Asia Pacific Articles...
Update
on E. Timor: A New Asia Pacific Country
Asia
Pacific Board Report, April 2001
 The horror of what happened in East Timor late last year
is quite evident to anyone that visits. This is a small
country that has a long history of unrest and difficulty.
It is estimated that over 200,000 died after being annexed
into Indonesia in 1974 from violence and disease.
This time the country is establishing itself as an independent
nation under United Nations auspices. It has been violent
and many people, particularly Christians have felt the
wrath of the pro-Indonesian faction that has been supported
at times by the Indonesian Army.
Current Church Activity
The Assemblies of God has been in East Timor since 1968.
Presently the church consists of 93 pastors, 44 churches,
and 14,000 adherents. The church is helping people rebuild
after the violence and destruction. This a wonderful opportunity
for the church to impact people in a positive way as Christianity
is presented in a substantive and concrete manner to hurting
people.
Asia Pacific Helps the East Timor Church
We
are helping rebuild churches, assisting with pastor’s
families with food & medicine, and build a dormitory
for youth who are attending school in Dili.
 It was discovered that very few pastors have had any Bible
School training, and many are illiterate. Within the District
their ministerial training has been very limited. Occasionally,
the district leadership provides leadership and pastoral
training through a tape ministry sent to each of the pastors.
Due to the urgent need for pastoral training, the Asia
Pacific Region will be providing funds to build a pastor's
training center. Working with Bible School leaders in Indonesia,
we will assist the leadership in E. Timor to provide ongoing
training and development to pastors and leaders in this
newly formed country.
Likkodoy Church
One church that was destroyed was in the town of Likkodoy.
The pastor and his wife told of how this church of 1000
adherents, was destroyed by a Catholic mob that broke into
the building, took the pews, pulpit and cross and burned
them. The church, though it was still standing had the
trusses in the front 1/3 of the church burned so that they
do not support the weight of the roof. We have given funds
to replace the trusses, rebuild the pews, and the pulpit.
 Some incredible stories have come out of these times of
great difficulty. As the church prayed, the Lord sent divine
intervention and protection. One village leader who was
causing trouble for the church became very ill and was
near death. He requested prayer and the A/G pastor called
the people together to pray for this man. Immediately,
he began to recover and as a result surrendered his life
to the Lord. Others who caused trouble became sick and
some died unexpectedly. The pastor reported that many in
the community have gained new respect for Christians and
are afraid to cause more trouble.
Great Opportunity
In spite of the terrible toll taken by the violence and
the history of struggle in East Timor the Assemblies of
God Church is vital, alive and growing. They stand at a
crucial place in the history this new independent nation.
The church is prepared to show the love of Christ and the
power of the Gospel to a nation that has never been more
ready for peace.
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