometers and stopped in a gate to a Hill top known as "Salib Kasih", a mountain dedicated as a Prayers Hill. From the gate to 2 kilometer up hill pass a very high bend roads that impossible for me to pedal my bike. Suddenly, a coffee shop owner, Mr.Simanungkalit stopped someone on his motor bike and introduced to me and asked to take me with him until to the foot of the Mountain. From the foot hill, I was on my own to the top for 550 meters up

Without a words he took me to the foot hill and late in the morning he took me back down to the gate again, for free. After treated him a coffee and snack, I say good bye after realized that this man family was Situmeang too similar as my family's name. On my way to Samosir island, Lake Toba, 160 km, luckily I drove a brand new mini Bus where a driver advised me to take a short cut road to Ajibata harbor with my bike, where the Ferry boat cross the lake to the island. Previously, I had in mind to take another road around and be late too reach the harbor after the schedule time and a heavy pedal my bike along with a heavy back pack too.

On my way back to Ajibata harbor again 3 days later, over the boat a man I met and help to shoot me a picture, when pay the ticket on board, he pay for 3 persons, including mine. Not the very cheap rate for $ 1 or Rp.7.000 one way, but why on earth he pay my ticket, when I don't need one.

On my way back from Lake Toba to Tarutung 100 km away to the South, a young man seated beside me in a mini Bus, advised me not to stop in a lonely places and asked me to step down the Bus in down town Tarutung with him, to prevent the bad thing happened. After stepped down the Bus, then we both went to the rest room at a gas station, he kept an eye on my bike, with a lock in it. He said :"Someone could take your bike and put over the truck", he said waiting his turn to the rest room after me.


The last journey in Padang city, West Sumatra, early in the morning we reach Padang city after drove a Big Bus for 15 hours along the night. I was so scare when realized that a second Bus driver stirred after midnight,  his left hand never stop brushed his hair in order to stay awake. I was so scare if he sleepy driving, until stop in a shop to sipped a glass of hot coffee to stay alert and awake .Praise God, we reach Padang safe and sound early in the morning and then replaced by the first driver to enter the city , who fall sleep in the back seat some time after midnight.

When took all my belonging including my bike, suddenly a beca motor come to the Bus side and offer me to find a Hotel with a reasonable rate. No taxi available in the road near Bus station. The regulation said that no beca motor allow go through down town area. But we could passed down town and found a new Hotel with a very cheap rate, free one night for 3 days stay and not so far from the Bus to the Airport.

From my faith point of view the story in this journey, I  sure isn't  a coincidence someone give me a hand, but God sent someone when I need one after I spend of my time to help needy people in my services for 7 years as an elders in my Church and my help someone in need when they ask me to help them.

5. HEAVY BURDEN IN LIFE

If we carry heavy burden, carry over weight things, more then normal standard, our feet would be walk more slowly,  exhausted and later will get the bad effect. Similar  happened to a car or a plane who carry over weight  cargo and or passengers. What would be the effect to the vehicles ?.

The similarity happened in real life that every body, every household carry their own burden, light or not, depend on how we manage, tackle, organized every things. Many kind of life's burden just like a kid trapped in narcotic addicted, husband's cheating, divorced, debt problem, law case and so on.

I used to take a back pack wherever I went on my regular biking or drive a car, filled in with so many things that supposedly will need on the way. I took my light notebook and its charger, camera, replace shirt, towel, books, novel, news paper, swimming kit, soap, sun glass, shampoo, and small things. Can imagine  how heavy it.

After parking my car or  bike, I have to take a walk to some places like mall, restaurants, beach and take heavy back pack along and on the way back then. But most of the time, its rare  to utilize those things above. So after some time, I decided to took out unnecessary things and only take the things that really needed, related to where I plan to go.

I was shocked when one Sunday service, a young lady priest, preach in the sermon in my church, her custom to took her backpack whenever she travel outside town in her services. Her private life lesson used as a background to the sermon.

She remind the congregation to let GOD take the burden for so long carry by every member. The sermon so impressed me and whenever I face a life's problems, I remember this sermon again,  took time for praying to surrender my problems, my burden and let HIM carry the burden for me.

One day, I wrote a short statement in my face book status about my custom of took back pack and take  Life's burden as well alone by myself. Many responds coming in, one of them from a friends far away at Central Java, my friend's daughter said : "Let me copy this and save it in my wallet", she said. Then she closed by saying :"Whenever the heavy problems reoccurred, I will take it out and reread it", she wrote.

The second comment coming from a friend in Central Borneo, a sister of my closed friend wrote :"Would you please write it down again in my Wall", she said and instantly I copy pasted in her wall. I knew her misery that she carry a heavy burden when her husband remarried, but he didn't want to let her go, didn't want  to divorced her.

From positive point of view, sometime our status, statement on our  Facebook account my help, may motivated our friends in positive purposes. So the internet is a tool, depend on everyone, to utilized it positively or negatively

 

7. WE NEVER WALK ALONE

The spirit of "We never walk alone" and togetherness would reap by discussion, openness and the willingness to help and the open heart to get help. Help each other needed  cooperation between helpers and the one to be help. Of course God surely will be walk along.

When I stepped down from a taxi  in front of the gate of GKI Taman Cibunut Church, Bandung, west Java, Indonesia early in the morning Juli 27, 2011 the compound environment welcome me as this building belong to me, a congregation of a church far away in the Capital. Some attendants who came earlier, sipped coffee, lemon tea or hot tea along with snacks.

