PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION 2015 - ems-online.org · In 2015, the Evangelical Mission in Solidarity (EMS) has every reason to celebrate: one of its strong roots, the Basel Mission, is

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION 2015THE CONCERNS OF THE CHURCHES AND MISSION SOCIETIES IN THE EMS FELLOWSHIP FOR EACH DAY

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Evangelical Mission in Solidarity -

Church and Missions in International Partnership (EMS)

Editor: Regina Karasch-Böttcher

Printers: Druckerei Raisch GmbH & Co. KG,

Oktober 2014, Circulation: 750

Cover picture: Encounter during the workcamp in China.

Photo: Dieter Bullard-Werner

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION 2015THE CONCERNS OF THE CHURCHES AND MISSION SOCIETIES

IN THE EMS FELLOWSHIP FOR EACH DAY

CONTACTS AT THE EMS SECRETARIAT

MANAGEMENT

Reverend Jürgen Reichel

EMS General Secretary

[email protected]

+49 711 636 78 -21

Reverend Ulrike Schmidt-Hesse

Head of Mission and Partnership

[email protected]

+49 711 636 78 -33

Rudolf Bausch

Head of Administration and Finances

EMS Executive Secretary

[email protected]

+49 711 636 78 -15

COMMUNICATION AND PUBLIC RELATIONS

Regina Karasch-Böttcher

Press and Public Relations

[email protected]

+49 711 636 78 -85

Annette Stahl

Fundraising and Marketing

[email protected]

+49 711 636 78 -24

Corinna Waltz

Print, Web and Social Media

[email protected]

+49 711 636 78 -77

MISSION AND PARTNERSHIP

Reverend Dieter Bullard-Werner

BMDZ Executive Secretary

[email protected]

+49 711 636 78 -62

Lutz Drescher

Liaison Secretary East Asia and India

DOAM Executive Secretary

[email protected]

+49 711 636 78 -30

Reverend Riley Edwards-Raudonat

Liaison Secretary Africa

[email protected]

+49 711 636 78 -14

Reverend Dr Uwe Gräbe

Liaison Secretary Middle East

EVS Executive Secretary

[email protected]

+49 711 636 78 -37

Christine Grötzinger

Coordinator

Programmes and Projects Support

[email protected]

+49 711 636 78 -34

Hans Heinrich

Liaison Secretary Indonesia

[email protected]

+49 711 636 78 -36

Birgit Grobe-Slopianka

Head of Team for Ecumenical Learning

[email protected]

+49 711 636 78-51

Gabriele Mayer

Head of Women and Gender Desk

[email protected]

+49 711 636 78 -38

Reverend Johannes Stahl

Secretary for Congregational and

Partnership relations BMDZ

[email protected]

+49 711 636 78 -25

ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCES

Cathrin Kaufmann

Head of Personnel Unit

[email protected]

+49 711 636 78 -18

Dorothea Wagner

Sales Department

[email protected]

+49 711 636 78 -71

PAGECONTENTS

EDITORIAL 02

EMS SECRETARIAT, EMS MISSION COUNCIL AND GENERAL ASSEMBLY 03

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN CAMEROON (PCC) 04

PROTESTANT CHURCH IN HESSE AND NASSAU (EKHN) 05

PROTESTANT CHURCH IN BADEN (EKIBA) 06

CHRISTIAN PROTESTANT CHURCH IN BALI (GKPB) 07

PROTESTANT CHURCH IN SOUTH-EAST SULAWESI (GEPSULTRA) 08

EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH OF WUERTTEMBERG (ELK-WUE) 09

CHURCH OF SOUTH INDIA (CSI) 12

EVANGELICAL CHURCH OF KURHESSEN-WALDECK (EKKW) 13

BASEL CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF MALAYSIA (BCCM) AND PROTESTANT CHURCH IN SABAH (PCS) 14

MORAVIAN CHURCH AND MISSION ASSOCIATION OF THE MORAVIAN CHURCH IN GERMANY (HMH) 15

MORAVIAN CHURCH IN SOUTH AFRICA (MCSA) 16

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF GHANA (PCG) 17

PROTESTANT CHURCH OF THE PALATINATE (EKP) 18

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF KOREA (PCK) 19

GERMAN EAST ASIA MISSION (DOAM) 20

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA (PROK) 21

UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST IN JAPAN (KYODAN) 22

MISSION 21 AND BASEL MISSION – GERMAN BRANCH (BMDZ) 23

CHURCHES AND MISSION SOCIETIES IN THE EMS FELLOWSHIP 24

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF SOUTH SUDAN (PCOSS) 26

INDONESIAN PROTESTANT CHURCH IN DONGGALA (GPID) 27

INDONESIAN PROTESTANT CHURCH IN LUWU (GPIL) AND CHRISTIAN CHURCH IN SOUTH SULAWESI (GKSS) 28

CHRISTIANS IN CHINA 29

EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN JERUSALEM AND THE MIDDLE EAST 30

EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE SCHNELLER SCHOOLS (EVS) 31

PROJECT BOOKLET 32

MISSION STATEMENT OF THE EMS FELLOWSHIP 33

NATIONAL EVANGELICAL CHURCH OF BEIRUT (NECB) 34

EVANGELICAL CHRISTIAN CHURCH IN HALMAHERA (GMIH) 35

EVANGELICAL CHRISTIAN CHURCH IN MINAHASA (GMIM) 36

TORAJA CHURCH (GT) 37

TORAJA MAMASA CHURCH (GTM) 38

CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN (EYN) 39

THE EMS SECRETARIAT IS AT YOUR SERVICE 40

01

EDITORIAL

DEAR FRIENDS OF THE EMS,

In 2015, the Evangelical Mission in Solidarity (EMS) has every reason to celebrate: one of its strong roots, the Basel Mission, is 200

years old. In many Evangelical parishes in the south west of Germany and in Switzerland, memories come to mind about people

who set out as missionaries towards an uncertain future in the 19th and 20th centuries. Often their memory is even stronger in

former mission churches. “They did it for us,” say members of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana or the Church of South India. As

they say this, they cast a look at the cemeteries of the missionaries whose epitaphs describe how quickly malaria or other illnesses

could take their toll.

They did it for us” means above all that they proclaimed the

word of the Gospel and the seed has borne fruit. Some

member churches of the EMS thank their existence to the enor-

mous personal commitment of many men and women in mis-

sionary service. In many cases the missionaries were the first

to write down languages which were previously only spoken

and create dictionaries so that they could translate the Bible.

They nearly always came not only with the Bible but also with

spades, blackboards and stethoscopes. Members of other reli-

gions also recognise the contributions of mission to the culture

and development of their countries.

Not all churches in the EMS are linked to the Basel Mission. How-

ever, the entire EMS Fellowship intends to use the year 2015 to

discuss the topic: what is our mission in the 21st century? How

can we help and support each other to listen to God and to

be there for people? Whoever prays with us every day of the

month for one of the churches or associations in the EMS will

soon notice where and how we should be there for each other.

PRAYER is the first thing. If we let God speak to us, we will find

the answer to the other question.

Yours,

Rev Jürgen Reichel

General Secretary

02

PRAYER

O Lord, Father of all peoples, Brother of all who search for you,

Holy Spirit in our restlessness and uncertainty:

show all who leave their homes that you are already there for

them wherever they may be.

Open our eyes that we may sing your praise in many cultures and

languages.

Let young people meet you wherever they least expect to find you.

Help the older ones among us to realise that forms may change in

the church,

as long as it is your Spirit that moves and connects us.

Show us how we can encounter other religions with respect,

without concealing the witness of your love.

We trust in you. Amen.

EMS SECRETARIAT, EMS MISSION COUNCIL AND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

PORTRAIT

The EMS world map in the leaflet is unique. Green chapels

in Ghana, South Africa, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, India, the

Middle East, Germany and Switzerland indicate which churches

belong to the Fellowship. The red chapels refer to projects in

churches supported by the Basel Mission German Branch. They

can only hint at the number of people who are committed

everywhere so that the Gospel of Jesus Christ can become

good news for many people. The member churches of the EMS

alone number about 23 million members. In all those places it

is important to the parishes and church leaders to belong to

the EMS family. Solidarity in the EMS family can mean many

things: praying for each other, exchanging experiences, visiting

each other, working at another church, supporting concerns of

other churches, joining forces to fight for justice, peace and to

preserve the creation. The duty of the Secretariat in Stuttgart,

the Mission Council and the General Assembly is to ensure that

the right people find each other.

OUR CONCERN FOR 2015

The 200th anniversary of the Basel Mission is in reality a look

ahead: God’s mission is never finished. 200 years are a good start

but God’s horizons are greater and wider. In the meantime, there

are no more mission churches or “partners” in the EMS anymore,

only members with equal rights. But nowadays, the boundaries

are blurred: members of all churches wander in other regions

and areas of the world. Nowhere is it taken for granted that

members of the younger generation stay in the church where

they were baptized. Everywhere, churches have to ask how they

can coexist with other religious communities and whether reli-

gions serve peace or whether they make conflicts worse.

DAY1

03

PRAYER

Merciful God,

thank you for the living network of relationships that have

connected us to the people in the PCC over so many years.

The enriching exchange opens up the vision of a world-wide

fellowship linked in faith in Jesus Christ.

We think of the people in Cameroon facing their daily struggle for

even the bare essentials. They seek concrete support and backing

for their everyday lives in their church.

Give the PCC a sign of encouragement and strength in their belief

in the Kingdom of God in which all peoples may share.

Let the churches in Cameroon be the light and salt

of society in their mission for peace and justice. Amen.

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN CAMEROON (PCC)

PORTRAIT

The Presbyterian Church in Cameroon (PCC), which origi-

nated from the work of the Basel Mission in 1886, has been

independent since 1957 and is growing steadily. It places great

value on a missionary profile and maintains numerous welfare

institutions dealing with health care and education. The main

seat is in Buea in the south west. The PCC now has about a mil-

lion members in 1,512 parishes in 28 presbyteries. Strong, sep-

arate departments include the women’s and men’s movements

(CWF and CMF), youth work (CYF) and the children’s church

(YP). Lively contacts are maintained by direct partnerships with

parishes in the south of Germany and the regional association

of churches with children in Wuerttemberg.

