Adventist History in Indonesia: 1912, First Java SDA Church. in Batavia (Jakarta)

1912, First Java SDA Church. in Batavia (Jakarta) 

The Missionary Worker, January 13, 1913, page 5

Java

ON my arrival at Batavia, West Java, there were nine awaiting baptism. This interest had aroused such anger among some in the vicinity that they urged the authorities to expel .our mission from the suburb in which it is located. Sister P. Tunheim, our missionary there, had removed the mission to that quarter of the town, not knowing that it did not belong to the city of Batavia. The government of Java will allow our denomination to work only in the three large cities of Java,, which are Batavia, Samarang, and Surabaya.

After baptizing these believers in the calm and glassy Java Sea, we organized the first Java Seventh-Day Adventist church, at Batavia, with twenty-seven members. This is another evidence-that the Third Angel's Message is making victories and planting the standard of truth in new territory.

As members of ;the-church there are Amboynese, Sundanese, Battaks, Chinese, Eurasians, Dutch, and Norwegians. Truly is the prophecy being rapidly fulfilled that from every nation, kindred, tongue, and people will be the gathering out of the remnant people of God. It is a blessed privilege to have part in the closing work, even if it goes very hard at times, especially in some places. And while our brethren at home may not understand the situation and difficulties in these Mohammedan countries, the Lord of the vineyard does. "We need the prayers of our people as well as their financial support.

Sister Tunheim has been instructing these native converts, and several are already doing faithful work, in finding other interested ones. In order that there should be system and proper reporting, we had some report forms printed in the Malay language, and all the labourers are to appear at the mission house every morning at a certain hour, then spread out over the city, working systematically. Thus with organization, order, and the Spirit of Christ, we are of good courage, believing that the work will prosper here in Java.

G. F. JONES.

Adventist History in Indonesia: 1909 Report, Anniversary Edition of the Review and Herald

Review and Herald, June 16, 1910, page 43

The Australasian Union Conference

The strong conferences in Australia and New Zealand constitute the base of operations for our work among the forty million in the South Sea Islands and the East Indies.

" Australasia's burden” is the phrase by which our Australasia brethren voice this sacred responsibility. The school at Avondale, near Sydney, and the Sydney Sanitarium and nurses’ school, are their leading training centers. Elder J.E. Fulton, president of the union conference, says that 1909 was “another year of victory.”

From various reports we give a brief outline of the year's advance.

East Indies Java Mission

WITH its thirty-two millions, this island has had very little missionary effort. Many years ago a godly Dutch missionary, Mr. Janz, translated the bible into Javanese. His daughter carried forward a work after his death, and for some years has been an observer of the Sabbath. Elder Fulton says:

Just about the beginning of 1909, Miss Janz gave to us the oversight of her little colony of two hundred persons. Three of our workers are now located at this place. We hope that some of the young men who have learned of the religion of Jesus through her efforts will carry the message to other parts of this great field.

Small leaflets are to be printed in the many languages spoken in Java, so that our native laborers will have a tract for every man they meet. Elder R. W. Munson has returned to Java from Australia, to work in translating, settling at Soekaboemi. Elder J.W. Hofstra, of Michigan, who speaks the Dutch, the government language, arrived this year. He will doubtless locate near the Soember Wekas health home. Here in the mountains will be our Java headquarters. Two other workers were also added, Brother Woods, a trained nurse, and Miss Knight, a Bible worker. The centers of our work are Batavia, Surabaya, Soember Wekas, and Pangoensen.

Sumatra Mission

Sumatra has three millions of people ; and we have there three workers. Brother Bernard Judge gives us a glimpse of the complex conditions : —

As there are many different nationalities of the Caucasian race, so there are many subdivisions of the Malay race. In Padang we have the Malay proper, some Battaks from north Sumatra, and the Nias from the islands of Nias and Paga. The inhabitants of Paga, a few months ago, literally hacked to pieces one of the German missionaries stationed there. This was brought about by the missionary calling for some, soldiers from the government, and then using them to compel the natives to attend his meetings.

The Chinese are well represented. There are two classes, the immigrant Chinese, who speak Hokkien or some other Chinese dialect, and those who are born here of Chinese fathers and Malay mothers. These speak Malay as their mother tongue, and are called Babas.

We have two Chinese sisters in Padang, faithful believers, from the days of Elder R. W. Munson's former labors here. A young Battak, in the Singapore school, is preparing publications for his people in Battakland (northern Sumatra), where, during the year, there has been considerable stir over the message. The laws prohibit any of our white missionaries going there, but out of the agitation and by the use of literature, we expect to see the truths for these last days making progress. The workers are studying Malay.

Adventist History in Indonesia: Youngberg Reports on Central Sumatra

(BATAKLAND) 

G. B. YOUNGBERG 

(Synopsis of report rendered during the 
Malaysian Union biennial session, Singa- 
pore, S. S., concerning mission wort: among 
the Bataks of Central Sumatra, where Pastor 
and Mrs. Dallas S. Kime have labored for 
some years ) 

WITH praise and grateful thanks 
to God, we bring to the members of 
this conference the greetings of our 
believers in Batakland. " The Lord 
hath done great things for us, Where- 
of we are glad." 

As you all know, our Brother D. 
S. Kime should be here before you 
today. We can scarcely realize 
what a pleasure it would have been 
to him to present this report; but 
because of the serious illness of Sister 
Kime, they were obliged to leave us 
for a little season. However, we 
have gleaned a few facts and inci- 
dents from the field. 

