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But at least the December 18 service at GKI church was unmarred by trouble or worry. The 40-piece children's orchestra lit up "O Come All Ye Faithful." Three colorfully dressed wise men came in to illustrate the sermon on the source of wisdom. Pastor Bambang Soetopo said that in Indonesia "wise men" could be translated "weak men."

He asked if his church was wise or weak. "In Indonesia, we have people using magic and the paranormal. Others depend on their riches."

Taking up the theme of Indonesia's economic troubles, the pastor urged his parishioners to not let their economic troubles cause them to lose sight of God and biblical wisdom. "Our economic welfare is not the end of life, but our spiritual welfare is the end of life."

Seeking Reconciliation

Recently, high-ranking Christian and Muslim leaders in government announced a social movement for reconciliation and reconstruction. About 85 percent of Indonesia is Muslim. Christians make up the second largest group among the nation's 220 million people.

Retired army general Monang Siburian told a group of Christian denominational leaders that this Christmas should be focused on "reconciling and forgetting" past wrongs.

"Indonesia cannot be saved by the army. Indonesia cannot be saved by the politicians. The responsibility for saving Indonesia rests with you Christians. You must lead the nation in reconciling and forgetting."

Siburian told churches that the 2004 tsunami had opened up Indonesians to working together, but that the opening would not last very long.

The church needs to reach out to the rest of society with forgiveness, forgetting of past wrongs, and helping the poor. "There will be no more Indonesia without reconciliation and reconstruction," the influential general told the church leaders.

CT also traveled across town to a church in the poor Kamal district. There, Handi Hendrawan led his flock in prayers that Indonesians would be unified.

The congregation is full of kids from the neighborhood because of an after-school program that Compassion International sponsors. Compassion is a church-centered ministry to kids in more than 20 countries headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

The district is a mixture of Muslims, Christians, and non-believers—mostly poor and very troubled. Just down the block from the church, there are dealers selling street drugs.

Pastor Hendrawan says, "God laid on my heart to come here. This program for the children of the poor is a realization of that dream."

Before coming to the church program, each kid was running down a path of no return. Several of them spoke about their lives before joining the after-school program. Yunai was a fragile person when she came. Her teacher recalls, "She was afraid of everything."

Christina felt ashamed and would run away when someone hailed her. Imah wouldn't study or obey her parents. Susi was a "crying girl" who constantly threw tantrums.

Now, the children say that they are "smart," "happy," or "loved like a family member." As their children change, so do the parents. The families are more unified. There is hope for the neighborhood.

Could this be a parable for Indonesia?

So, appropriately, one week before Christmas, the local church rap artist chanted out during the service, "One Day Indonesia will be one."

Tony Carnes, a CT senior writer, is based in New York City.

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December (Web-only) 2005, Vol. 49