Although the basic needs of the population of 21 million

are largely covered, there are rising tensions between rich and

poor. one-sided infrastructure policy, high government defi-

cits, corruption and selfish political decisions by political leaders

continually lead to internal political unrest. A high rate of unem-

ployment, in particular among young people, weaknesses in

rural health care delivery and the lack of access to the education

system are the major challenges besides HIV and AIDS.


Since 2010, the PCC has seen its missionary duty to act as role

model in its fight for justice and against corruption on behalf of

the whole society. A major concern is that the responsible per-

sons in the PCC recently elected in 2014 continue on the path

which has been taken and put into practice major goals in small

steps. This is why they are reliant on intercessions.

At a workcamp in Cameroon in summer 2014, young people

from Cameroon, Nigeria, Ghana and Germany worked together

successfully. For the return encounter in 2015, the 200th anniver-

sary of the Basel Mission, we hope to receive visas for the young

people from Africa so that they can bear witness in Germany to

the connecting Spirit of God and the peaceful coexistence of

Christians and Muslims.

DAY2

04

PRAYER

God, we are thankful for the world-wide ecumenical community

and the special relationships with people in the EMS Fellowship.

God, you want us to live life to the full. But it is restricted where

violence, terror and war prevail, where people fight each other

with weapons, weapons from our country.

God, we pray for all the victims of wars and civil wars and pray for

your might to stop arms exports and to stand up for peace and

justice.

God, your Son Jesus Christ was himself a refugee. We pray for all

those who flee from persecution and need. Be near them.

We pray for our government, that they may open our borders to

foreigners who need help and a safe refuge. Amen.

PROTESTANT CHURCH IN HESSE AND NASSAU (EKHN)

PORTRAIT

The Protestant Church in Hesse and Nassau (EKHN) is a

united church of the Evangelical Church in Germany with

1.73 million members in 1,169 congregations that have partly

Lutheran, Reformed or United confessions and traditions. Work

at regional level takes place in 47 deaneries that together form

six provost’s districts. The church synod, church board and

the church president together lead the church. Over 64,000

volunteers work in the EKHN as well as about 1,700 female

and male pastors. Besides work in the parishes, there are five

main fields of activity: proclamation, education, pastoral care,

social responsibility and ecumenism. Through their ecumenical

commitment the EKHN wants to strengthen the fellowship of

Christianity and share resources in solidarity.


The EKHN maintains ecumenical direct partnerships with 15

churches in Africa, Asia, Europe and the USA. Regular visit pro-

grammes, joint seminars and consultations provide the occasion

for theological discussions and the exchange of views on contro-

versial issues. They are the touchstones which demonstrate the

capacity for tolerance of our Christian faith. Against this back-

ground the Synod of the EKHN has discussed the increasing arms

exports from Germany and the situation of refugees. Weapons

deliveries to crisis regions solve no conflicts and often lead to

even larger flows of refugees. Therefore stricter controls is a

major concern for the EKHN. At the same time, it advocates

concrete help by a culture of welcome for refugees to Germany.

DAY3

05

PRAYER

To you we come, O Triune God.

You have given us so much good: friendly people to console and

accompany us, work which enriches and satisfies us, and farsight-

edness which opens up new horizons.

But we also know of the need in the world, the conflicts, wars and

slavery. Let us not be confused and fall silent.

Strengthen us by your Word and your Spirit, by faith in Jesus Christ

and the example of witnesses to the faith.

Direct our feet along the joint path to justice and peace. Amen.

PROTESTANT CHURCH IN BADEN (EKIBA)

PORTRAIT

The Protestant Church in Baden in the South West of Ger-

many has about 1.2 million members between the River

Main, the River Rhine and Lake Constance. It is a united regional

church which advocates unity among churches. As Evangelical

churches in Germany we are celebrating the decade of the

Reformation from 2009 to 2017 and we are commemorating

special milestones during the Reformation with the impetus

that is still felt to this day in many parts of the world:

� In the year 2009: the 500th anniversary of the birth of John

Calvin.

� In the year 2010: the 450th anniversary of the death of Phillip

Melanchthon (1497 -1560). Melanchthon campaigned for

compulsory schooling and education for boys and girls. As a

result he earned himself the honourable name of “Praeceptor

Germaniae” - the teacher of Germany.

� In 2013, we celebrated together 450 years of the Heidelberg

Catechism with the question of faith and tolerance.

� In 2014, the focus of the decade is on faith and politics.

� Then in 2015, it will be the images and media with which we

express our Evangelical faith. In addition we are celebrating

the foundation of the Basel Mission 200 years ago. For this

reason the International Mission Council of the EMS will be

convened in Schloss Bueggen near Basel in June 2015.


We intend to link the commemoration of the Reformation and

mission to the challenges facing our parishes and churches today.

We want to tread the pilgrims’ path of justice and peace with

other churches.

DAY4

06

PRAYER

Almighty God, God of Love, allow us to become messengers of

peace through the power of the Holy Spirit to guide the church

towards unity

so that all believers become witnesses of your love,

pastors become serving leaders of the church,

our young people and children grow up with strong faith in Jesus

Christ,

so that the world may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah

and the Lord, and the Earth can enjoy peace. Amen.

CHRISTIAN PROTESTANT CHURCH IN BALI (GKPB)

PORTRAIT

The Christian Protestant Church in Bali (Church of Bali) chose

the first baptism of 12 Balinese women and men in the

River Yeh Poh in Dalung on 11 November 1931 as the day of its

foundation. Today, it counts 14,000 members. A further 42,000

are spread over 60 different denominations on the island, which

has only four million inhabitants. The Church of Bali regards

itself as the Church of God on the island of Bali and feels itself

called upon to preserve the unity of the church. This is why it

wants no parishes outside the island, although 75 percent of

Balinese Christians do not live on the island. The Church of Bali

advises all Balinese Christians to become members of the local

church where they live. In this way, they intend to show their

recognition of other churches and would like to be their partner

in spreading the Gospel and preserving the unity of the church.

As a result of this attitude, the Church of Bali gives its blessing

to other churches and nations.


Since 2008, the Church of Bali has a new vision and mission. Its

vision is: “The Earth rejoices in peace,” because our Lord Jesus

Christ, the Lord of the Church, came to Earth to bring us peace

(Luke 2:14). The church wants to achieve this vision by a mission

which is: to set up a civil society based on the love of God, neigh-

bours and the environment.

The Church of Bali wants to be a blessing for the people

and also become a church which grows with society and nature

which surrounds it. Besides spreading the Gospel in the tradi-

tional way, it also runs schools, a university, orphanages, clinics,

health centres and a rural bank. In addition, it supports farmers,

the so-called green-and-clean campaigns and plants trees on

waste land.

DAY5

Phot

o: ©

EM

S

07

PRAYER

We join in the prayer of Christian men and women in Indonesia:

God, source of all blessing,

we bring our project before you.

We pray for your support in our efforts to fight against poverty.

We thank you for the diversity of charisma in our church.

Give us the strength,

to put this into practice in the interests of peace and justice in

society.

Make your church a witness to your love,

wherever it may be. Amen.

PROTESTANT CHURCH IN SOUTH-EAST SULAWESI (GEPSULTRA)

PORTRAIT

The Protestant Church in South-East Sulawesi (GEPSULTRA)

goes back to the work of Dutch missionaries who have been

active in this part of Indonesia since 1915. In 1942, they were

forced to leave Indonesia on the orders of the Japanese occu-

piers. In 1946, they returned. After a transition phase lasting

several years, GEPSULTRA was founded in 1957 but was severely

threatened for the first ten years of its existence. The reason

was a militant Muslim movement in South-east Sulawesi, as

well as in South Sulawesi, which wanted to set up an Islamic

state in Indonesia.

From 1967 until 1977, the GEPSULTRA concentrated on

regrouping the widespread parishes. They received additional

members in the form of resettlers from all over Indonesia. Now

the members of 14 different ethnic groups are living together.

Today, the ecumenically active church has about 36,000 mem-

bers in 127 parishes.


Fighting poverty remains a central concern of GEPSULTRA’s

mission statement. For years, the church has been offering

programmes, such as a goat rearing project, as a measure for

communities to achieve some extra income. More than 25

parishes are participating in this project. Many others are still

waiting for their opportunity. For the past three years, farmers

have also had the possibility of taking part in a cattle project. Last

year, the church also started a pig-rearing project.

Inter-faith talks are of major importance for peaceful coex-

istence between Christians and Muslims. Whereas government

departments are inviting religious leaders to attend dialogues,

GEPSULTRA organises regular talks with the population - knowing

that conflicts mostly start on the street. All of these talks are the

basis for good communities in the villages and towns and also

serve to protect as well as develop the parishes.

DAY6

Phot

o: ©

EM

S

08

PRAYER

God, our Father,

as you gave life to all people, please grant it to us too.

You call us to your congregation so that we can be one body

despite our wide diversity of talents, experiences, traditions and

languages.

We pray to you, let us discover our differences as one of the riches

you granted us.

Move us in your Spirit towards a new living unity in mutual

respect. Amen.

EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH OF WUERTTEMBERG (ELK-WUE)

PORTRAIT

Wuerttemberg came into contact with the Reformation

very early. Under the leadership of many reformers many

Christians took up the thoughts of Martin Luther in the Imperial

Cities of Schwäbisch Hall, Reutlingen and Ulm, soon followed

by the region as a whole. The influences of the Swiss reformers

Zwingli and Calvin also made themselves noticed. Duke Ulrich

granted them both freedom to thrive when the Reformation

was introduced in 1534. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in

Wuerttemberg has been able to develop its own character in

this way. Its confession is Lutheran but it follows many reformed

traditions in liturgy and piety. It currently has 2.2 million mem-

bers in 1,425 congregations.

In the 17th and 18th centuries, the renewing movement of

Pietism took over large parts of Wuerttemberg. The invitation

to a living, committed faith started to become an issue in other

church circles. The foundation of the Basel Mission was initiated

and shared with support from Wuerttemberg. Wuerttemberg

missionaries brought the Gospel to many countries in Africa and

Asia and thus paved the way for setting up indigenous churches.

Today, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Wuerttemberg main-

tains diverse relations with these churches at all levels. The

mission has become ecumenical and is implemented in shared

partnership and intercultural efforts.