During the past seven years we 
have been hedged about in Batakland 
by restrictions and opposition of 
many kinds. We were not allowed 
to hold religious services; the ordi- 
nances of baptism and of the Lord's 
house have been forbidden. Only 
the Master of the vineyard knows 
what trials and sorrows have been 
borne by Brother and Sister Kime 
and our brethren in Batakland; how 
in fear and trembling they have held 
on to that school and medical work 
in the face of circumstances that 
would have tried the mettle of the 
strongest. In darkness often, and 
with tears, they sowed the seed and 
laid the foundations for a blessed 
harvest now waiting to be gathered. 

The efforts of our believers and 
friends to obtain religious liberty 
seemed to have the effect of Moses' 
first visits to the king of Egypt. .The 
burdens grow heavier and the way 
more difficult, and three years ago 
we were told by a very high Govern- 
ment official that, " were we to camp 
in Sipogoe till the crack of doom, we 
should never have liberty, — Never!" 

Two years ago, a petition was 
sent to the officials in Batavia asking 
that we be given religious freedom. 
This was signed by 800 persons, most 
of them being Mohammedans, and 
many of them persons of influence. 
This called down a storm of protest, 
and even caused trouble for our 
people in Europe. The middle of 
last January we received the answer 
to that same petition, granting all 
that was asked for; and the notifica- 
tion was not only sent to Brother 
Kime in Sipogoe, but also to many 
heads of villages in that secticn, as- 
suring them that our mission had 
been granted freedom to carry on 
our work of preaching the gospel, 

During the past two years, im- 
provements in the school buildings 
have been made. A very nice dor- 
mitory for girls has been erected. 
A prosperous work has been begun 
in other districts. In one new place 
we now have a Sabbath school of 
thirty members, and several are 
calling for baptism. There is also 
a growing work in the Sipirok dis- 
trict Interests are springing up in 
many other places. 

About three years ago a delega- 
tion came to us from some villages 
in the Lake Toba district. They 
came from an out-of-the-way place, 
off the regular line of travel, and 
represented a group of villages that 
had not yet been touched by Christ- 
ian influence. They begged that 
some one be sent to teach them the 
way to God. Several in those vil- 
lages have learned enough of Bible 
truth to be keeping the Sabbath. 
How the seed was sown we cannot 
guess, but a rich harvest is waiting. 

In 1927 a short but successful col- 
porteur campaign was conducted, 
$800 (gold) worth of Batak books 
being sold within a few weeks. 

The hour of God's opportunity 
has struck in Batakland. The eyes 
of the brethren there are fixed on 
their brethren of the Malayan Union. 
May God by His Holy Spirit give us 
the right answer to their insistent 
pleas for spiritual help. 

Adventist History in Indonesia: 1906, Thoughts on Development

Australasian Union Conference Record, October 1, 1906, pages 9, 10.

AUSTRALASIAN UNION CONFERENCE. SECOND MEETING.

SEPTEMBER 14, 1906, 3:30 P. M.

AFTER singing, prayer was offered by J. Pallant.
E. H. Gates gave a general report of the Island mission
work for the past three years, as follows :—

... Though the people of those countries are addicted
to health-destroying dietetic habits, a real interest is
shown in our health foods. In Singapore and in the
Malay Peninsula a large number of subscriptions have
been obtained for the Good Health, and the health food
sales at our store are on the increase. We know person
ally of individuals not of our faith who have made im
portant reformations in their habits of living as the
result of the teachings in our health literature. Treat
ment rooms fairly well equipped have been opened in
the city, and are reasonably well patronised. There
is no good reason that the health work should not be
come an important factor in pioneering the last message
in thousands of homes in Malaysia.

The time will probably soon come when a sanitarium
will be a necessity at some point near Singapore. Some
wealthy and influential men have already shown an
interest in this enterprise. The premier of the State of
Johore, on the Asiatic side of the strait north of Singa
pore, has given us encouragement that land will be given
for sanitarium purposes. Probably in no other place
are our God-given health principles more needed than
in those countries.

Our two canvassers who have worked in the East
Indian field have had excellent success. A large number
of the " Desire of Ages " and " Daniel and Revelation "
have been placed in the hands of not only English people,
but of Chinese, Eurasians, and Malays, who are able to
read English,—Catholics as well as Protestants.

Our little tract on the second advent, translated into
Malay, sells readily, and will do its part in preparing
the way for the Lord's coming. An anti-opium tract
has also been put into Malay, and is now called for in
Chinese. The book "Christ Our Saviour," is being
translated into Baba Malay, and will soon be ready for
the printer.

That the dissemination of our literature among the
swarming millions of the East is to be the chief means
of giving those peoples the last message, can not for a
moment be doubted when we get a close view of the
conditions which obtain there. To learn the numerous
dialects of these congested regions so that the living
preacher may be able to give the message by word of
mouth is an impossibility unless the Lord bestows
the gift of tongues. Again, in the Dutch East Indies,
to proselyte among the Mohammedans is at present
forbidden by law; but there is no law to forbid the
circulation of religious literature.

By means of our little army of canvassers, we can
quickly carry the printed page through those vast re-
gions. So important does this work seem, that the
Union Conference Committee is seriously planning to
establish a printing plant in or near Singapore as soon
as the man can be found to take charge of it. The
chairman of the General Conference Publishing De
partment has just written us, asking counsel as to the
advisability of that body starting a printing office in
Singapore, where literature can be produced for the
millions of heathen in China, Japan, Korea, and the
surrounding regions. We hope that by a union of the
two conferences a well equipped printing plant may be
established in that important centre. God has spoken,
saying that our literature should fall everywhere like
the leaves of autumn. Is it not safe to heed His word ?

