Cahaya Suku, Indonesia
Cahaya Suku (“Light to the Peoples”) is one of the largest Indonesian church-planting initiatives aimed at ministry to unreached Muslims. With a vision to see all of Indonesia reached with the Gospel, Cahaya Suku assists in forming independent regional ministries that are proclaiming the Good News among the unreached and planting reproducing contextual house churches. Partners has been working with Cahaya Suku since 1999. At that time, 90 percent of Indonesians sent as church planters to Muslim communities quit within the first five years due to isolation, persecution, burnout, and lack of results. Together, we have created a ministry model that not only stems the attrition of key workers, but it has become a proven successful model for Muslim church planting.
Cahaya Suku (“Light to the Peoples”) is one of the largest Indonesian church-planting initiatives aimed at ministry to unreached Muslims. With a vision to see all of Indonesia reached with the Gospel, Cahaya Suku assists in forming independent regional ministries that are proclaiming the Good News among the unreached and planting reproducing contextual house churches. Partners has been working with Cahaya Suku since 1999. At that time, 90 percent of Indonesians sent as church planters to Muslim communities quit within the first five years due to isolation, persecution, burnout, and lack of results. Together, we have created a ministry model that not only stems the attrition of key workers, but it has become a proven successful model for Muslim church planting.
Indonesia is the world’s fourth largest country with more than 254 million people. It is also one of the most diverse with more than 750 distinct people groups. Sadly, 130 of these groups are highly unreached with few, if any, Christians. Though 80% of Indonesians identify themselves as Muslim, many live in superstition and fear that is rooted in ancient animistic beliefs.
One of the major challenges in reaching Indonesia’s Muslims is not theological, but sociological. Many seekers fear they will have to abandon their treasured cultural traditions and family bonds in order to follow Christ. Geography is also an obstacle as Indonesia spans 17,500 islands. Despite the challenges and though it is still a tiny minority, the Indonesian Church is strong and committed, and believers are taking an increasingly active role in winning their countrymen to the Savior.
LEADERSHIP
Domu
Never Give Up
July 20, 2017
I’m thankful that after a four-month break for studies, the Lord enabled me to return to work with Cahaya Suku ministry on one Indonesian island. During the Muslim month of…
As if we had met before . . .
July 6, 2017
I was riding my motorcycle around my city when I saw someone having a rest in a repair shop. I stopped and greeted this person. I asked him to check…
Glasses salesman meets friendly farmer
June 29, 2017
Every day Kanto*, a new church planter working with a Cahaya Suku team in Western Indonesia, goes out by motorbike to sell glasses. His real reason is to meet people…
Church Planting: Cahaya Suku
February 13, 2017
Last year our Cahaya Suku church planters reached thousands of people and hundreds of these accepted Christ. From these new believers, many have also been baptized. We have continued planting…
The church planter who wouldn’t give up
January 12, 2017
Who can change the heart of an individual other than the Creator of life Himself? Afief*, a 28-year-old man from one of the Indonesian islands, was a man of bad…
Indonesian women embrace servant leadership
December 15, 2016
Our Indonesian culture is strongly influenced by values rooted in animistic beliefs. Those beliefs teach that being leaders is the right of only a few people endowed with a certain…
Lives Transformed by God
November 8, 2016
Emas’s Story An island in Indonesia is rich in asphalt and has a population of about 500,000. There’s only a small number of believers in this island because 99% of…
Empowering Women
October 24, 2016
By the grace of God, our women’s ministry is growing. These women have a Bible study group, counseling group, member care program and various trainings. Currently we have over a…
Indonesia Church Planters Initiate Weaver Group
October 13, 2016
Last year Indonesian church planters worked together with our partners from our Indonesian Literacy Network (village libraries) to provide a building for a kindergarten in a village. It was the…
Sponsor a Child: R
September 24, 2016
R is a high school student. Her father was a scavenger who collects garbage that can be sold such as paper, cans, iron and plastic. This job didn’t make much…
Jim Vollmer
For two consecutive mornings, I awakened with the words “Cahaya Suku” on my mind…even on my lips. And so…Father in heaven, from whom our help comes from, I ask that You pour out a blessing on this ministry, even as they are sent out as a light to the people, even as they are sent forth by the Light of the World into the dying and dark places of the hearts of man. Breath of God, refresh those whom You have appointed for this time of reaping in Indonesia and prepare their hearts for an even greater harvest than their storehouses may be ready for. Bring to remembrance even the smallest appearance of this being someone’s ministry other than Your very own. Let the honor and esteem be Yours always, for we are but dust. May Your amazing love love abound yet more and more in knowledge of Your plans for Cahaya Suku, as they act as your agent in helping preserve all that love You. Amen.