Many Christians from other countries and cultures – also former

“missionary regions” – live in Wuerttemberg today. This is why

they founded their own congregations so that they can celebrate

their Christian identity in their own language. We are delighted

by the growing number of these “migrant congregations” which

enrich worship life through their traditions, culture and way of

living. As daughters and sons of the One God and as citizens of

the same country, we want to work together and pray that a

blessed and fruitful coexistence will grow.

DAY7

09

The spirit of God moves and connects people – even beyond the

bounds of nations, confessions and cultures. What was started by

many brave and enthusiastic people in the Rectory of St Martin in

Basel in 1815 will be celebrated all around the world in 2015. For

example the large exhibition entitled “Unterwegs zu den Anderen“

(On the way to others) will be on view after the official opening

ceremony in Stuttgart on 26 April to 28 June 2015. It will then go

on tour to many other German cities.

Back in 1821, the Basel Mission sent the first missionaries

mainly from southern Germany to the Caucasus and later

to Ghana, India and China. For them, Basel not only became

the gateway to the world but also to higher education which

was long the privilege of only children from the upper social

classes. More than 3,500 men and about 700 women spread

the Gospel of Jesus Christ into the world at enormous personal

sacrifice. From modest beginnings, local churches with their

own self-confidence have grown up. Mission has long since

ceased being a one-way street. Today, it takes place in rela-

tionships in which partners support and enrich each other in

their diversity. The exhibition offers points of contact on the

change in understanding of mission and on the critical analysis

of colonial history.

International diversity is reflected in the member churches

of the Evangelical Mission in Solidarity. In the anniversary year

2015, the ways in which mission moves and connects people

beyond borders will become visible and tangible. “Mission

Moves” was therefore chosen as the slogan for the 200th anni-

versary of the Basel Mission. With this slogan, we will look back at

200 years of missionary history and at

the same time, look forward to how we can maintain ecumenical

relations and shape our missionary tasks in future. We will look

at our brothers and sisters in the partner churches in the south

with their independent viewpoint and question the impulses of

our actions in materially rich Europe.

Besides the exhibition, many different anniversary events are

planned in Germany and in Switzerland during the anniversary

year. You are cordially invited to celebrate the anniversary with

us and help organise the anniversary year. See the website for

more details:

WWW.MISSIONMOVES.ORG

But also the churches which originated from the missionary

activities of the Basel Mission will join in the celebrations –

among them the churches in Ghana and India.

MISSION MOVES – 200TH ANNIVERSARY OF THEBASEL MISSION 2015

10

EMS MEDIA AND PUBLICATIONS

PUBLICATIONS

“darum” appears quarterly and contains current news and back-

ground reports from all over the world on the subject of mission

and ecumenism.

The “darum–journal” keeps you up-to-date with news from the

EMS and the churches within the international EMS Fellowship

in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Europe.

The “Schneller Magazine”, the magazine of the Evangelical Asso-

ciation for the Schneller Schools, appears four times a year and

contains information about the Schneller Schools in Lebanon and

Jordan and about Christian life in the Middle East.

In the “Nachrichten der Basler Mission - Deutscher Zweig”

(news magazine of the Basel Mission German Branch), we report

six times a year on projects carried out in co-operation with

churches connected to the Basel Mission - German Branch and

on the work of the mission society.

Once a year, “Our Voices“ provides space for voices and articles

from the international EMS women’s network on a particular

main topic.

EMS VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE

Mission, moves, connects, opens up - this is what the EMS stands

for. Click on YouTube to find out more about the international

EMS Fellowship. So far there are about 30 videos online and more

are in production: www.youtube.com/EMSfellowship

EMS ON THE WEB AND IN SOCIAL MEDIA

Our website contains current news from the EMS Fellowship,

background information on various topics of mission, ecu-

menism, world-wide development, co-operation and numerous

projects, the possibility of making a donation online, a large

number of related links, helpful addresses and contacts. Visit us

at www.ems-online.org and soon also on Facebook.

We look forward to welcoming you!

CONTACT:

Corinna Waltz, Editor

[email protected]

+49 711 636 78 -77

ZUM DIALOG VERPFLICHTET – DER INTERRELIGIÖSE NAHE OSTEN BENEFIZKONZERT FÜR DIE SCHNELLER-SCHULE IM LIBANON

ISSN 0947-5435 E 12344

MAGAZIN ÜBER CHRISTLICHES LEBEN IM NAHEN OSTEN2/20

14

BESINNUNG„LEBT ALS KINDER DES LICHTS“ 2

ZUM JUBILÄUM AKOSOMBO LIEGT ZWISCHEN SEOUL UND SPEYER 3

WIR BITTENAUF DER FLUCHT 8

DIE BASLER MISSION – DEUTSCHER ZWEIG E.V. IST MITGLIED IN DER

4/2014

E 12 882

„IN GOTTES NAMEN BETRETEN WIR DIESES LAND“ Reise zu den Ursprüngen der Kirche in Papua 4

Liebe Leserin, lieber LeserWir sehen das Gesicht des Jungen auf dem Titelbild nicht. Er schaut nach vorne, in eine unge-wisse Zukunft. Wie wird sein Lebensweg in West Papua verlaufen? Werden die Spannungen zwi-schen Zentralregierung und Ureinwohnern von Papua friedlich gelöst? Gelingt ein harmonisches Zusammenleben von Christen und Muslimen?An seiner Stelle standen einst, 1855, die bei-den Missionare Carl Wilhelm Ottow und Johann Gottlob Geißler und legten den Grundstein für die heutige Evangelische Kirche im Lande Papua, Gereja Kristen Injili di Tanah Papua (GKI). 800 000 Mitglieder würdigen dieses Ereignis jedes Jahr. Die Basler Mission und besonders die Evange-lische Kirche der Pfalz pflegen seit langem eine enge Partnerschaft mit der Kirche in West-Papua. Darüber lesen Sie in dieser Ausgabe.

Dieter Bullard-WernerGeschäftsführer der BMDZ

Foto

: BM

DZ

/Rot

he

In der Rückbesinnung auf die Botschaft der Basler Missionare schaut die junge christliche Kirche in West Papua zuversichtlich in die Zukunft.

I

darum-journal

darum-journal 3/2014

Liebe Leserin, lieber Leser,„Die EMS ist in einer globalen Welt das richtige Modell für internationale Zusam-

menarbeit evangelischer Kirchen", stellte EMS-Präsidentin Marianne Wagner nach

der Sitzung des Missionsrates in Korea fest. „Unsere Mitgliedskirchen haben bei

wichtigen Ereignissen die anderen mit im Blick: Für 2015 haben wir uns gegen-

seitig zur 200-Jahrfeier der Basler Mission eingeladen. Die Kirchen in Ghana und

Indien, in Württemberg, Baden und der Pfalz und unsere Mitgliedsvereine 'Basler

Mission' und 'Basler Mission – Deutscher Zweig' bereiten Festprogramme vor,

die 200 Jahre weltweite Verflechtung belegen. Zudem haben wir uns in Gwangju

verpflichtet, die 'Erklärung von Sendai' der Vereinigten Kirche Christi in Japan in

unsere Mitgliedskirchen weiterzutragen. Die japanischen Christen warnen ein-

dringlich vor der Nutzung der Kernenergie, die auch nach der Dreifachkatastrophe

in Fukushima wenig in Frage gestellt wird. Das sind beides Beispiele dafür, dass

das Netz EMS trägt." Lesen Sie mehr zu den Begegnungen in Korea, der Bedeu-

tung des Jubiläumslogos „Mission moves“ und der Situation in Japan.

Eine informative Lektüre wünscht IhnenCorinna Waltz Redakteurin

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FRAUENKONSULTATION IN GHANA

AFRIKANISCHE FRAUEN STELLEN SICH HEIKLEN THEMEN

DEUTSCH

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OUR V ICESems women’s network

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PRAYER

God, thank you for the deep historical roots which nourish and

strengthen the ties between India and Germany to this day.

Thank you for the intensity of these relationships today. Let us

know, God, what mission means today.

Make us open and ready to be moved by your Spirit.

We pray in the name of Jesus Christ who remains the same

yesterday, today and tomorrow and is always new. Amen.

CHURCH OF SOUTH INDIA (CSI)

PORTRAIT

The Church of South India (CSI), which stretches over 22

dioceses in the four southern federal states of Karnataka,

Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala, has almost four million

members and 3,500 male and female pastors. It is therefore

one of the largest churches in Asia. Most of the 15,000 parishes

are situated in rural areas. About 75 percent of South Indian

Christians are what are known as Dalits, or “Untouchables” or

“Casteless,” as they prefer to call themselves.

The CSI is a united church combining Reformed, Methodist,

Congregational, Presbyterian and Anglican traditions. The con-

gregations that sprang up from the work of the Basel Mission,

which has been active in India since 1834, joined the CSI one

after the other.

There are four departments in the CSI church leadership:

social work; mission and evangelisation; ecology and ecumenism;

and pastoral issues. Gender work also plays an important role.


Overcoming caste divisions, giving education especially to girls,

arousing interest in the language and stories of people, showing

respect for culture, providing livelihoods and earning opportuni-

ties - all these points are mentioned when people in South India

are asked about the impacts of the Basel Mission, and not only

Christians, many educated Hindus as well. So it is no wonder

that the 200th anniversary of the Basel Mission in 2015 will also

be celebrated in India with celebratory services and symposiums

under the motto “mission moves”.

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PRAYER

Lord, we trust in justice that makes us just before your eyes.

But let us also be aware of the justice with which you give support

to the poor,

with which you protect the underprivileged and the oppressed.

Make us hunger for the justice that helps other people,

and make us strong to share what we have so that all can become

full.

You have called on us to bring about peace and make your church

into a tool for peace.

Give us the imagination to find the paths of peace,

in the East, West, South and North, give us the courage to tread

these paths and the strength to convince others to do the same.

Amen.