Among the most important needs of Singapore at
the present moment are a church edifice of our own,
and an industrial school in the country in connection
with the printing office. It is impossible to rent such a
house as we need for church purposes.

A piece of ground in a central and eminently respect
able part of the city, is offered us for sale, andit would seem
to be the part of wisdom to secure it, though the price is
high. This will, of course, call for a further expenditure
for a church building. May we not look to our Sabbath-
schools for financial help in securing a church building
where the message may be faithfully declared in that
large city ?

A school is another imperative necessity in the
same place. Though no effort was made to start a
school, we have already about twenty children and
youth in the little school that was begun several months
ago. This is conducted by Sister Jones, who is already
over-worked, assisted by a young Chinese sister who
accepted the truth early this year. The children in this
school are Chinese, Eurasians, English, and Javanese.
The present location of the school is in the mission house
in the heart of the city. The Spirit of Prophecy has in
structed us to locate our schools in the country. This
will call for land and buildings, and a teacher who can
give all her time to the school work.

Our superintendent in the field is negotiating for a
piece of land outside of the city. A Mohammedan
has already offered us fifteen acres of land free of cost
for school purposes....

Observations 

The underlined highlighted sections demonstrate the role of Ellen White's counsel in the development of mission work. 

This exerpt provides a view of the thinking behind the actions so necessary for solid development of Adventist work: Worship, publishing, health, and education. 

Adventist History in Indonesia: 1902, An Interesting Baptism

Australasian Union Record, July 1, 1902, page 6.

REPORTS FROM THE FIELD.

AN INTERESTING BAPTISM.

AT the time of my second visit to Singapore I
received a letter from Brother Anderson, of Hong Kong,
China, telling me that a soldier in the British Army who
had learned the truth from Brother La Rue, had been
transferred to Singapore, and asking me to look him up.
I at once went to the fort, and without difficulty found
him. He had for some time desired baptism ; but as
there was no ordained minister in Hong Kong at the
time of his departure, he had not had that privilege.

Becoming satisfied of his fitness for baptism, March
9 was appointed as the time for the ordinance to be ad
ministered. On that day, Elder Munson, of Sumatra,
the young man, and myself drove out into the country a
few miles to a quiet spot on the beach. After preparing
to enter the water, we sat down under some cocoanut
trees and read from the Bible, talked with the brother of
the important step he was taking, after which Elder
Munson offered a fervent prayer for God's blessing on
what we were about to do. . Then I led the brother down
into the water and buried him beneath the waves of the
China Sea. No person witnessed the scene except one
solitary Malay who happened to be near ; but we were
certain God's angels were near with their gentle pre
sence, which we felt in a marked manner.

The blessing we received was worth more than all
the wealth of Asia.

On one side of us, and at but a little distance, was a
British fortification, where this brother had for several
years trained for service as a soldier of the Queen ; while
on the other side, in the roadstead, a mile or two away,
was the large United States man-of-war Brooklyn, which
had just come into port. But we enjoyed peace, though
seeing on all sides the instruments of war.

E. H. GATES.

Adventist History in Indonesia: 1901, "Malaysia" Mission, Excerpts from Munson's Letters

Australasian Union Conference Record, October 1, 1901, page 3

Malaysia Mission.

At our late Union Conference it was recommended that the East India Islands be visited at an early date for the purpose of gathering information preparatory to opening up missions in that field.

Up to the present time we have had but one mis sionary among the millions of Malaysia. Nine years ago there was one Sabbath-keeper in Pelew Island, a small island between the Philippines and the Carolines ; but of late nothing has been heard from him. More than a year and a half ago, Elder R. W. Munson, from America, landed in Sumatra and began work for the Chinese. For a number of years previous to his acceptance of the present truth, Brother Munson had been connected with the Methodist Mission in East India, but was obliged, on account of failing health, to return home.

Soon after accepting the Sabbath truth, and with health in a measure restored, he decided to return to his former field of labor. Locating in Padang, Sumatra, he at once opened a school for Chinese children and youth, and soon had an enrollment of fifty or more. Before the close of the first year he had an income from the students of £10 per month.

In a letter written about the first of the present year, Brother Munson wrote,—

Our work is moving forward. I have baptised the heads of two families (Chinese), and another is asking for baptism. This will bring, or has brought, twenty Chinese people, most of them young, under our influence and instruction.

It seems good at this time, when China is torn with internal strife and threatened with war, that thousands of the natives of this great empire are permitted to hear the news of Christ's second coming, in a place of comparative peace, though just on the borders of China.

May we not reasonably hope that some of these converts will carry the good news to their brethren in the home land ?

In the same letter, Brother Munson tells of another fine location on Sumatra for a mission. He says,—

At Medan, in Deli, in north-east Sumatra, there are 8,000 Chinese, and there they use only English. There are many English there, and an English school and mission would just gloriously flourish if I had a good man and wife to start it. I can hardly sleep at night for thinking and praying about this place. It is a rich lode that will pan out heavy and bring us close to Singapore and Penang. Could Australia send us help? They would be self-supporting almost from the start.

We are hopeful that Australia will be able soon to send a teacher to that field. It would seem that we ought not to let such an opportunity slip out of our hands.

At the beginning of this year, Brother Munson decided if we could give him some financial help, that he would print a series of small tracts in the Malay lan guage. Our Polynesian Committee responded by appropriating £60 for that work. The printing of these tracts will be done at Padang.

