During his several-day visit to Makassar and Toraja, LAI General Secretary, Dr Sigit Triyono, conducted various ministry agendas. One of them was visiting the Jafray School of Theological Philosophy (STFT) in Makassar. The arrival of Mr Sigit, who was accompanied by LAI's Head of Representation in Makassar, Diana Rampan, was joyfully welcomed by the leadership of STFT Jafray, which is located at Jl. Gunung Merapi 103, Makassar.
LAI's visit was in the context of friendship in the new year and at the same time renewing the Cooperation Agreement (KKS) between the two institutions. The renewal of this PSC is carried out in order to establish and improve the partnership between LAI and STFT Jafray Makassar, especially in preaching the word of God and spreading the Good News to remote areas of the country.
About STFT Jafray
The Jaffray College of Theological Philosophy was originally called the Makassar Bible School founded by Dr Robert Alexander Jaffray (a Canadian) in 1932. He was a missionary The Christian and Missionary Alliance(C&MA) founded by Dr A. B. Simpson a Presbyterian minister who later adopted the spirit of evangelicalism and pietism.
Dr Jaffray initially spent 32 years in Southern China, Guang Xi Province. The ministry from China extended to Indo China (Vietnam). Then his heart was burdened for ministry in Southeast Asia after a vision of the need for him to come to the colony of the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia). He first landed in Samarinda, East Kalimantan, in February 1928 and since then he has been planning to open a ministry in Indonesia.
In 1932 with the help of his former students from China formed a mission agency called Chinese Foreign Mission Union(CFMU) led by Rev Dr Leland Wang opened the Makassar Bible School. The aim was to help prepare national workers for ministry development in Indonesia, especially in Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Papua, Bali and Nusa Tenggara. He also established the Kalam Hidup publishing house in Makassar which is engaged in publishing, magazines and radio (currently the Kalam Hidup Publishing House is based in Bandung and is one of the main distributors of LAI publications).
In 1959, Makassar Bible College changed its name to Jaffray Bible College in memory of the founder. The level of admission also changed to high school level or STA from the previous junior high school level students were also accepted. In 1975, STTJ was registered with Kopertis Region IX Sulawesi and only accepted high school graduates. Furthermore, in 1995 the name changed to Sekolah Tinggi Philsafat Theologia Jaffray.
Currently STFT Jaffray, located in the heart of Makassar on 10,141 m2 of land, has 460 students (S1, S2, and S3) from various church denominations in Indonesia, especially Eastern Indonesia. The school is under the auspices of Kemah Injil Indonesia Church (GKII) which is a member of PGI and PGLII, but the school is interdenominational. Currently, there are approximately 40 student church denominations represented.
In addition to the GKII, STFT Jaffray is also supported institutionally and financially by churches under the auspices of the ex-CFMU specifically the Kalam Allah Revival Church, GPMII, the Synod of Christ Jesus Church (GKY), Hok Im Tong Church Bandung, and other institutions.
The mission of STFT Jaffray is worldwide mission for Christ. STFT Jafray emphasises holistic missions ministry to areas in Eastern Indonesia, where this area has received less attention. STFT Jafray emphasises its education on forming servant leaders who are godly, spiritual, deeply rooted in the Word of God, and have a heart for mission with holistic service to the community.
Signing of the KKS Renewal
Representing LAI in the signing of the renewal of the PSC was the General Secretary of LAI, Dr Sigit Triyono, while representing STFT East Indonesia was the Chairman of STFT, Rev Dr Robi Panggara, MTh. Also present at the signing of the renewal of the PSC were the leaders of STFT Jafray, including the 1st Vice Chair, Rev. Dr Tri Supartini, M.Th and Rev. Dr Ivan Th. J. Weismann, M.Hum and the 3rd Vice Chair, Rev. Dr Yunus Laukapitang.
After the renewal of the PSC, both institutions will immediately translate it into a concrete partnership and empower each other through various joint activities, especially in the preaching of God's word so that people will increasingly understand and love God's word and spread the Bible to various parts of the country. May God's name be glorified through this partnership and the Good News be spread to every corner of the country. (DR)
