Indonesia

Gereja Lutheran Indonesia (GLI) is a sister synod and partner of WELS. It is also a member of the Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference, a global fellowship of Christian believers who are united in doctrine and practice. Members of Gereja Lutheran are very mission-minded and are sharing the gospel with people groups of different languages and cultures across the islands of Indonesia. GLI also helps its members grow in their faith and guides them as they live lives dedicated to Christ. Like WELS, GLI has an active called worker training program which is preparing future pastors and leaders through traditional seminary classes, distance learning, and seminars. GLI also has a thriving children’s ministry, which includes Sunday school programs at various churches and preaching stations, a few preschools, one Lutheran elementary school, and one Lutheran high school. GLI collaborates with WELS representatives from the Asia One Team, Multi-Language Productions, the Pastoral Studies Institute (PSI), Christian Aid and Relief, and Kingdom Workers.

Construction of a new seminary, called Sekolah Tinggi Teologi Lutheran (STTL), began in May 2019 and was completed in 2021. It features classrooms, offices, a chapel and library, a dormitory, dining area, and two small homes for dosens (professors) with room for more houses to be added down the road. It also houses the office for WELS Multi-Language Productions Indonesian employees. Seminary classes are currently being taught both on-campus and virtually by national pastors with some assistance from WELS Friendly Counselor, Greg Bey. He was able to make the first trip to Indonesia since COVID-19 began to attend the GLI Synod Convention in July 2022 and have face-to-face meetings with the outgoing and incoming synodical leadership. The Asia One Team is calling for a full-time pastor for this position which is currently being filled via a quarter-time retirement call.

Fast Facts

  • Baptized members: 1,648
  • Congregations: 29
  • National pastors: 30
  • Vicars: 5
  • Seminary students: 27
  • Lutheran high school students: 45

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Praying for Indonesia

Gracious God and loving Lord: Thank you for all the blessings that you continue to pour out upon the members and ministry of Gereja Lutheran Indonesia (GLI). Thank you especially for providing GLI with a new seminary campus which is staffed primarily by national pastors and church workers. Bless the worker training efforts of GLI. Provide fields of labor for the proclamation of the gospel as the number of qualified men trained for ministry steadily increases. In keeping with your will and timetable, provide GLI with a new WELS Friendly Counselor who can assist the church as it moves forward into the future. In Jesus name, Amen.

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