EVANGELICAL CHURCH OF KURHESSEN-WALDECK (EKKW)

PORTRAIT

Since the reunification it lies in the geographic centre of Ger-

many: the Evangelical Church of Kurhessen-Waldeck. North

and East Hesse are regarded as the “original homeland” of

the Kurhessen-Waldeck Church. Also part of the homeland is

the Thuringian Schmalkalden and the Kinzigtal that stretches

from Schlüchtern to Hanau. And so the church reaches to just

before the gates of Frankfurt in the Rhine-Main region. Slightly

under one million Evangelical Christian women and men live in

the 947 parishes of the regional church, most of them in rural

areas. There they have maintained a stable popular church

organisation, in other words the Evangelical church is simply

part of people’s lives. The North Hessian metropolis of Kassel

and the strong industrial south stand out considerably from the

other parts of the state.


In the action filed of religious education and ecumenism, the

synod has adopted a co-operation with out southern sister

church, the Protestant Church in Hesse and Nassau. It means

that economical work will be carried out together starting in

2015 and supported by co-workers in the Centre for Ecumenism

with its seat in Frankfurt and Kassel. In Kurhessen-Waldeck, espe-

cially the partnerships with churches in the South and Europe

are dear to our hearts. An important task in implementing the

new joint concept of future ecumenical work will be to maintain

and develop these partnerships in the right way, in responsibility

for each other, in partnership and with various types of work.

It is just as important as to face up to urgent political and social

challenges and fight together with others for justice, peace and

preservation of the creation. An important role is played here

by the campaign for climate justice and a sustainable lifestyle.

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PRAYER

O Lord our God,

thank you for our active and growing partner churches in Sabah.

Thank you that our brothers and sisters associate their feeling

of being Christian with living in good neighbourliness and in

dialogue with people of other religions.

Thank you for the work opportunities for indigenous women in the

field of handicrafts.

We pray for a sales market in Malaysia.

Thank you for the third school for migrant children.

We pray for the children and their teachers: bless their learning

and teaching.

We pray for the return encounter of the work camp in Heilbronn,

for the Church Conference in Stuttgart and in Basel, and that the

young people may walk a few steps together along the path of life.

Amen.

BASEL CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF MALAYSIA (BCCM) AND PROTESTANT CHURCH IN SABAH (PCS)

PORTRAIT

The Basel Christian Church of Malaysia (BCCM) in Sabah,

which has 18,000 members, was founded in about 1880

by Chinese immigrants who, as a result of the work of the

Basel Mission, adopted the Christian faith. The BCCM is well

known for its excellent schools and for the only Evangelical

theological training centre in Sabah, the Sabah Theological

Seminary (STS). Since there are now more Malay-speaking than

Chinese-speaking members, many congregations of the BCCM

celebrate their worship service in Malay.

The Protestant Church in Sabah (PCS) has 40,000 members

in over 250 congregations and was set up in the North through

the work of the Basel Mission in 1952. In 1966, over 70 new con-

gregations were grouped officially into one church. Since there

are no academically trained female and male pastors at present,

the PCS has developed an “honorary team pastor’s office”. Then

as now, women and men are trained in their spare time in church

service which they perform in the evenings and on Sundays.


For many years, women from the ethnic groups of the Rungus

and Murut have been making fair trade products. Unfortunately,

they have so far had little success among their own churches or

the Malaysian population.

In the meantime, the BCCM sponsors three schools for

migrant children. There the children can complete their primary

schooling and their families are counselled. Participants in the

youth work camp in Sabah will meet in a return encounter in

Germany in 2015.

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PRAYER

Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for the faithfulness of Christians in

Malawi and for their willingness to assume social responsibility

after disasters.

Thank you for the hardworking women who bear a lot of responsi-

bility in the church and society.

We ask you to strengthen the structures of the Moravian Church

in Malawi, we pray for conscientious, well trained pastors, good

co-operation with other Christian churches and for ways that

men, women and young people can earn their livelihoods. Amen.

MORAVIAN CHURCH AND MISSION ASSOCIATION OF THE MORAVIAN CHURCH IN GERMANY (HMH)

PORTRAIT

The Moravian Church (Herrnhut Tradition) is one of the 27

church provinces of the Moravian Church. Worldwide the

church has more than one million members; in Germany 5,800

people belong to the church. It is a church with a synodal

constitution that also publishes “Losungen” (watchwords). Its

historical roots lie both in the Czech Reformation of the 15th

century and in German Pietism of the 18th century. Under

the collaboration of Count Zinzendorf, the village of Herrnhut

was founded in Saxony in 1722 from where global missionary

work started in 1732. The Mission Association of the Mora-

vian Church in Germany is the mission society of the Moravian

Church in Germany. It maintains relations to partner churches

in East and South Africa, North India and Central America.

In Palestine it runs the “Sternberg” rehabilitation centre for

children and young people. In Europe the Moravian Church

supports work in Albania and Latvia. In Germany there is the

“Haltestelle” mission centre in Cottbus.


The Moravian Church in Malawi started around 1995 by refugees

escaping poverty. They had known this church in Tanzania and

had returned home. Missionaries from Tanzania looked after

the new parishes. The church centre is located in the north in

the town of Karonga. Nine parishes are now spread over the

whole country and comprise about 4,000 members guided by

six ordained pastors. Since 2012, the Moravian Church in Malawi

is an independent unity province. However, their structures are

still weak. The pastors only receive a short training and must also

continue to work in their main jobs. The church members include

the poorest of the poor. Recently, Malawi suffered from disasters

(earthquakes, floods and storm damage).

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PRAYER

Good God, bless and accompany the work of the Moravian

Church in South Africa. Send the parishes people who will care for

them.

Strengthen the workers and volunteers in the Masangane Project

in their fight against HIV and AIDS.

Also stand by the church in their many efforts to improve the

welfare of poor and disadvandayed people in South Africa.

Preserve and accompany all women, men, young people and

children who are part of the MCSA and who are witness to your

presence. Amen.

MORAVIAN CHURCH IN SOUTH AFRICA (MCSA)

PORTRAIT

The historical roots of the Moravian Church in South Africa

(Herrnhut tradition) can be traced back to 1737. That was

the year that Georg Schmidt landed at the Cape and started his

missionary work. From this arose one of the largest provinces

in the world-wide Unity of the Brethren with around 45,000

members. It has courageously faced social challenges from the

very start. To this day, it is committed to welfare and social insti-

tutions and projects for the disadvantaged. The church enjoys

its membership in the international EMS Fellowship. This allows

new posts for volunteers who can travel there through the EMS

Ecumenical Volunteer Programme. Besides previous posts in the

Elim Home and the Mispah School, young people can now also

do parish work in Baziya and Johannesburg.


The MCSA need pastors of both genders. Pastoral and spiritual

offers are indispensable for parish members. Many people are

unemployed, family structures are destroyed and young people

become dependent on drugs or alcohol at an early age. To sup-

port the parishes, the Moravian Church is now training com-

mitted volunteers to assume leading positions in the parishes.

The programme focuses on knowledge of the Bible, pastoral

care, sermons and personal development. The main target group

is young people. It is hoped they will discover and develop their

skills through talks and specific offers. This will open new positive

opportunities for them and restore courage for their future. It is

our concern that the parishes of the MCSA can receive spiritual

guidance. This is what we are praying for this year.

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PRAYER

Good Lord, continue to bless the work of the PCG for peace.

Also stand by their efforts to provide welfare to the people in

Ghana.

We pray for the health care work of the church which provides a

chance of healing to the poorest.

Preserve and accompany all women, men, young people and

children who are part of the PCG and who are witnesses to your

presence. Amen.

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF GHANA (PCG)

PORTRAIT

The Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG) founded in 1828

became independent in 1926. With its 650,000 members,

it is one of the largest Evangelical churches in the country and

membership is rising. The reasons for this is the enormous mis-

sionary commitment and demographic growth.

The central point of church life is the worship service. The

societies for children, young people, men and women and the

various music groups and choirs play a prominent role here. In

addition the PCG is engaged in education, peace work, rural

development work and the health care sector.


Ghana enjoys stable political and economic conditions. Ghana

is taking violence in many other countries in the region as an

opportunity to further strengthen its commitment to peace.

The Peacemakers Project of the church is celebrating its 10 year

anniversary in 2015. Young people, leaders of youth groups and

teachers attend seminars to learn strategies for resolving and

preventing conflicts. Pupils learn how to deal with each other

respectfully in peace clubs.

Respect for other religions plays a major role in all the activi-

ties of the peacemakers. Muslims as well as Christians can attend

the seminars. Very often speakers of both religious faiths and the

traditional African religion are present. With this project the PCG

makes a significant contribution to preserving peace in Ghana.

The EMS would also like to support the PCG in their efforts in

2015.

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PRAYER

Good God, thank you for guiding people from all over the world to

your church.

As brothers and sisters we need each other.

Let us draw courage and hope from the fellowship of your children

who overcome all borders.

Keep us all connected in the service of love and in praise of your

name.

We pray to you through Jesus Christ, our brother and Lord.

Amen.

PROTESTANT CHURCH OF THE PALATINATE (EKP)

PORTRAIT

The Protestant Church of the Palatinate is one of the smaller

regional churches of the Evangelical Church in Germany. It

has about 620,000 members in 430 congregations. The large

majority of parishes are located in rural districts. The Church

of the Palatinate is a united church. Lutherans and Reformed

members decided on the union in 1818. The Palatinate Union

is known for its theological open-mindedness and restraint

towards formulated confessions. The only basis of faith and the

guiding principle of life is the Bible.

The Evangelical Church of the Palatinate is a founder member

in the EMS and maintains close ties to the Basel Mission and

mission 21 in Switzerland. Relations to churches overseas play a

special role. Partnership relations with the Presbyterian Church of

Ghana, the Presbyterian Church of Korea, the Protestant Church

in Papua and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bolivia have

been in existence for many years.


At Whitsun 2015, the focus of our regional church will be on

ecumenism. The EKP and the Bishopric of Speyer will be cele-

brating a regional church conference in Speyer together with

all ACK churches (Council of Christian Churches in Germany).

Many guests will be coming from all over the world, including

the world-wide ecumenical movement.

In addition, we will be celebrating the 200th anniversary of

the Basel Mission with a mission festival in Erfenbach and a large

celebratory service in Speyer. We hope that knowledge of affinity

in the faith with brothers and sisters of all denominations and

parts of the world with encourage us here. Christ as the Head of

the Church will guide and preserve it, also in times of change.

