On 8 September 2024, the Church of the Nazarene celebrated a significant milestone in Indonesia with the organization of Eklesia Church of the Nazarene in Pekanbaru City, North Sumatra. This is the first local Nazarene church in this city. Rev. Stephanus Halawa, Sumatra Pioneer Area Coordinator, and Rev. Yehezkiel, who were instrumental in establishing the mission work in this city, led the church’s organization and pastor installation. They shared the importance of focusing on the mission to spread the gospel and build a strong foundation for the local congregation.
This church was born because Rev. Yehezkiel prayed and discipled Rudi Yohanes. Several years ago, Rudi was a member of the Nazarene church in Weleri, Central Java. He desired to one day support and establish a Nazarene church in Sumatra. When he moved to Sumatra nine years ago, with God’s help, his prayers and desires were answered.
The Eklesia Church of the Nazarene is located in Duri City, Pekanbaru, North Sumatra. Rev. Donal Siahaan and Rev. Erison Simbolon will pastor the congregation. A joint worship was held to celebrate the church’s organization. The COTN Manual was provided to the local church pastors as a symbol that the church is under the auspices and follows the teachings of holiness and government of the Church of the Nazarene.
On another occasion, Rev. Stefanus and Rev. Yehezkiel also taught the pastors and church leaders about the Nazarene Identity. They expect to have continuous training with church leaders to disciple and equip them as they continue working in their community.
Rev. Stefanus expressed his gratitude for God’s work through the church. He said, “We should be grateful to our Lord Jesus Christ that He is the owner of our lives and the holy one continues to work in us, preaching the good news about holiness that is increasingly spreading throughout the world and Indonesia, especially the Sumatra Pioneer area. I am grateful to the Lord Jesus for several of God’s people in Duri who have decided to join as Nazarenes and accept the teachings of holiness after hearing and being taught about the identity of the Nazarene. At the same time, we have also prayed and organized them as God’s people who have joined under the Church Of The Nazarene, and the name of the Church is Eklesia Church Of The Nazarene. We hope our church will continue to be a blessing in the Duri area and its surroundings, as well as in other areas in Sumatra. Please continue to pray that the news of holiness can spread further in other places in Sumatra.”
