Between 14-16 November 2024, the Indonesian Bible Society (LAI) together with its partners from the Indonesian Christian Church (GKI) Kota Wisata implemented the One in Love (SDK) program by distributing Bibles in Laubaleng District, Karo Regency. This program is an important momentum for the congregation of the Batak Karo Protestant Church (GBKP) Laubaleng Classis to strengthen faith while preserving cultural heritage through the use of the Bible in the Karo language.
The GBKP Laubaleng Classis is one of 27 classes in the GBKP Synod. Its congregations are spread across four areas, namely Laubaleng District and Mardingding District in Karo Regency, Pinem District in Dairi Regency, and a small area in Southeast Aceh Regency. With 27 runggun (congregation assemblies) and 39 churches, this classis serves around 3,300 heads of families or around 10,000 people. Most of the congregation uses Karo as the language of worship, making a Karo-language Bible an urgent need.
Through the One in Love program this year in Laubaleng, LAI distributed various types of Bibles and spiritual reading materials, including 980 copies of the New Translation of the Bible, second edition for adults, 1,060 copies for children, 37 copies of the Study Edition Bible for pastors, 3,000 copies of the Karo Language Bible (Pustaka Sibadia), and 660 copies of comics for Sunday School children.
Enthusiasm and Hope of Church Leaders.
Rev. Sejahtra Jonathan Meliala, the congregation leader in the Laubaleng Classis, expressed his gratitude for the presence of the SDK Bible which includes the new translation of the Bible, second edition, children's Bible, Bible comics, and the Sibadia Library in the Karo language. "We hope that the young generation in the Laubaleng Classis will be more diligent in reading the Bible. The Word of God in the mother tongue is easier to understand and touches the heart," he said.
Furthermore, Rev. Jonathan also highlighted the challenges faced by the congregation, especially during the long dry season which caused crop failures. This situation affected the congregation's enthusiasm to attend Sunday services, especially men, whose attendance rate only reached 40 percent.
Rev. Debora Rachelina Stefani Simanjuntak from GKI Kota Wisata, who participated in the distribution, emphasized the importance of the Sibadia Library in bringing God's Word closer to the congregation. "The Bible in the mother tongue has a stronger power in touching the heart. In addition to strengthening faith, this is also an effort to preserve the Karo language as a cultural heritage that is passed on to future generations," he said.
Rev. Debora also said that the presence of the Bible in the Karo language can help the congregation experience a personal encounter with God, not just continuing the faith as a family heritage.
Although the people of God in Laubaleng really need the Bible in the Karo language, the distribution of this Bible also revealed the struggles faced by the congregation. Vicar Amos Ginting from GBKP Laugarut said that the ownership of the Sibadia Library in his area was very minimal. “There is only one Bible available in our church,” he said.
Seeing this condition, the SDK program seeks to answer the need by distributing Bibles evenly, so that every congregation can have direct access to the Word of God.
To increase the presence of men in worship, a big task for the role of Mamre, the management body of the categorical service for men in the GBKP Laubaleng Classis. With the motto “Mamre Erdiate, Mamre Erpemere” (empathy and giving according to needs), Mamre is expected to be able to formulate relevant programs to revive the spirit of worship.
The distribution of Bibles and children's spiritual readings not only provides direct benefits to the congregations of God in Laubaleng, but also opens up hopes that similar programs will reach other areas in Tana Karo and in Indonesia. Rev. Jonathan expressed his aspiration that more GBKP classes and congregations feel the presence of the SDK program.
“With this program, we are sure that the congregation will be more diligent in reading the Bible. The Word of God received in their own language will have a big influence on their life of faith,” concluded Rev. Jonathan.
The One in Love program in Laubaleng is real proof that through collaboration between LAI and its partners, the Word of God is able to be present and reach the remotest corners of the country. Its presence strengthens faith, while preserving local cultural heritage. This spirit continues to be encouraged, with the hope that more souls will be touched by God's love. (perlando)
