(Graphic courtesy of Forgotten Missionaries Int’l)
Indonesia (MNN) — Indonesia is fighting an ISIS incursion. In last week’s annual meeting of police and military leaders, Indonesia’s new President Joko Widodo commanded the forces to uphold national security.
“Intelligence must be strengthened, and on-field data must be made available,” Widodo remarked, as recorded by ANTARA News.
“We should not wait for an incident to occur to act.”
Bruce Allen of Forgotten Missionaries International (FMI) works closely with Indonesian pastors and church planters. FMI comes alongside indigenous believers to foster Gospel growth within Muslim-majority nations.
“There is an uptick of activity, in terms of ISIS trying to recruit people from this area, but as far as the culture as a whole and the government of Indonesia go, they are staunchly anti-Islamic State,” he notes.
“They could be heading for some conflict, between Islamic State and the government, but the government is fairly well-established and would probably come out on top.”
ISIS vs. God’s Word
(Image Wikipedia)
According to AsiaOne.com, 22 terror groups throughout Southeast Asia have pledged allegiance to ISIS. They’re actively disseminating pro-Islamic State propaganda in local dialects.
Indonesia’s Chief Security Minister also revealed last week that ISIS-sympathizers are using Middle East tour programs to join up with jihadists in Iraq and Syria.
“ISIS is doing a really good job using a digital platform in connecting with a new generation; ‘fresh recruits,’ we’ll call them,” Allen observes.
“[National] Christians have long been dealing with issues of persecution, so we just need to be continually praying for their wisdom and discernment, as well as their courage to continue in ministry.”
FMI and the pastors they support are using a dual-purpose tool to combat ISIS expansion in Indonesia: God’s Word.
“Having a Bible in the hands of these congregations–each member, or each family, at least–is really crucial,” says Allen.
Despite the risk of being burned alive by or severely beaten by the families, Muslim-background believers are courageously sharing their faith in Indonesia. But, Allen says, they need some help growing in their faith and enduring persecution.
“The pastor may have his Bible, but a lot of the members of the congregations themselves do not have access to Bibles,” he shares. As such, believers can’t feed themselves daily on God’s Word or find the assurance so desperately needed when facing trials and hardships.
As minorities in a Muslim-dominant society, many Christian congregations in Indonesia have long encountered discrimination and persecution. but, these issues may intensify in coming months as the threat
of ISIS grows across southeast Asia.
(Photo, caption courtesy of FMI)
By clicking here and selecting “Tangible Resources,” you can help FMI send more Bibles to their contacts in Indonesia.
You can also help by sponsoring a national pastor.
“It takes a long time for a church to support its own pastor,” Allen shares. “If we can come alongside these pastors to empower them, keep them in ministry…that’s a big help for our brothers and sisters in these countries.”
