Mengkatip is a small village in Kalimantan that holds historical significance for the Kalimantan Evangelical Church (GKE). On 29 October 1902, a child named Hernald Dingang Patianom was born there. He would later become the first Dayak to serve as a missionary. His father, Ferdinand Dingang Patianom, was the chief of the Ngaju Dayak tribe in the village of Mengkatip, who led a large number of his people to be baptised alongside him by the evangelist Kühnle. To reach the village of Mengkatip, one must travel down the longest river in South Kalimantan, the Barito River. Mengkatip is 125.21 km from Banjarmasin, and the only way to reach it is by boat along the Barito River, which has its source in the Schwaner Mountains. The village of Mengkatip reminds us of Bethlehem, a small town that was looked down upon, yet chosen by God to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ.

As a child still growing up and living in a riverside area, there was not much Hernald could do. He spent only a short time of his childhood in Mengkatip. Hernald then had to pursue his education in Banjarmasin because there were no schools in Mengkatip at that time. The only way to reach Banjarmasin was by travelling on a Jukung Rangkang, a traditional boat with a roof to protect passengers from the heat and rain, and a curved bow. It took two people to row the boat, unlike today where speed boats are commonly seen travelling back and forth as a means of transport. Hernald and his parents travelled down the Barito River, which at that time was flanked on both sides by the tropical forests of Kalimantan. To this day, the forest remains one of the ecosystems that plays a major role in the survival of the Dayak people. 

From Mengkatip to Banjarmasin

At that time, Banjarmasin was part of the Dutch East Indies colonial administration and was the last region in Kalimantan to come under Dutch colonial rule. The death of the then Sultan of Banjar, Sultan Muhammad Seman, in 1905 marked the beginning of foreign rule in Kalimantan, formerly known as Borneo. Hernald had no educational opportunities available to him whilst in Banjarmasin due to the policies of the Dutch East Indies Government, which categorised the population into different social classes. In Banjarmasin, Hernald began his education at Volkschool or the People’s School, which had been built through community cooperation under Dutch supervision. His teacher was a local, so Dutch was not used as the medium of instruction in the classroom. The subjects taught were simple: reading, writing and arithmetic. Hernald was a diligent pupil who applied himself to every lesson at the People’s School, enabling him to progress to secondary school, the Vervlogschool. It was this educational foundation that enabled Hernald to apply for a position in the Dutch East Indies government in 1918. He was only 16 years old at the time and was successfully accepted for the post. He was one of the youngest compared to his colleagues. 

His young age did not prevent Hernald from excelling amongst his peers. Hernald was able to absorb everything his seniors taught him and put it into practice effectively in the tasks assigned to him. It did not take long; after six years of service, Hernald was appointed as a civil servant in the Dutch East Indies government. He was transferred to Buntok, a town predominantly inhabited by the Dayak Maanyan people; today, Buntok forms part of Central Kalimantan Province. It is situated not far from the village of Mengkatip, where Hernald was born – approximately 56 km away, travelling down the Barito River. Furthermore, Buntok was also strategically located because, at that time, it was connected by road to the city of Palangkaraya and was also linked to villages situated within the Barito river basin. 

His strategic place of residence and his status as an official meant that Hernald frequently came into contact with the Dutch officials who resided there. To cut a long story short, he subsequently learnt of the Basler Missiongesellschaft (BMG) —a Gospel-proclaiming organisation that was serving in the area. This evangelical organisation originated in Switzerland and was relatively new to serving in the Kalimantan region. Before the BMG, there had actually been the Rheinische Missiongesellschaft (RMG) which had been serving in Kalimantan first. When the First World War broke out, the RMG faced financial difficulties in funding its evangelistic work and so handed over its mission field to the BMG in 1920. From that time onwards, this organisation became fully involved in the growth of the GKE church.

The first Dayak evangelist

Whilst working as an official in Buntok, Hernald also found time to meet and communicate with the BMG. The ministry carried out by the BMG amongst the Dayak people gradually stirred his heart. Hernald, who was of Dayak descent himself, felt a burden for his fellow Dayak people, that they too might come to know the Gospel. One day, Hernald made a major decision: to leave his secure job. His steadfast determination and strong motivation led him to enrol on an evangelism course in 1924. Hernald attended this course with great dedication and completed it in just two years. 

