Indonesia

Gereja Lutheran Indonesia (GLI) is a sister church of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS). It is also a member of the Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference (CELC) – a global fellowship of Christian believers who are united in doctrine and practice. Members of Gereja Lutheran have a wonderful evangelical spirit and are sharing the Word with various linguistic and ethnic groups spread across the archipelago. GLI is also concerned about nurturing its members by helping them to “grow in the grace and knowledge of their Lord” and guiding them in sanctified Christian living. Like WELS, GLI has an active worker training program which is preparing future ministers and leaders. In addition to traditional seminary-style classes, distance learning courses, and seminars are also being used. Under God’s grace, GLI’s ministry efforts also include collaborating with WELS representatives from the Asia-Pacific Rim Administrative Committee, Multi-Language Publications, Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, and Kingdom Workers. Learn more about WELS mission history in Indonesia.

Mission Updates

Groundbreaking for a new seminary facility for Gereja Lutheran Indonesia (GLI), WELS’ sister church in Indonesia, took place in May 2019. This will replace the current seminary, which is on the island of Java. The new location will offer many advantages, including a sense of stability and permanence for GLI and space for the students and professors to live on campus. Currently students commute back and forth from the dorm to the seminary classrooms, and the professors rent places to live. The local community and its government officials have approved this new building project, and we pray construction will be completed in the next two years. Almost all seminary classes at Sekolah Tinggi Teologi Lutheran (STTL) are taught by national pastors, with Professor Gregory Bey being the only full-time foreign professor.

Mission statistics

Baptized nationals: 1,240
National pastors and evangelists: 25
Seminary students: 10
Congregations/Preaching Stations: 29