DAY14

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PRAYER

Good Lord,

thank you that so many people in Korea have responded to the

call of the Gospel and have become Christians. Thank you for their

living faith.

O Lord, time and again we hear how tense the situation still is on

the Korean Peninsula.

Thank you for the testimony of peace of the PCK.

We pray to you that the Decade for Healing and Reconciliation

bears fruit and that it contributes to relieving tensions and

bringing North and South closer together.

This we ask you in the name of Jesus who makes us all into

messengers of reconciliation. Amen.

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF KOREA (PCK)

PORTRAIT

The percentage of Protestants in the population of Asian

countries is nowhere near as high as in South Korea. In total,

25 percent of the population belong to a Christian church and

about 19 percent to one of the Protestant churches. The PCK

is regarded as one of the largest churches in Korea with more

than 2.2 million members in 6,300 parishes and 8,600 female

and male pastors. The PCK unites in itself a large number of

concerns.

The topics of evangelisation and world mission take a major

place. At the same time, emphasis is placed on world responsi-

bility. For example, this becomes evident in the efforts to realise a

creation-friendly lifestyle. The church is also committed to peace

and reunification.


The PCK launched a “Decade for Healing and Reconciliation”

which will last until 2022. The background is that, even 60 years

after the Korean War, the wounds have not healed. The traumatic

experiences of this terrible war continue to have an effect and

lead to fear, distrust and hate. A climate of Cold War still reigns

on the Korean Peninsula. On both sides of the impenetrable

inner Korean border, highly sophisticated armies are facing each

other and threats of war continuously cause unrest among the

population.

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PRAYER

Good Lord, thank you for the diverse and living network of rela-

tionships which links us to people in East Asia.

Our relationships are full of compassion and mutual intercessions.

We learn from each other and challenge each other. Together we

are on the path.

Thank you for your good spirit which connects us beyond all

borders. Amen.

GERMAN EAST ASIA MISSION (DOAM)

PORTRAIT

The German East Asia Mission (DOAM) is an unusual mission

society since its roots go back to the liberal theology of the

19th century. Founded in Weimar in 1884 by missionaries from

Switzerland and Germany, it has always placed great value on

the study of religions and dialogue with people of other faiths.

The East Asia Mission was mainly active in China and Japan.

Since the 1970s it has also set up relationships with Korea.

The DOAM itself was integrated when the Association of

Churches and Missions in South Western Germany (today: Evan-

gelical Mission in Solidarity) and the Berlin Mission Society were

founded. However, the DOAM has retained some of its former

tasks: conducting worship services and events on the topic of

East Asia; organising an annual study conference; publishing a

newsletter and updating a website with the latest news (www.

doam.org). With all these efforts the DOAM is supporting mis-

sion societies and is participating in theological discussions with

and in East Asia. It does this from the conviction that much can

be learnt from Christians in East Asia.


The name “Evangelical Mission in Solidarity“ at the same time

reflects the programme of the East Asia Mission. The issue of

human rights and the democratisation of Korea played a highly

important role in the 1970s and 1980s. The DOAM is and was

linked to the people in East Asia through its activities for rec-

onciliation and peace. The spirit of solidarity of Christians in

Japan with the Buraku, a discriminated minority, provided the

impulse to set up a working group: Sinti and Roma and churches

in Germany.

Finally the DOAM remains in solidarity with the victims of the

multiple catastrophes in Japan, even if this has long disappeared

from the headlines. The main concerns is to continue developing

and practising solidarity.

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PRAYER

O God of life, justice and peace, we bring before you the suffering

of the Korean people which is still divided.

We pray for the people in North Korea who suffer hardships and

for the small Christian church there.

We pray for all the people who are striving for reconciliation,

rapprochement, peace and sustainable development on the

Korean Peninsula.

O God of Life, continue to guide us on the pilgrims’ path of justice

and peace. Amen.

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA (PROK)

PORTRAIT

More than 25 percent of the Korean population belong to

one of the Christian churches. The Presbyterian Church

in the Republic of Korea (PROK) has 340,000 members in about

1,450 congregations and is one of the smaller churches in the

country. 1,900 female and male pastors and over 2,800 elders

perform service in the congregations. During the long years of

changing military dictatorships, the PROK was committed to

human rights, democratisation, social justice, peace and reuni-

fication on the Korean Peninsula. It was supported by compan-

ions and partners from other churches. The PROK is grateful for

this experienced solidarity from their German partners.


The PROK has always tried to work on important life issues

together with partners all over the world. Here the keyword

“ecumenical movement“ is linked to the commitment to peace

and justice. As before, the issue of reconciliation, peace and

reunification on the Korean Peninsula remains unanswered. The

Peace Community Movement Centre of the PROK is working

on demolishing the “walls inside minds” which separates the

two parts of the country. The issues of ecology and sustainable

development have also gained in significance. As this question

preoccupies churches all over the world, the ecologist Karina

Schumacher was sent by the EMS and has been working there

as ecumenical co-worker since 2012.

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PRAYER

God, we remain joined in prayer with the survivors of the triple

disaster.

Be with all the people who stand by them. Comfort them and give

them new courage to live.

We pray you especially for the many people, in particular children

who were and are exposed to radioactive radiation.

Show us ways to strengthen our rejection of nuclear energy and its

replacement by a suitably simple lifestyle.

We pray in the name of Jesus who calls us to the path of life.

Amen.

UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST IN JAPAN (KYODAN)

PORTRAIT

Only about one percent of the Japanese population belongs

to one of the Christian churches; in total there are about

650,000 Protestants. The United Church of Christ in Japan

(KYODAN) has about 200,000 members in around 1,700 con-

gregations. With its 2,200 male and female pastors, it is the

largest Protestant church in Japan.

In the past, the KYODAN always announced their views on

burning questions of the time, e.g. co-responsibility for the hor-

rors of the Second World War in which Japanese troops occupied

neighbouring countries. Commitment to peace and reconcilia-

tion also belonged to the identity of the KYODAN. The KYODAN

places special emphasis on evangelisation. In 2014, it organised

an international nuclear conference, made a confession of guilt

and clearly expressed its opposition to “the myth of safe nuclear

energy”.


Also in the fifth year after the catastrophe of Fukushima,

unbroken solidarity is still necessary with the survivors. Many

are still living in emergency shelters and suffering from heavy

emotional strain. They need pastoral care, advice, support and

healing. In particular, the consequences of high radioactivity are

still not yet foreseeable. We want to make every effort that the

incalculable risks and dangers that result from nuclear energy

are acknowledged and that there is abstention from further use

of nuclear energy.

DAY18

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PRAYER

O Lord,

thank you for the 200th anniversary which we celebrate this year

together.

Thank you for the many people who work on behalf of your

mission:

as collectors,

donors and promoters,

or as beneficiaries in many parts of the world.

Thank you for the fact that we are not indifferent to each other.

You want to use us so that your Gospel is heard and your world is

shaped justly.

Thank you for the numerous partnership groups

which look for exchange and encounter at eye level.

We ask you on behalf of the sisters and brothers

who are linked to us through partner churches.

Preserve especially those who suffer from distress.

Help us stand up for religious freedom and for just economic

management in the world.

And bless the anniversary year, the associated activities organised

here and at our partners. Amen.

MISSION 21 AND BASEL MISSION – GERMAN BRANCH (BMDZ)

PORTRAIT

The spirit of God connects people – even beyond the bor-

ders of nations, confessions and cultures. This experience

has shaped the Basel Mission for almost 200 years. What does

mission mean for us today? The Mission Statement of the BMDZ

states, “Mission is being a Christian in public. It is the statement

of being and living the world-wide church. It is faith in lived

terms, love in existence, hope in action. It makes itself strong

for others. This is why we want to be a living witness through

our work.”

For the Basel Mission German Branch (BMDZ), this includes

the counselling and support of direct partnerships between

Christian men and women from the churches set up by the Basel

Mission in Asia and Africa. Today, these churches are in close con-

tact with mission 21 and the EMS. The BMDZ collects donations

for its actual work. Fellow Christians in Africa, Asia and South

America associate the name of the “Basel Mission” with practical

everyday witness. It also includes respect in mutual relations with

different confessions and religions. This reputation remains an

obligation for the BMDZ to this day.


In the anniversary year of 2015, the aim is to make visible and

perceptible how mission moves and connects people across bor-

ders. “Mission moves” was therefore chosen as the motto.

DAY19

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GERMANY

SWITZERLAND

I N D O N E S I A

MALAYSIA

INDIA

TANZANIA

SOUTH SUDANCAMEROON

GHANA

BOLIVIA

NIGERIA

SOUTH AFRICA

SURINAME

West Papua

CHINA

Halmahera

Sulawesi

JAPAN

SOUTH-KOREA

Moravian Church in South Africa (MCSA)

Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG)

The Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East

National Evangelical Church of Beirut, Lebanon (NECB)

Moravian Church (European Continental Province)

Church of South India (CSI)

United Church of Christ in Japan (KYODAN)

Presbyterian Church of Korea (PCK) Presbyterian Church

in the Republic of Korea (PROK)

China Christian Council,China (CCC)

Amity Foundation, China

Protestant Church in Baden (EKIBA)

Evangelical Lutheran Church in Wuerttemberg (ELK-WUE)

Protestant Church of the Palatinate (EKP)

Evangelical Church of Kurhessen-Waldeck (EKKW)

Protestant Church in Hesse and Nassau (EKHN)

German East Asia Mission (DOAM)

Evangelical Association for the Schneller Schools (EVS)

Basel Mission, Switzerland (BM)

Basel Mission German Branch (BMDZ)

Mission Association of the Moravian Church in Germany (HMH)

GMIMEvangelical Christian Church in Minahasa, Indonesia (GMIM)

GPIDProtestant Indonesian Church in Donggala, Indonesia (GPID)

GTMToraja Mamasa Church, Indonesia (GTM)

GKSS

Christian Church in South Sulawesi, Indonesia (GKSS)

GTToraja Church, Indonesia (GT)

Christian Protestant Church in Bali, Indonesia (GKPB)

GMIH

Evangelical Christian Church in Halmahera, Indonesia (GMIH)

GPIL Protestant Indonesian Church in Luwu, Indonesia (GPIL)

GEPSULTRA

Protestant Church in South-East Sulawesi, Indonesia (GEPSULTRA)

