Day of Prayer and Fasting for Indonesia (Ambon and the Maluku Islands)

A Letter from the President, Rev John Mavor, and the

President-Elect, Rev Prof.James Haire

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

We greet you in the name of Jesus Christ who encouraged his followers to pray earnestly.

This letter is written to you with heavy hearts. We write with a great sense of grief and almost despair because Christian people in Ambon and the Maluku Islands are suffering incredibly. Violence has escalated as Christians are driven out of Ambon.

During the past week:

? The Christian University in Ambon was burnt down.

? The Roman Catholic hospital and all its equipment was destroyed.

? Another 4000 Muslim Jihad warriors landed in Ambon together with containers of weapons.

? The police hospital in Ambon was destroyed.

? The homes of Christian people were destroyed by mortar attacks.

? At least five churches were destroyed.

? Christian people fled into the mountain regions. Food is scarce and there are no medical provisions.

? There were some reprisals on Muslim people by Christians.

Ten days ago 180 people were killed in a church in Halmahera, many of whom were baptised by James. Our despair is compounded because, while some Australian radio and television stations have conducted interviews with James, the events have not been receiving the prominence they deserve in the general media. How many more people have to die and how much more destruction has to take place before the world is told? Rev John Barr, of our Unity and International Mission staff, is monitoring the situation and is sending information to Canberra. While there has been some positive response we feel that the Australian Government could do more, much more.

We are asking you to do three things:

(1) Pray for Indonesia, especially Ambon and the Maluku Islands, in your personal prayers.

(2) Pray in church on Sunday, 2 July 2000:

(a) for these troubled places in Indonesia.

(b) for our media that they will report the stories more adequately.

(c) for the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the government that an appropriate response may be forthcoming as soon as possible.

(3) Fast at Sunday lunch time and focus on these great disturbing situations in prayer.

We will be doing these three things. We hope you will join us. How can we face the leaders from these churches at our Assembly if we have not knelt with them in prayer in their hour of great need?

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

Most sincerely

John Mavor James Haire

President President-Elect