In a letter, written April 30, Brother Munson says,—

It is a fine field, and unoccupied by any missionary society We must enter it. I am holding on to God for Medan (Deli) I am ordering one hundred Bible Readings (Dutch) from Sydney. Am going to sell them here in Sumatra, the Lord helping.

About a week ago I received another letter from Elder Munson under date of July 29, in which he says,—

Your letter brings me the good news that £60 had been voted. My heart was made very glad by this news, and I am working hard on my first tract, and it will soon be ready for the press. I shall rush the tract work along as fast as I can.

Feeling the need of a hymn book for the native converts, Brother Munson is preparing a small collection of hymns in the Malay language, because, as he says,—

Our native Christians, as well as casual hearers, can have pre sent truth sung into their hearts more quickly perhaps than it could be preached to them.

Speaking of the present progress of the message, he says,—

On July 6, my birthday, I had the joy of baptising eight adult Chinese, five men and three women. They are all, with one possible exception, the clearest possible cases. They give good evidence of the new birth, and are learning to rely upon God in time of need. They have some very clear, and, in some cases, remark able answers to prayer. When listening to the Word tears fill their eyes, and their lives bring forth the fruit of the Spirit. Counting the wives and children of those baptised, all of whom will follow their husbands and fathers, we have already a community of thirty- eight. There are others who are inquiring, and who will surely believe and be baptised. I have ordered some machinery from America, and am going to begin the manufacture of spiral and coiled wire mattrasses. There are none here, and I know I can work up a good business in them, and thus furnish employment to our native brethren and their older boys. I am thinking seriously, too, of getting a small printing press. We could use it to good advantage in our work. I am holding on to God for £2,000 and more workers to push the message in Sumatra. Help me pray, Brother Gates. I am very glad your interest in this field is of so lively a nature as to lead you to plan a visit to Sumatra. How glad we shall be to see you, and I feel sure you will agree with me that this is a very interesting, promising, and important field. Don't fail to hurry the tract money along.

For some months we have been trying to get a list of names of people in the East Indies in order that we might furnish them with literature.

In answer to my request, the United States Consul at Batavia, Java, sent a small list of names of men in that place. These are of different nationalities,—Dutch, English, French, and German. To these we have sent health and temperance literature, and publications bearing on the great events of prophecy now fulfilling. As fast as we can obtain names we expect that the secretary of the newly-formed mission committee will send out our precious literature to all parts of that populous but benighted field.

The late Testimony for the Church (T6, p. 18???) tells us,—

Now, just now, is our time to work in foreign countries. There is special power in the presentation of the truth at the present time; but how long will it continue? Only a little while. If there ever was a crisis it is now. While the angels hold the four winds, we are to work with all our capabilities. We must bear our message without any delay.

If the Lord is willing, I expect soon to take a trip to the East Indies, for the purpose of studying the field, circulating literature, and securing names for missionary purposes. The route selected will enable me to stop at New Britain, different points on New Guinea, Amboina, the Celebes, Java, Singapore, Sumatra, and the Philip pines. On the return trip I will be able to stop at the Caroline Island group.

May the Lord guide in these matters to His own glory.

E. H. GATES.

Adventist History in Indonesia: From Sumatra to Australia

Australasian Union Record, October 1, 1905, page 2

WHEN it was decided that we should leave Padang in time to attend the Union Conference Coun cil, it appeared .to me desirable that I should visit the Metawfe Islands oft the west -coast of Sumatra, and the Kisam country in the highlands of south Sumatra, in order to spy out this land with a view to mission work. Our youngest son, Paul, had typhoid fever in April, and the Dutch doctor advised us to bring him to a colder climate. So after visiting the regions indicated above, we began our preparations to leave.

At our last service and at the wharf there was more or less weeping and many sad countenances, for we loved those dear people, and they undoubtedly reciprocated our affection. Some that had been out of the way had returned, and during the celebration of the ordinances on the Sabbath, the day before our departure, they manifested a real spirit of humility and true repentance.

They promised me that they would meet and worship regularly at the home of Sister Anna every Sabbath day, and I in turn promised that we would write to them, pray for them, and do our utmost to persuade the committee to send some one back to take our place.

Accordingly we left Padang, July 23, by the Royal Steam Packet Company's ship, and reached Batavia on the 26th, where we were most kindly and hospitably entertained by the American Consul, Mr. B. S. Rairden, and his wife for ten days in their beautiful home.

While waiting here we received cheering letters from all the brethren in Singapore. These made our hearts glad, for they informed us of old friends (Chinese) who were coming into the truth and keeping the Sabbath.

On August 6 we left Batavia, aboard the 5. S. Gutkrit, which was so filled that we had to be content with one cabin (three berths) and two berths at the rear end of the saloon. When it was known who and what we were, we were subjected to some unpleasant treatment by some of the passengers, but we bore it quietly. At Thursday Island we took on more passengers who had reserved cabins, and among them was a gentleman and his wife who were in sympathy with missionary effort. From there on our journey was more pleasant. There was so much hostility manifested that we could do little or nothing in the way of distributing literature.

One gentleman who got on at Thursday Island knew Brother Gates very well, having .travelled with him on a .voyage to Fiji or Tahiti as cabin passenger. He was a very intelligent, fair-minded man. He reads Good -Health, and some times patronises our cafe in Sydney. He criticised some of the missionaries he had known because of their extravagant manner of life and their indolence in their work, but so far as I could determine, he seemed in sympathy with our manner of work.