Moravian Church in Tanzania(in the South, Southwest and Rukwa Provinces)

Moravian Church in Suriname

Star Mountain Rehabilitation Centre in Ramallah, West Bank

Protestant Church in Sabah, Malaysia (PCS)

Presbyterian Church in Cameroon (PCC)

Presbyterian Churchof the South Sudan(PCOSS)

Church of the Brethren in Nigeria (EYN)

Tsung Tsin Mission Hong Kong (TTM)

Evangelical LutheranChurch of Bolivia (IELB)

Evangelical ChristianChurch in West Papua (GKI)

Basel Christian Church of Malaysia (BCCM)

CHURCHES AND MISSION SOCIETIES IN THE EMS FELLOWSHIP

AFRICA



ASIA

Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East



Evangelical Christian Church in Minahasa, Indonesia (GMIM)



Indonesian Protestant Church in Donggala, Indonesia (GPID)

Indonesian Protestant Church in Luwu, Indonesia (GPIL)


Toraja Church, Indonesia (GT)

Toraja Mamasa Church, Indonesia (GTM)


Presbyterian Church of Korea (PCK)

Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea (PROK)


24

GERMANY

SWITZERLAND

I N D O N E S I A

MALAYSIA

INDIA

TANZANIA

SOUTH SUDANCAMEROON

GHANA

BOLIVIA

NIGERIA

SOUTH AFRICA

SURINAME

West Papua

CHINA

Halmahera

Sulawesi

JAPAN

SOUTH-KOREA



The Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East


Moravian Church (European Continental Province)



Presbyterian Church of Korea (PCK) Presbyterian Church

in the Republic of Korea (PROK)

China Christian Council,China (CCC)



Evangelical Lutheran Church in Wuerttemberg (ELK-WUE)







Basel Mission German Branch (BMDZ)

Mission Association of the Moravian Church in Germany (HMH)

GMIMEvangelical Christian Church in Minahasa, Indonesia (GMIM)

GPIDProtestant Indonesian Church in Donggala, Indonesia (GPID)

GTMToraja Mamasa Church, Indonesia (GTM)

GKSS


GTToraja Church, Indonesia (GT)


GMIH


GPIL Protestant Indonesian Church in Luwu, Indonesia (GPIL)

GEPSULTRA


Moravian Church in Tanzania(in the South, Southwest and Rukwa Provinces)

Moravian Church in Suriname

Star Mountain Rehabilitation Centre in Ramallah, West Bank



Presbyterian Churchof the South Sudan(PCOSS)

Church of the Brethren in Nigeria (EYN)


Evangelical LutheranChurch of Bolivia (IELB)

Evangelical ChristianChurch in West Papua (GKI)


EUROPE


Basel Mission – German Branch (BMDZ)



Evangelical Church of Wuerttemberg (ELK-WUE)




Moravian Church


Mission Association of the Moravian Church in Germany

(HMH)

The EMS also has friendly relations to the following

churches and institutions:

China Christian Council, China (CCC)


Through the Basel Mission – German Branch

in co-operation with mission 21:




Presbyterian Church of South Sudan (PCOSS)

Church of the Brethren (EYN)


Evangelical Church in West Papua (GKI)

Evangelical Lutheran Church of Bolivia (IELB)

Through the Mission Association of the Moravian Church

in Germany:

Moravian Church in Tanzania

(in the south, south west and in Rukwa Province)

Moravian Church in Surinam

Rehabilitation Centre Sternberg in Ramallah,

West Jordan

Basel Mission – German Branch (BMDZ) Mission Association of the Moravian Church in Germany (HMH)

Evangelical Mission in Solidarity (EMS)25

PRAYER

Good and merciful Lord, we see how hate and greed are wrecking

the country of South Sudan, which is badly affected by this. Please

be with the people in this country. Bestow upon them the will and

the strength to forgive and to face the future.

Let the ministers of the Presbyterian Church of South Sudan not

tire of proclaiming your gospel of reconciliation. Amen.

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF SOUTH SUDAN (PCOSS)

PORTRAIT

The Presbyterian Church of the South Sudan (PCOSS)

founded in 1902 is the third largest church in South Sudan

with about one million members. After severe devastation from

decades of civil war, the founding of the State of South Sudan

in 2011 placed the church in a totally new situation. However,

the new government was not stable and the political power

struggle ended in terrible ethnic conflict. At the beginning of

2014, all the buildings of the PCOSS church leadership and the

training facilities at the Nile Theological College (NTC) and

Giffen Institute of Theology (GIT) in the town of Malakal were

devastated. People were forced to flee throughout the country.

In addition the country is threatened with famine because the

farmers were unable to till their fields.


The PCOSS is doing everything humanly possible to adjust itself

to the precarious situation. Members of the church leadership

have regrouped in the capital of Juba and have resumed their

work there. The midwifery school run by the PCOSS had to close

its doors in the town of Leer but then reopened in the border

town of Lokichoggio in Northern Kenya. One of the main tasks

of the PCOSS is to support its members in the refugee camps in

Nasir (Ethiopia) and Kakuma (Kenya). The PCOSS would like to

reconstruct its devastated and destroyed schools in these camps.

Possibly, the NTC and GIT may also be able to find a new home

on the site of the former mobile Bible school in Kakuma. Sunday

services take place all over the camps. If there are no buildings,

they celebrate outside.

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PRAYER

Lord, our good shepherd, we pray to you to guide the Donggala

Church in all their challenges and changes.

We pray to you to support the church leadership and parish

counsellors. Let them act in your honour and praise and serve the

welfare of the people.

Lord, our good shepherd, we pray for all people who are affected

by economic hardships, hunger, violence and natural disasters.

Give them and us the courage and strength to provide help where

it is needed. Amen.

INDONESIAN PROTESTANT CHURCH IN DONGGALA (GPID)

PORTRAIT

The Protestant Indonesian Church in Donggala (GPID) is a

young church. Since the 19th century, teachers and gov-

ernment officials emigrated from the Minahasa region to the

Donggala region. They were visited by Minahassian pastors

from the established Protestant church (GPI). In 1937, the

region was transferred completely to the Evangelical Chris-

tian Church in Minahasa (GMIM). Due to the geographical

distance, it was regarded as advisable for the church not to

remain part of the GMIM. As a result, the congregations were

combined into a separate church in 1965. The impact on the

indigenous population in the region was more successful here

than in the neighbouring regions. Among the church members

are many Balinese Christians who originally came to the region

as resettlers.

The GPID runs some schools and an adult education centre.

At present, it has about 32,000 members in 170 congregations

cared for by around 87 female and male pastors.


Many congregations of the Donggala church are situated in

remote areas in the mountains of Central Sulawesi. Living con-

ditions there are very simple. In addition, the region is often

affected by floods and earthquakes. For years, the church has

made every effort to help these congregations improve the

quality of life there. Water supply, expansion of the health care

system, agricultural development projects and the building of

schools and other education centres are some of the focal points

of projects. The GPID also has a further task. It is to accompany

many ethnic tribes into the “modern” world in which they are

obliged to resettle because their traditional forest areas are being

converted into oil palm and cocoa plantations.

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PRAYER

Lord our God, we acknowledge that you are the creator and

keeper of all human beings.

We call upon you in this hour of need and pray for your help.

As a small minority, let us not lose the courage to live as your

church.

Thank you for preserving us all in these challenging times and we

pray you will support our confidence in our efforts to look after the

poorest of the poor. Amen.

INDONESIAN PROTESTANT CHURCH IN LUWU (GPIL) AND CHRISTIAN CHURCH IN SOUTH SULAWESI (GKSS)

PORTRAIT

The Indonesian Protestant Church in LUWU was started in

Palopo in 1966. It has about 20,000 members in 114 par-

ishes and 55 male and female pastors. About 70 percent of

parish members live in the remote regions of Bastem and Seko,

mainly in villages comprising 10 to 40 families which are only

accessible on foot. The congregation members mainly comprise

small farmers and daily wage earners. For this reason, the GPIL

places great value on education programmes, Sunday schools

and other services. Participation in the EMS Fellowship is very

important for the Luwu Church because it is one of the few

chances for them to broaden their ecumenical horizon through

practical co-operation with other churches.

The Christian Church in South Sulawesi (GKSS) started in

Maros in 1933. The church leadership today has its seat in the

provincial capital of Makassar. The GKSS has about 6,350 parish

members, mostly peasants who live in small parishes in rural

areas surrounded by a large Muslim majority. They run two res-

idential homes for schoolchildren in the town and a training

centre for village development work. Some of its pastors work as

lecturers at the Theological University in Makassar.


The growing radicalisation of Islam in South Sulawesi is spreading

uncertainty and worry in the GPIL and the GKSS. Over the past

years, the churches have experienced growing religious radi-

calisation, which is restricting the presence of the church and

Christians in society. For example, it is difficult or impossible to

renovate or build new church buildings. Together with Muslim

representatives they actively seek talks with the government in

order to secure peaceful coexistence of the religious communi-

ties both now and in the future.

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PRAYER

God, after the people in China experienced so much suffering and

horrors in the past century, we rejoice with them the many small

positive developments which we observe.

But we also see that people and the creation are sometimes

neglected because of the enormous economic changes.

We pray for the church in China which bravely follows in your

footsteps and supports all those who fall by the wayside or come

too short.

We pray in the name of Jesus who wishes that all peoples live life

in abundance. Amen.

CHRISTIANS IN CHINA

PORTRAIT

Pronounced dead but still very much alive!“ The fact that

there are between 30 and 70 million Christians in China

today – with a strong upward trend – is nothing less than a

miracle and a reason to be grateful to God. There is a diversity

of Christian existence in China. Many Protestant congregations

belong to the China Christian Council (CCC) and are organised

in the so-called Three-Self Patriotic Movement (self-govern-

ment – self-support – self-propagation). There are Christians

who gather in independent house communities and not in reg-

istered church congregations.

There are increasingly more universities which offer “Chris-

tian Studies” where young intellectuals can learn about the con-

tent of the Christian faith and quite a few ask to be baptised.

Many of the roughly 40,000 students from China in Germany

belong to the rapidly growing number of Chinese parishes.