Formally the big meeting of 14 Churches organization of GKI Klasis Jakarta I open by a special service lead by a young priest Naomi in soft sermon with the theme "We never walk alone". Every churches formally send 5 elders, but since the meeting days are in a working days, some Churches send less then 5 elders or just 2 and some would coming late in the afternoon or at night.

From my own Church, GKI Kwitang, send 5 participants, 1 priest and 4 elders, Mr.Hendra Gosana, Raoul Adi, Johannes Unmehopa, Niran Raphy and Parlin Hutabarat. Plus two from Klasis, Mr.Guruh Jatmiko S, Head of Klasis Jakarta 1 and Benny, Treasurer.

After the service and lunch is over in the Church down town, then proceeded to upper town about 1 hour drive toward Lembang at Green hill Universal Hotel, a 5 star Hotel, rate Rp.1.400.000,-. The committee got a huge discount, pay a special packet for a group to accommodated 90 participants, mostly coming out of town.

                                              Green  Hill Universal Hotel

The meeting held in a cozy and spacy ballroom with selected theme "Kita tidak berjalan sendiri", means "We don't walk alone" run in a peace environment, and most talking monopolized by the priests, who attended this yearly basis meeting.

Only few elders rise the questions in general terms since some of them are the new elders just elected this year or the old elders joint the meeting not in regular yearly basis.

Togetherness,  helping a small member Churches or the Churches in any problem, as the theme said is the aim of the organization. But the weak members tend to ignore the hand given by the organization or taken granted that it was Organization obligation to help.

At least 4 of the 14 members are in problems to be solved together, discussed in a small section meeting before take further decision in the big meeting.

GKI Sunter the top urgent that the elders of the Church tend to closed their door for cooperation with the Organization management, since their internal problem so acute. Sunday survice attended by around 20 members only and some of the elders intend to closed the church for good.

Another two Churches can't  stand alone without subsidized from the Organization including Cost of living of the two Priests and family members. No growth of congregation in the last few years and the members are belong to the low income group of citizen, couldn't afford to pay Priest cost of living. This situation happened for the last 5 years  as long as I appointed as an Auditor.

The last one is GKI Jatibening Indah in process of collecting fund to develop   a new building in a new location allowed by the local Government, Bekasi city, who very strict in running Church in the area. They request funds  raising from the Organization.

To support the effort of helping a needy Church's members, all members obligingly collecting funds from two main sources, named TJBK and DK. TJBK is Tanggung Jawab Bersama Klasis means JOINT RESPONSIBILITY, certain percentage of total weekly collection of each member. DK or Dana Kebersamaan is JOIN FUNDS who collected tree months basis in the 5th Sunday, totally send to Klasis to be Joint Funds.

In this case, the congregation of all churches who collecting from the small changes of the  poor participated in helping weak Churches or needed Churches. It was the meaning of We never walk alone. Not just helping by

the Bigger Churches and their members, but also God never let them walk alone

                      Elizabeth Novianny  and Pinondang Situmeang

This year is my 5th years as an Auditors in the 2nd term and this time helping by 2 auditors member. Our audit report in 10 pages presented in relatively fast without any big finding. Our recommendations had solved and answered before the presentation is over. 

Me and Miss Elizabeth presented the report since the other auditor Natania Agatha was away out  of town

as long as audit process taken place. This year Treasury members, Mr.Benny and Mr.Bona meet with us just in 2 meeting taken place at GKI Cengkir, Kelapa Gading - close to my house -. We make it faster then year previously needed 10 time meeting. The reason was we restructure the Financial report  due to the new elected Treasurers and Auditors and the new system as well.

What impressed me was that the Committee were mostly Youngsters who support the meeting excellence with a minor shortages. When I ask to take my bag who left behind in the Church down town, the Committee head saved it and delivered to my room.

When I ask  to buy a high blood pressure pill in the pharmacy out of Hotel, they respond it soon. I took 3 kinds of my medication but one left at home.

The spirit of "We never walk alone" and togetherness would reap by discussion, openness and the willingness to help and the open heart to get help. Help each other needed a cooperation between helpers and the one to be help. Of course God surely will be walk with us.

LOVE will Never DIE ......Semua karena CINTA

LOVE will Never DIE

 

My mind was dull doubtful

My hands touching aimlessly,

but why Your hands hang crossed

My feet step down to the red lamps,

why did You step up Via Dolorosa

I am asking question

My mind full of injustice orchestras,

why You crowned sharp thorns

My throat thirsty of power abuse,

why Your mouth drank poison

Asking again

My shoulders picked up loath things,

why Your back hurts wiping

My dress love Armani,

why your body undressed

My faith now conform

You carry my burden in red kermizi

 till crossed at Calvary

To cleansing my sin back like the snow white

Since Your love for me will never die

Jakarta, March 22, 2011

SEMUA karena CINTA

 

Aku tak mengerti

Tanganku yang merambah buta

Mengapa tanganMu yg dipaku berdarah

Langkahku yg telikung ke lembah nista

Mengapa kakimu yg mendaki Via dolorosa

Aku bertanya

Anganku yg merekayasa dengki

Mengapa kepalaMu yang dimahkotai duri

Kerongkonganku yang mabuk dahaga

Mengapa bibirMu yg menenggak cuka

Aku bertanya mengapa

Pundakku yg memikul harta korupsi

Mengapa punggungmu penuh luka cemeti

Ragaku yang dibalut Armani

Mengapa tubuhMu yang ditelanjangi

Aku mengimani kini

Kau pikul dosaku semerah kermizi

Hingga disalib di Kalvari

Agar dosaku putih kembali

Karena cintaMu padaku tak pernah usai

Jakarta, April 2009

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