Most of the way we had fair weather, but between Port Dar win—which we reached one week after leaving Batavia—and Thurs day Island, it was a bit rough, and three days out of Brisbane we had a very bad time of it. The ship pitched about so that I myself was very sick and could eat nothing scarcely. Fortunately the rest of the family were not sick.

At Brisbane Brother and Sister Quinn and Brother Mills came down to welcome us to Australia, and we were right glad to see them. It cheered our hearts to look into their faces, and we were most grateful to them for their kindness and consideration in coming so far (for we were lying far down the river) to see us after dark.

I had planned, should we arrive there by daylight, to go up town and look them up. Being night (we got in just at dusk) I knew that it would be difficult to find them, and in the event of their coming down, I should miss them. The result proved the wisdom of my course.

From these brethren we learned when and where the Australasian Union Conference Council would meet. Mrs. G—, who got on at Thursday Island and who is a Christian, joined me in praying that God would give us fair weather for the rest of the journey (we were both very sick), and so were not surprised to have our desires realised. But it is just like the Lord to give double measure; we had not only fair weather but also favoring winds' and tides. The first full day's run, showed sixteen knots more distance covered than the record in the engine room.

Thus favored, we made the run from Brisbane to Watson's Bay, Sydney, in forty-three hours. On Sunday morning at half past eight the doctor came aboard and passed us, and by nine we were making fast to Circular Quay.

Brother Ward and Sister Graham met us, and the former escorted us to the Wahroonga Sanitarium where we were cordially- welcomed by our old friends the Doctors Kress, and by Brother and Sister Starr and Sister Walker.

On Tuesday we went on to Avon- dale, where our two eldest children have been at school the past year. It was a happy reunion, and our hearts were made glad to see the improvement made by them during the past twelve months. We owe a deep debt of gratitude to all concerned for their kindness to us and our children, particularly to those in charge of the School.

Our highest ideals are realised in the Avondale School, and we can heartily recommend the institution to all our people. We desire the prayers of all God's dear children that our stay in Australia may be profit able to us and to the cause. Pray also for the Chinese brethren and sisters at Padang, whom we were obliged to leave without any pastoral oversight. We hope ere long to see some one on his way there to take up the work.

R. W. MUNSON

Adventist History in Indonesia: Brother Immanuel the Battak

September 15, 1905, page 6 

ABOUT a month before we left 
Padang I was sitting one Sunday in 
my home, reading, when a Malay 
entered, and introduced himself as a 
Christian Battak. I was very glad 
to see him, and gave him a cordial 
welcome, for I had long been deeply 
interested in the work done by the 
Barmen Mission in the uplands of 
North Sumatra, the land of the 
cannibal Battaks. 

In the course of our conversation 
it soon became necessary for me to 
allude to the fact that we were Sab 
bath-keepers, and I went on very 
briefly to state the Scriptural reasons. 

This young man, Immanuel by 
name, is the son of the oldest senior 
Battak minister, and has graduated 
from King's College, in the Battak 
country. When I gave him Bible 
studies on Daniel 2 and 7, he quickly 
comprehended all I said about the 
history of Babylon and the other 
three kingdoms. He can read 
music, and used to sit for hours at a 
time playing sacred music. Just 
before we left, he told me that when 
he first called, he came with the ob 
ject of convincing me that Sunday 
was the Sabbath. It seems the 
German missionary had told him 
we "keep Saturday like the jews;" 
but when he heard the fourth com 
mandment and studied other texts, 
his mouth was closed. 

We had many earnest talks and 
some Bible studies together, until 
he came to love us, and seemed very 
sad at our leaving. He said to me, 
" Why do you go away now, just as 
I am getting interested in these 
great questions? Will you not stop 
here and teach me more concerning 
them? I want to know the truth, 
and mean to obey it, but I have not 
had sufficient time fully to consider 
these subjects. They seem to be 
true. I have sent for my Battak 
Bible, and want to read these proof- 
texts in my mother tongue before 
finally deciding. If I do become a 
Sabbath-keeper, I shall go back 
among my people and tell them the 
truth." 

I gave him a copy of "Bible 
Readings" in Dutch, as he knows 
some Dutch, and can follow the line 
of argument with his Battak Bible. 

He is a most promising young man 
about the age of .twenty-four, and is 
already educated. He only needs to 
have the truth instilled into.his mind 
thoroughly:—to /.make. ':Mm , a ..most 
efficient worker. The conditions are 
such that European missionaries can 
not enter the places where the Bar 
men Mission is strong, for opposition 
would set in ; and without the con 
sent of the Mission, the government 
would not give us permission to carry 
the third angel's message to the 
60,000 Battack Christians in North 
Sumatra. Immanuel, however, can 
take the message, and nobody can 
hinder him. 

The providences that brought him 
to Padang against the advice and 
counsel of his father and the mission 
aries, are remarkable. He felt he 
must come. He enteied a printing 
office to assist in printing a Battak 
newspaper. I told him that the 
Lord bad brought him there to show 
him the truth. 

Pray for Immanuel that he may 
be kept faithful and rejoice in the 
fulness of the light of truth. 

R. W. MUNSON. 

Adventist History in Indonesia: Chronology of R. W. Munson

Chronology of R. W. Munson 

For a number of years previous to his acceptance of the present truth, Brother Munson had been connected with the Methodist Mission in East India, but was obliged, on account of failing health, to return home. 

Soon after accepting the Sabbath 'truth, and with health in a measure restored, he decided to return to his former field of labor. Locating in Padang, Sumatra, he at once opened a school for Chinese children and youth, and soon had an enrollment of fifty or more. Before the close of the first year he had an income from the students of £10 per month. 