Since China’s opening to the West, EMS has become an

important partner of the China Christian Council. Another

partner of the EMS is the Amity Foundation, a voluntary organ-

isation founded by Christians. Its aims are to improve the living

conditions of people through a large number of projects in

health care, rural development and education. The EMS sup-

ports the Amity Foundation in carrying out its project for small

non-governmental organisations.


In past decades, Chinese society has experienced a very rapid

change. Much has changed for the better but there are still many

unsolved problems. The economy is booming but nature is being

neglected; incomes are rising but at the same time, new social

contrasts are emerging; migrant workers are finding work in

the industrial centres, but they are exposed to the danger of

exploitation and being uprooted; freedom to practise religious

life is increasing but there is still a high degree of control.

DAY23

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PRAYER

Resurrected Christ,

you became man in Bethlehem, shared the suffering of your

people in Jerusalem and of humanity and overcame death. We

pray to you together with the Father, give this world the spirit

of life. Encourage people to fight against a culture of death.

Strengthen them to seek dialogue, reach out their hands to their

enemies and build bridges. Give them the spirit of reconciliation

where irreconcilability reigns. Give the people on all sides of the

conflict lines in the Middle East the strength to enter talks uncondi-

tionally, to silence the weapons and also to show the next genera-

tions the path towards peace. Amen.

EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN JERUSALEM AND THE MIDDLE EAST

PORTRAIT

Anglican“, “Episcopal“ or “Episcopal Church“ - they all mean

the same thing. They all originated from the joint Prussian

Anglican Bishopric (1841-1886) which covers the diocese of

“Jerusalem and the Middle East” comprising over 27 parishes

in Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. In a region which

is massively affected by the Syrian civil war and the flight of

millions of people, the church stands for mutual respect, rec-

onciliation and peace.

The EMS and the Evangelical Association for the Schneller

Schools (EVS) are connected to the Episcopal Church through

co-operation in the Theodor Schneller School (TSS) in Amman.

In addition the EMS provides financial support to the Arab Epis-

copal School, which is an integrated school in Irbid in Jordan

looking after blind and sight impaired children in a special way.

We regularly send volunteers to the two institutions as well as

to the “Holy Land Institute for the Deaf”, a school for the deaf

in Salt.


We pray for peace in the Middle East, for unconditional cease fire

talks between all parties in the Syrian civil war and for non-vio-

lence and peace education. In addition we pray for talks between

Israelis and Palestinians, between Jews, Muslims and Christians

in Jerusalem: We pray for the Episcopal Church, that it does not

diminish its efforts to be a voice of justice, peace and reconcili-

ation in these talks.

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PRAYER

Good God, thank you for 155 years of commitment by so many

people in Germany and world-wide to the Schneller schools in the

Middle East.

Thank you for the co-operation between the Evangelical Associ-

ation for the Schneller Schools and the sponsoring churches in

Lebanon and in Jordan.

Thank you for making people willing to be sent to work at these

schools.

We pray to you to accompany all those who are committed to your

service. Open up ways to the spiritual and economic resources

which are necessary for this work.

Help the weak and oppressed who come to the Schneller schools.

Open the doors to them to find an education of mutual respect,

non-violence and peace. Amen.

EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE SCHNELLER SCHOOLS (EVS)

PORTRAIT

In the year 1860, the Swabian Johann Ludwig Schneller

founded the Syrian Orphanage in Jerusalem and started the

work which has been continued to this day by the Schneller

Schools in Lebanon and Jordan. Children from very needy and

broken families are accepted and receive schooling and voca-

tional education. Some of the children come from war-torn

Syria. With innovative educational methods, the schools are

committed to peaceful coexistence beyond religious barriers

and so give witness to Christian charity and the love of one’s

neighbour.

Today, the Schneller schools are sponsored by the local EMS

member churches in Lebanon and in Jordan. They are supported

in this work by the EVS. The Schneller Foundation – Education

for Peace forms an important pillar of this support. In econom-

ically and politically difficult times, the Schneller schools are

committed to modernising the heating system, organising fur-

ther education courses for teachers and taking in Syrian refugee

children.


In 2015, an ecumenical volunteer from Germany is supporting

the Schneller school in Lebanon with further education courses

for teachers. At the same time, the Schneller Foundation sup-

ports this institution with the modernisation of the heating and

hot water systems. We pray for co-operation between the EVS

and the local sponsoring churches. We pray that this co-opera-

tion will lead to more economical and ecological sustainability.

We pray for the service of our ecumenical co-worker and for

the joint further education courses in non-violence and peace

education.

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PROJECT BOOKLET

LOOKING FORWARD AND JOINING IN –

as a mission we have had 200 years of practice in this. This is how far the roots of the Evangelical Mission in Solidarity go back. So

that we can continue on this path, we are dependent on the participation of many people.

About 23 million people belong to the Evangelical Mission in

Solidarity - in 28 Evangelical churches and associations in

Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Europe. They all work together

in God’s mission for this world. A lot of what happens in the

EMS is for the good of all. A lot of good happens for many

millions of people in need through the projects which are the

responsibility of the churches and partners of the EMS.

Our project booklet tells stories of faith and hope, neighbourly

love in practice and enormous commitment. We are proud to

present you our projects. We stand by every one of them. Our

co-workers visit the sites regularly.

Donations and collections make this work possible. If you - per-

sonally or as a parish or group - would like to support one of our

projects, we will be delighted to assist you!

Call us. We will support you in selecting a project which suits

your requirements. We will be delighted to also send you project

information. Allow our project booklet to inspire you or browse

through the projects on our website:

WWW.EMS-ONLINE.ORG/PROJEKTE

Your contribution counts and has an effect!

CONTACT:

Annette Stahl, Head of

Fundraising and Marketing

[email protected]

+49 711 636 78 -24

EVangEliScHEMiSSion inSolidaritätMiSSion inSolidaritätMiSSion in

proJEktE2014 – 2016

iHrE SpEndE Hilft!

32

MISSION STATEMENT OF THE EMS FELLOWSHIP

01 We are on a journey together towards an international

ecumenical fellowship of churches and mission society

sharing our hope in the Kingdom of God.

02 Mission in the first instance is God’s economy (oikonomia)

for the world, in the act of creation, in the history with

human mankind, in Jesus Christ and in the power of the Spirit.

Our witness means our response and our participation in God’s

compassionate and transforming love.

03 The centrality of our faith is the Good News of salvation,

of the fullness of life, and the overcoming of death in

Jesus Christ. The name of Jesus Christ means redemption, liber-

ation, healing, reconciliation, justice, peace and hope.

04 The gospel concerns all dimensions of life. Therefore our

witness is holistic. Proclamation of the Gospel, worship,

prayer life, pastoral care, Christian education, diaconal service

and the commitment to justice, peace, and the integrity of cre-

ation cannot be separated from each other.

05 Our witness is based on faithfulness to the Gospel and on

compassion for God’s creation, particularly for all vulner-

able and endangered creatures.

06 We witness the Gospel of Jesus Christ at all our respective

places in an inviting and faithful way. The experience of

being strangers to each other in encounters and in exchange

across borders helps us to rediscover the Gospel in new ways.

07 We belong together in our partnership on mission. The

polyphony and diversity of our witness in different con-

texts is something precious and at the same time a continuing

mutual challenge.

08 In our witness, we meet people of other faiths and ideol-

ogies with esteem, respect, empathy, the willingness to

listen and to live together as good neighbours in bold humility.

09 Our witness finds expression in signs of living solidarity.

In reconciling and healing communities we share life as

well as suffering. We strive for human rights. We also strive for

a just community of women and men and in all generations.

10 As a forum for ecumenical living, our fellowship serves to

proclaim our common witness across borders, it enables

us to learn from each other, to encourage each other and to

challenge each other.

33

PRAYER

God, Holy Spirit, we look with concern at Lebanon where the spirit

of divisiveness and hate reigns all too often.

But Lebanon is the country where Jesus met the Syrophoenician

woman (Mark 7:24-30) who overcame the boundaries between

different ethnic groups.

Give the people of Lebanon the opportunity for this can happen

again today:

that people can assume responsibility, approach others without

fear and stand up for dialogue and mutual respect. Give Lebanon

political stability and give the National Evangelical Church of

Beirut the strength to fight for justice and good education for all in

their many institutions. Amen.

NATIONAL EVANGELICAL CHURCH OF BEIRUT (NECB)

PORTRAIT

The National Evangelical Church of Beirut (NECB) is the

oldest Arab-speaking Protestant church in the Middle East.

It was founded in 1848. Despite its low membership, it has

considerable social influence through its educational work that

is rich in tradition. As sponsoring church of the Johann Ludwig

Schneller School (JLSS), the NECB works closely with the Evan-

gelical Association for the Schneller Schools (EVS). Since 2012,

the JLSS has also taken in refugee children from war-torn Syria

and since 2014, single-parent Syrian refugee mothers have

taken vocational courses so that they can feed their families

after the war. In 2014, a pre-school for children from internally

displaced persons was started up together with Protestant part-

ners in Syria. The NECB is committed to the Philemon Project

supported by the EMS for refugees and migrants from Asia

and Africa. It supports the Near East School of Theology where

German theology students and pastors can deepen their knowl-

edge of Islam and Christianity in the Middle East.


The situation in Lebanon is marked by extreme political insta-

bility. The war in Syria also affects everyday life here due to the

large number of refugees and increasingly violent attacks. At

the same time, the state legislature - in particular the question

of salaries - is increasingly jeopardising the existence of Christian

private schools which are aimed at disadvandayed and destitute

families.

We therefore pray for stable political institutions in Lebanon

that the NECB can continue to be a voice of moderation and

reconciliation in all the upheavals.

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PRAYER

Lord our God, we bring our sorrow and lament before you.

Help heal the wounds inflicted by the conflicts.

Bless all the efforts to promote reconciliation and forgiveness.

Accompany Christians on the Moluccas on the path back to the

time of peaceful coexistence in their villages.

Let them draw hope for the future from this.

We pray for those returning who have lost everything through

their flight.

Give them the strength to overcome the religious conflicts with

their neighbours. Amen.