After completing the course, Hernald was called to Banjarmasin to take part in the BMG Mission Workers’ Conference in 1926. It was at this event that he was subsequently ordained as an evangelist. That year thus became a historic one for the mission field in Kalimantan, as Hernald became the first evangelist from the Dayak tribe. Shortly after his ordination, Hernald began serving in Buntok. Hernald realised that, even as a Dayak himself, it was not always easy to minister to his own people. Evangelism amongst the Dayak people was indeed very difficult. This was due to the Dayak people’s strong attachment to their tribal customs and religion. But gradually, Hernald began to gain access and teach the gospel of salvation to his own people. He had to navigate difficult terrain, travelling through the jungle with the only means of transport being by river or on foot for tens of kilometres to meet his people face to face.

The Establishment of the Dayak Evangelical Church

After two years of ministry in Buntok, Hernald was sent by the BMG to further his training by studying theology at the Banjarmasin Theological College in 1932, a course he completed in three years. In that same year, 1935, a conference of mission workers was held, attended by Dr Hendrik Kraemer, a mission representative from the Dutch Bible Society (NBG), to discuss the possibilities of establishing the Dayak Church. And with great wisdom and faith, the Dayak Evangelical Church (GDE) was officially established on 24 April 1935. Exactly one century after the Gospel first reached Kalimantan, a consecration service was held for five newly ordained ministers who had graduated from the Banjarmasin Theological College at the Hampatuang Church building; Hernald was one of these new ministers. After his ordination, Hernald was posted to Sungai Tiwei and lived in Benangin.

In his book “TuaianNya Sungguh Banyak”, Fridolin Ukur wrote, “These five pastors were dynamic pioneers amongst their own people. They were the first to serve as national church workers, rather than being sent by foreign missionary organisations.” 

The Japanese occupation in 1942 proved to be a period full of challenges for the GDE at that time. Borneo Minseibu —the Japanese administration in Banjarmasin—arrested and expelled the BMG pastors of European origin. This left a leadership vacuum within the GDE, a role typically held by pastors from that background. Not only that, but even the indigenous Dayak pastors were not trusted by the Japanese, as they feared they might incite the congregation to resist them. Hernald, as a pastor with extensive experience, stepped in as a shepherd amidst the crisis unfolding at that time. Hernald diligently wrote letters to the pastors, Gospel teachers, elders and deacons within his area of ministry. The content of his letters urged them to remain faithful in their service. “It is better to be obedient to God than to men,” Hernald stated in his letter.

From the Dayak Church to the Kalimantan Church

After the Japanese occupation ended and the Japanese withdrew from Indonesia, the GDE once again held a General Synod in Banjarmasin. At this event, it was decided to elect Hernald to lead the GDE, making him the first Dayak to become Chairman of the GDE Synod. Whilst serving as synod chairman, Hernald proposed changing the name of the Dayak Church to the Kalimantan Church. He stated that the change from ‘Dayak’ to ‘Kalimantan’ would remove any impression of discrimination against all ethnic groups in Kalimantan. His hope was that the Synod would be open to all Christians in Kalimantan. His proposal was only accepted at the General Synod held in 1950 in Banjarmasin. The name the Kalimantan Evangelical Church (GKE) reflects the function and mission of the Church as ordained by God on the island of Kalimantan.

The field of ministry on the island of Kalimantan was so vast that Hernald felt it necessary to train church workers to preach the Gospel throughout Kalimantan. He reopened the Theological College in Banjarmasin, which had previously closed in 1937. Hernald himself took on the role of principal and set about rebuilding the college from the ground up. Hernald’s vision was for this theological college to eventually become a centre of education for prospective ministers within the GKE.

The final years of his ministry

After stepping down as rector of the Banjarmasin Theological College, he became a parish pastor in Banjarmasin. The GKE appointed him as a synod adviser from 1954 until the end of his ministry. Hernald also represented the GKE during the formation of the Indonesian Council of Churches in 1949. Hernald saw himself as a minister who truly loved his Lord. Hernald Dingan Patianom married Jemina Sendong and had 11 children. His descendants are spread throughout Indonesia. God’s presence was evident in every aspect of Hernald’s life until his passing on 12 December 1987.