Birthday, July 6. 

1893

R. W. Munson opened a home for orphans in Singapore.

1899

November 11, R. W. Munson leaves New York for Padang, Sumatra to work among the Chinese there. They meet Tay Hong Siang, one of the first three boys to be admitted to the Singapore orphanage, now working in Padang. Tay and his wife and baby come to live and work with the Munson family. Tay has already found one Chinese man was has accepted the Gospel and has already begun keeping the Sabbath.

1900

Munson begins an English language school in Padang. He calls it a mission school, "pure and simple".
December 1, The Australasian Union Record presents a major mission study of what was then called Malaysia by R. W. Munson

1902

E.H. Gates visits with Munson. They travel to Deli, Penang, and other places. They seek to extend the work.

First publication in the Malay language issued by Munson of Padang, Sumatra; a thirty-two page publication on the signs of the times and coming of the Lord.

Miss MARCELIA WALKER, a trained nurse, sailed from New York, November 15, for Padang, Sumatra, where she will join Elder and Mrs. R. W. Munson in their work.

1904

Munson calls for the building of a church in order to add a sense of permanence to the work in Padang.

1905

Oldest son sick with Typhoid. Munson and family leave Sumatra for Australia. No one to take his place.

1908

Union Conference Committee

1909

R. W. Munson returns to Java from Australia as a translator at Soekaboemi
Miss Janz gives "to us oversight of her little colony of two hundred persons."

1910

The Malay Messenger of Truth Begins

Adventist History in Indonesia: A Building Church for Sumatra

Australasian Union Record, September 1, 1904, page 8

THE special Sabbath-school do-
nation for Sabbath, September 24,
is to be given toward a much needed
church building in Sumatra. Please
read the following description of the
situation there by Pastor Munson,
and let your donations on that day
be liberal.

A Church Building for Sumatra.

WE have reached a point where it
becomes necessary to erect a small
house of worship with rooms attached
for our native preacher. It is im
portant that we have a visible, tan
gible sign of our permanence and
stability. There are a number of
Chinese people who are interested,
and who would like to join us, but
who are greatly troubled with a fear
that we may some day get up and
leave them without any pastoral
oversight and nobody to bury them.
This is a very serious question with
every Chinaman. They invariably
ask, " If I die, who will bury me ? "
" If we become Christians, will the
work be permanent ? "

Sister Sarah, who is seventy-five,
or nearly that, of whom I spoke in
my last report, said to Mrs. Munson
not long since, " I used often to ask
myself, ' If I die, who will carry me to
my burial ? ' But now, when I see
all these Singke brothers coming to
our services, and interested in the
gospel, I say, ' Ah, these are the men
who will help to bury me.' " When
they see us building, their faith and
confidence will be greatly strength
ened.

And so we hear a voice saying,
" Arise, and build." We have little
funds, but large faith. The Lord will
surely kelp us. On a recent Sabbath
we explained our purpose, and re
ceived in offerings £i 8s. Most of
this was second tithe given by our
selves. There are £~6, raised three
years ago for helping to buy a piece
of land for a Christian burial ground,
which can be applied to this object.
This will make nearly £8 of the £80
or £100 needed.

Will it be possible for Australia to
give us any assistance in this enter
prise ? If so, we will be most grate
ful for it. These poor people are
generous givers, but they have very
little to give, and, of course, we can
not raise all, or even half of the
amount required ' here. If you can
do no more, pray for us, and for
God's blessing upon the enterprise.

We are holding a good many
street meetings i n the Chinese
quarter, and always have an inter
ested and respectful audience. We
also sell tracts and Scripture portions
at such times.

We are much encouraged by the
interest manifested, and thank God
that we are in Sumatra, and can
have a part in the work.

R. W. MUNSON.

Adventist History in Indonesia: Third Generation Missionary

Third Generation Missionary

D. S. JOHNSON
Associate Secretary, General Conference

Pastor and Mrs. George W. Munson and
son Glenn left recently for the Far East
ern Division, where Brother Munson will
serve as president of the Sabah Mission.
The Munson's have served in Korea since
1946, and were recently requested to lead
out in the work in Sabah, formerly known
as North Borneo.

Brother Munson is a third-generation
missionary, and both his grandfather,
R. W. Munson, and his father, Albert
Munson, were ordained ministers of the
Seventh-day Adventist Church. It was
his grandfather, R. W. Munson, who pio
neered our Seventh-day Adventist work
in Indonesia. The George Munson's eld
est son, Lloyd, remains in the United
States, and has entered Pacific Union
College, where he has begun training for
the ministry.

Mrs. Munson is the daughter of Brother
and Sister Lyman Bowers, and was born
in Korea, where her parents were mis
sionaries for fourteen years. The Mun-
sons are typical of the dedicated mission
ary families who are serving the church
in many lands of earth.

[Older Adventists in Australia will re
member Pastor R. W. Munson and his
son Albert, who lived in Australia from
1905 to 1909, and again for several years
following 1911, when Albert attended
Avondale College. During his term of
missionary service in Java and Celebes, he
spent a furlough in Australia in 1929.]

Australasian Union Record, November 28, 1966, page 8

Adventist History in Indonesia: 1900, Arrival at Padang

Australasian Union Record, December 1, 1900, page 4

Mission Studies.

Our Study this Month is upon that Portion of the Island Mission Field
toward which our Sabbath School Contributions are being Directed.

Malaysia.

THAT portion of the great Pacific which goes by the name Malaysia
comprises many large and populous islands.