EVANGELICAL CHRISTIAN CHURCH IN HALMAHERA (GMIH)

PORTRAIT

The Evangelical Christian Church in Halmahera (GMIH) has

its home on the Moluccan islands of Halmahera, Ternate

and Tidore, which have a population of about 500,000 inhab-

itants. Christianity first started in 1521 with the arrival of Por-

tuguese and Spanish traders and Catholic missionaries. At the

start of the Protestant mission in 1866, however, there were no

Catholic Christians any more.

From 1896 to 1915, a strong Christian movement started on

the Molucca islands. During the Japanese occupation in World

War II, missionaries were imprisoned, churches were closed and

there was a ban on public gatherings for parishes. Indigenous

Christians managed to regain approval to hold services and laid

the foundation for an indigenous church which became inde-

pendent in 1949.

In the summer of 1999, the GMIH was faced with enormous

difficulties through the outbreak of ethnic and religious con-

flict on the Moluccan islands. There were major waves of ref-

ugees between 2000 and 2002 and many congregations were

torn apart. Through the extensive reconstruction work that the

church has performed; the parishes have come back to life and

are growing.


The GMIH continues to see its main task in the spiritual and

economic reconstruction of the congregations and carrying

out reconciliation work between Christians and Muslims on the

Moluccan islands. Reconstruction within the church supported

by the EMS has improved communication and synergy at all

levels of church work. The church is increasingly feeling the

growing willingness of congregations to assist the church in

carrying out its duties and to give it financial support. This gives

the church room to organise new programmes, in particular

in the training and further training of full-time and voluntary

co-workers.

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PRAYER

Together with Christians in Indonesia, let us pray.

We pray in the name of God and his son Jesus Christ for our

country of Indonesia and the Minahasa region.

May we succeed in achieving democratic stability and true

religious freedom.

O great God, look upon us and accompany us on the difficult path

of equality and reconciliation. Amen.

EVANGELICAL CHRISTIAN CHURCH IN MINAHASA (GMIM)

PORTRAIT

The Evangelical Christian Church in Minahasa (GMIM) in the

north of the island of Sulawesi is one of the few popular

churches in Indonesia. About 70 percent of the population

in the Minahasa region belongs to it. The GMIM has set the

main points for the entire region with its Christian university,

a hospital and health care centres for the villages, schools and

technical colleges.

The Catholic mission started in the Minahasa region with

the arrival of the Portuguese in the 16th century. Based on the

motto of “cuius regio eius religio”, the Dutch East India Company

(VOC) introduced the region to Protestantism. The missionary

work of the Netherlands Missionary Society started at the begin-

ning of the 19th century. The church gained its independence in

1934. The 800,000 members in more than 800 congregations

are cared for by about 450 male pastors and just under 1,000

female pastors. This ratio which is unusual for Indonesia is the

result of the strong position of women in the traditional cul-

ture of the Minahasa. The factor of gender equality is not only

reflected among the pastors but also in all fields of education.


One focus of the church’s missionary services lies in Christian

upbringing and motivation work for the faith. Besides a theolog-

ical faculty, it also runs a number of institutions for the training

and further training of full-time and mainly voluntary workers.

Partnership in mission for the GMIM means the common search

for ways towards justice and peace. As the majority church in the

region, the GMIM sees its task in anchoring civil and social stan-

dards in the pluralistic Indonesian society on behalf of peaceful

coexistence of all ethnic and religious communities.

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PRAYER

Dear God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for the

Gospel in which we share. You accompany us on our way. Today,

we pray in particular for our country of Indonesia.

Bestow upon the politicians and leaders of religious communities

the insight to develop positive coexistence.

We also ask you in the name of all those among us whose daily life

is arduous and all those who struggle for survival. Advise us and

give us the wisdom for the projects of the Toraja Church.

Bless the women who look after people with handicaps. Give them

the strength and stamina so that they can continue to provide

help for all the people who need it. Amen.

TORAJA CHURCH (GT)

PORTRAIT

About 75 percent of the 370,000 inhabitants living in the

mountainous regions of Toraja in the province of South

Sulawesi are Christians. The origins of the Toraja Church (GT)

date back to an event in May 1913 when 20 Torajans were

baptised by a teacher of the Dutch colonial church for gov-

ernment officials. Today, the church, which has a Presbyterian

and synodal constitution, has about 650,000 members in over

700 parishes.

The Toraja Church (GT) has congregations outside their

core area in various regions and on various islands. The current

unrests and changes in Indonesian society are most clearly felt

by the Toraja Church precisely in these communities. It is highly

committed to sustaining democracy and religious freedom.


On the one hand, the people in the villages of Toraja live deeply

rooted in their rich, ancient culture; on the other hand, the wide

world is encroaching on them through tourism and the media.

Land scarcity, poverty and especially youth unemployment are

an increasing burden on their lives. The church has successfully

campaigned to overcome poverty and for better vocational pros-

pects by expanding the church’s own vocational school and

many training and further training programmes. A major chal-

lenge is social work for disabled persons, which is mainly carried

out voluntarily by the Women’s Fellowship of the GT, because

the amount of work is continuously growing.

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PRAYER

Father in Heaven,

we pray to you through your Son Jesus Christ for health and

wisdom for the leaders of the Toraja Mamasa Church in the

parishes, the deaneries and the Synod, so that they can build the

parishes and really get to know every member of Jesus.

Bless the Toraja Mamasa Church so that it can exist independently

in the field of theology, practical work and financial resources.

Bless the district government of Mamasa so that it can seriously

do something to promote the general welfare of the society in

Mamasa.

Give us the ability to continue occupying the posts in the economy

and politics in Mamasa with church members in future.

In the name of our Lord Jesus. Amen.

TORAJA MAMASA CHURCH (GTM)

PORTRAIT

On 13 October 2013, the Toraja Mamasa Church celebrated

the arrival of the Gospel 100 years ago. The Gospel in

Mamasa was originally spread by the Dutch “Indische Kerk“

(Church of the Dutch Colonial Government). Further missionary

work was supported from 1928 onwards by the Reformed

Church until 7 June 1947 when the Toraja Mamasa Church was

established. Both the “Indische Kerk” and the Reformed Church

used education as a means of evangelisation. The Mamasa par-

ishes were introduced to education, a health care system and

modern agricultural methods through the Gospel.

The members of the Toraja Church originally came from

the Mamasa population in the remote high-lying valley of West

Toraja in West Sulawesi where about 70 percent of them still

live today. Other parishes are located today in South Sulawesi,

in the capital Jakarta and in Palu in Central Sulawesi. The Toraja

Mamasa Church has about 135,000 members, 577 parishes, 65

deaneries and 172 active pastors.


The region of Mamasa became a separate district a few years

ago. Many parish members now work in local government and

have the task of helping to run the affairs of state. The church

sees part of its pastoral care mission to advocate to its members

the path of justice, honesty and transparency and to make this

visible as the basic attitude of a Christian life style.

As the largest religious community in the region, it is aware

of its social responsibility in a society which was roughly intro-

duced to the modern world almost overnight. Youth work and

adult education are areas that will require special attention in

coming years. Dialogue with Muslims continues to be one of

the major tasks to allow reconciliation, stability, security and

prosperity in the region.

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PRAYER

Good God, you are the God of peace and reconciliation. You sent

us your Son Jesus Christ to reconcile the world with you. We want

to accept and pass on your offer of reconciliation. We pray with

and for the people in Nigeria who have experienced immeasurable

suffering in recent years.

Please be a light in the darkness to lead them out of the wilderness

of violence in their country. Especially stand by the widows and

orphans who are the victims of senseless violence in their country.

Amen.

CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN (EYN)

PORTRAIT

The Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (Church of the Brethren

in Nigeria – EYN), which has its home in north-eastern

Nigeria, originated from the missionary work of the US Amer-

ican parent church, the “Church of the Brethren”. The church

which was founded in 1923 has meanwhile about 300,000

members. Since 1959, the Basel Mission, now mission 21, has

also been the partner of the EYN. The “mother church” in

the USA belongs to the traditional peace churches which are

strongly based on Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount and rejects

any use of violence. In recent years, the EYN has rediscovered

this heridaye and adopted it. It currently runs projects, among

others in the fields of inter-faith peace work, education and

village development.


The ongoing violence in Northern Nigeria perpetrated by the

Boko Haram terrorist group (“Western education is a sin”) has hit

the EYN hard. Their facilities are continually bombarded or set on

fire. Family fathers are often brutally murdered before the eyes

of their dependants and the women and girls are kidnapped and

misused. The Nigerian state is apparently incapable of stopping

the violence. But the will to keep faith in the church and the

Christian faith is unbroken among the members of the EYN. As

before, the EYN adheres to its belief in non-violence, although

sometimes they cannot desist from carrying out retaliations.

DAY31

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EM

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THE EMS SECRETARIAT IS AT YOUR SERVICE

� It participates in thinking about the mission of

Jesus Christ today.

� It initiates programmes in member churches

and mission societies.

� It conducts joint projects with members.

� It supports projects of the EMS Fellowship.

� It refers and supervises ecumenical co-workers in

member churches.

� It coordinates and supervises young adults during their

work in the Ecumenical Youth Volunteers Programme.

� It publishes materials for worship services and the spiritual

life of its members.

� It supplies information about the concerns of member

churches and their countries.

� It creates platforms for members all over the world to get

acquainted and share life concerns with each other.

� It assists in campaigns and actions for peace, justice and

preservation of the creation.

� It advertises for donations and funds from the churches.

Evangelical Mission

in Solidarity (EMS)

Vogelsangstr. 62 | 70197 Stuttgart

Phone: +49 711 636 78 -0

Fax: +49 711 636 78 -45

Email: [email protected]

40

Evangelical Mission

in Solidarity (EMS)

Vogelsangstr. 62 | 70197 Stuttgart

Phone: +49 711 636 78 -0

Fax: +49 711 636 78 -45

Email: [email protected]

Donations Account

Evangelische Bank eG

IBAN: DE85 5206 0410 0000 0001 24

BIC: GENODEF1EK1

Visit our website:

WWW.EMS-ONLINE.ORG

Mission moves and connects people beyond

borders - mission moves.

This is the slogan for the 200th anniversary

of the Basel Mission in 2015.

www.missionmoves.org

Documents

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION 2015 - ems-online.org · In 2015, the Evangelical Mission in Solidarity (EMS) has every reason to celebrate: one of its strong roots, the Basel Mission, is