The 400 islands of the Philippines with their 10,000,000" inhabitants,
and the numerous islands and groups of islands of the Dutch East Indies
are each a part of Malaysia. It is estimated that there are in the Dutch
possessions of the East Indies no less than 30,000,000 natives, 500,000
Chinese, 50,000 Arabs, and 60,000 Europeans. The principal islands
of the Dutch East Indies, which lie within Malaysia, are Sumatra, Java,
Madura, part of Borneo, the Celebes, and Molucca Islands. The climate
is generally healthful and the field badly in need of missionary work.
The" following report of Brother Munson shows that the door for
workers is open and the opportunities for doing good are numerous. Con
siderable territory within Malaysia is controlled by the British.

Since the occupancy of the Philippines by the United States of America,
the opportunities for missionary work in that extensive group have greatly
improved. These poor heathen are certainly in crying need of the gospel
as they are loaded with heathen superstitions and know not God.

The population of Malaysia far exceeds that of the mission fields of
Eastern Polynesia, and the demands for funds with which to work will, no
doubt, be correspondingly greater.

E. C. CHAPMAN.

The Island of Sumatra.

WE landed from the steamship Prins Hendrik, at Emmahaven, the
seaport of Padang, one of the most charming spots in all these mid-
tropical regions. It is a town of about 25,000 inhabitants, chiefly
Malays, with a liberal sprinkling of Chinese.

Padang is embowered in tropical vegetation of the most luxuriant order.
Cocoanut, sago, and areca palms abound, with a large intermixture of
other trees, resembling somewhat those of the Occident, but more
abundant in foliage of the most velvety and glossy green of every con
ceivable shade.

The roads are smooth and hard and much frequented by the natives.
The town lies on the coast, ten miles north of the harbour, which is con
nected with the town by an excellent railroad, which proceeds on to the
northward about one hundred miles from Padang, up into the mountains,
attaining an elevation of 3,500 feet. The road was constructed by the
colonial government, to connect the coal mines and the coast, and
was built by European experts at a cost of some 1,000,000 pounds.

The mountains lie back from ten to twenty miles from the sea, and
some of the peaks tower 12,000 feet heavenward. A few of them are
more or less active volcanoes of a mild order. One of them has at long
intervals burst forth in great fury, but has for many years been inactive
except for smoke and sulphurous vapors.

With such a background, such a foreground, and such a setting,
Padang is beautiful indeed. After nearly ten years at Singapore, the
capital of the Straits Settlements (which lies 250 miles east and a little
north of here), we find Padang like home. Our hearts are enjoying great
peace in being here among a people who sorely need salvation, and who-
are more willing listeners than the public in Europe or America that
correspond to the class we hope to reach.

From the time of our landing to the present we have had naught but
the kindest and most generous treat ment by the Dutch people, and friend
ships have sprung up which have strengthened with the passing days,
although so few in number. We have found the Dutch people here
generous and kind to a fault. Our esteem for the people of the Nether
lands has been greatly enhanced since we left New York, November
eleven of last year.

The Chinese, amongst whom we came especially to labour, demand an
English school, and, as the hand of God seems to have opened the door,
affording us not only a readier access to their homes with the Gospel, but
also to some means of self-support, I have determined to comply with their
request.

One of the providential tokens I have received in connection with the
school is that a friend (who does not wish to disclose his identity) volun
tarily offered to furnish the school with all necessary furniture, at an
expense of nearly f2OO (florins), or about eighteen pounds. A large
house, finely adapted to the purpose, was placed at my disposal at a rental
of only two pounds. The same house formerly rented for four times as
much. The government officials have been very kind, and have facili
tated my efforts in getting a license to open the school, and so everything
seems to favour the venture — I should say, rather, undertaking—
for whatever the Lord blesses is no longer a venture but an assured suc
cess. I feel great peace of mind, also, whenever I think of or plan for the
school, and this I regard as another sign of God's favour.

The school will, of course, be a mission school pure and simple, in
which Christ in the Third Angel's Message will be presented.

One thing that struck us very forcibly on our first arrival here was
the name in Malay for Saturday. I give the names for the seven days of
the week in English and Arabic ; for the Malays, being Mohammedans,
have adopted Arabic customs :—


Sunday ...... Minggo
Monday ...... Isnain
Tuesday ..... Selasa
Wednesday ....Rebaa
Thursday......Kamis
Friday .......J’mmaat
SATURDAY......SABTU

So you see everybody designates the Sabbath by its true name, thanks
to Mohammed.

While in Singapore in 1893 I opened an " orphanage," or home for
orphans and poor boys, in which I taught the Word of God ; and a deep
impression was made on the boys. In 1896, when I left Singapore,
I had twenty-four boys in this home. One of them was Tay
Hong Siang, one of the first three boys to be admitted. He had given
the most satisfactory evidence of regeneration, and was a fearless witness
for Christ. He was sixteen when we were compelled to say farewell to
him. He was like a son to us, and we loved him much. You can im
agine our joy on reaching Padang to find that he was here in this very
district, only a few hours' distant by rail.

I sent for him, and he came with his young wife and baby boy. He is
now living with us and studying present truth. He is filled with the
Spirit, and preaches the Word in the demonstration of the Spirit and with
power. Through his efforts a China man, now past sixty, and a man of
considerable influence, has cast his idols to the moles and the bats, and is
worshiping God only. He has a large family, and if he is once filled
with the Spirit he will be a power among his people. He is keeping
the Sabbath conscientiously and in the fear of God. When I told him
about the Sabbath, he said, " I want to know all about it, for I mean to
obey all that God commands." Pray for him.

R. W. MUNSON.
Padang, Sumatra.

Adventist History in Indonesia: Chronology

Indonesia, A Chronology 

1893

R. W. Munson opened a home for orphans in Singapore.

1899

November 11, R. W. Munson leaves New York for Padang, Sumatra to work among the Chinese there. They meet Tay Hong Siang, one of the first three boys to be admitted to the Singapore orphanage, now working in Padang. Tay and his wife and baby come to live and work with the Munson family. Tay has already found one Chinese man was has accepted the Gospel and has already begun keeping the Sabbath.

1900

Munson begins an English language school in Padang. He calls it a mission school, "pure and simple".
December 1, The Australasian Union Record presents a major mission study of what was then called Malaysia by R. W. Munson

1902

E.H. Gates visits with Munson. They travel to Deli, Penang, and other places. They seek to extend the work.

1904

Pastor G. F. Jones and wife and
Brother R. A. Caldwell sail for the East Indies to open a mission in Singapore.

1905

Brother and Sister E. C. Davey to Singapore as medical missionaries.

1906

In February, Brother F. Parkin reached Singapore; an evangelical canvasser.

In the Dutch East Indies, to proselyte among the Mohammedans is forbidden by law; but there is no law to forbid the circulation of religious literature.

1909

R. W. Munson returns to Java from Australia as a translator at Soekaboemi
Miss Janz gives "to us oversight of her little colony of two hundred persons."

1910

The Malay Messenger of Truth Begins

1911

The first baptism in Java

1912

The first SDA Church organized on Java

1913

Tha Malaysian Union Mission organized, included: Sumatra and East and West Java

1921

Samuel Rantung's work leads to a church organazed in the Celebes.

1926

People from the Lake Toba region request instruction in the Bible. Some already keeping the Sabbath.

1927

Petition sent to Batavia requesting Religious Liberty for Central Sumatra. (Kime)

1929

Territory organized as the Netherlands East Indies Union Mission with 1700 members and 48 churches and companies.
West Java Mission, H. Eelsing reports.

• 22 Sabbath Schools, 698 members
• 7 Church Schools, 650 students

Central Sumatra (Batakland) Youngberg reports on work of Kime.

• Sister Kime very sick, they are on leave.
• School and Medical Work
• January 1929, Religious Liberty granted to Kime's work.

1940-1944

Dutch Government inters all Germans missionaries.

1952

Church Membership reaches 10 000

1962

Chruch Membership reaches 20 000

2003

Inodnesia divided into East Indonesian Union Conference and West Indonesian Union Mission;

• part of the Southern Asia-Pacific Division
• 1100 Churches
• 200 000 members

Sources: 

Land, G (2005). Historical Dictionary of Seventh-day Adventists: Historical Dictionaries of Religions Philosophies, and Movements, No. 56. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 0810853450, 9780810853454. 419 pages. Available as a Google Book ***Here*** 
. 

Australasian Union Record 
Asiatic Division Outlook 

Negeri Para Bedebah

Karya: Adhie Massardi

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Kebanyakan orang awam kesulitan untuk mendefisikan dengan tepat apa yang dimaksud dengan "Evolusi".  Salah satu penyebab kesulitan untuk memahami "evolusi" adalah disebabkan oleh sebagian ilmuwan tidak mampu untuk berkomunikasi secara efektif kepada masyarakat awam. Hal ini diperburuk juga oleh adanya  kontroversi di kalangan ilmuwan sendiri dalam mendefinisikan istilah penting itu.

Dalam membahas evolusi penting untuk membedakan antara keberadaan evolusi dan teori mekanisme evolusi. Dan ketika mengacu pada keberadaan evolusi penting memiliki definisi yang jelas agar "sesuatu" yang dibicarakan itu dimengerti semua pihak yang berpartisipasi membahasnya.

Lead us not into temptation

Semua orang ingin sukses, tapi tak semua orang berhasil sukses. Jalan menuju keberhasilan itu berliku, terjal, naik, berbelok-belok, memutar ! Dalam perjalanan kerap kali terpeleset dan jatuh. Banyak godaan, baik faktor langit ataupun bumi, dikambing hitamkan. Banyak orang mengulangi kesalahan yang sama.

Kalau anda membaca blog ini, saya mau memperkenalkan diri sebagai orang yang sering jatuh terpeleset dan sesat. Saya menuliskan pengalaman saya ini sebagai intropeksi diri dan mungkin berguna pada orang lain agar tidak melakukan kesalahan yang sama.

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Seorang pembuat pensil memberi 5 pelajaran dari pensil sebelum memasukkannya ke dalam kotak:

1. Segala sesuatu yang Anda lakukan akan selalu meninggalkan bekas.
2. Anda selalu dapat memperbaiki kesalahan yang Anda buat.
3. Yang penting adalah apa yang dalam diri Anda.
4. Dalam kehidupan, Anda akan menjalani sharpenings menyakitkan, yang hanya akan membuat Anda lebih baik.
5. Untuk menjadi pensil yang terbaik, Anda harus membiarkan diri untuk dimiliki dan dibimbing oleh tangan yang memegang Anda.

Perumpamaan ini dapat mendorong Anda untuk mengetahui bahwa Anda adalah orang yang spesial, dengan bakat dan kemampuan unik yang diberikan Tuhan. Anda dilahirkan untuk suatu tujuan untuk menyelesaikan tugas yang hanya Anda yang dapat melaksanakannya.

Wanita dan Kecantikan

Wanita di Papua

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