Young in Spirit

Church isn’t what it used to be. Annastashya Emmanuelle talks to young Christians who find the modern church is playing their tune.

Amid the gentle lilt of music in the background, members of the congregation bow their heads in prayer, their hands reaching up to the heavens. They listen as Rev. Gilbert Lumoindong declares from the podium that God never disappoints.

“Put your hand on your chest and say, ‘Lord, I no longer have the strength to carry on but I am in your hands and you will lead the way. … Bless us in our endeavors and because you are on our side nothing is impossible,” he says, a cue for the band to play the final chorus.

Linawati Hadiman, a 25-year-old professional who has been feeling worn out by life in general and has not set foot in church for almost five years, feels her eyes brimming with tears.

It was not sadness that she felt, or joy, but “a sense of relief at a power greater than me”, she said.

She came back to church at the urging of a friend who is part of the church’s youth group. The friend is glad to see Linawati back because she thinks it is important that Christians everywhere feel the presence of God in their lives. These are the words the church’s activists live by.

But church nowadays is not just for the broken and weary. More and more young Christians are flocking to the modern church for various reasons.

Some are seeking something to hold onto in uncertain times, and others want to feel a connection with God that they could not find in conventional church. Others go as part of their religious duty. Whatever the reason, the modern church responds in kind by giving them what they need.

The Jakarta Praise Center Youth Ministry started in 1996 as a 10-member prayer group. According to its website, it was formally established as a church in 1999 to meet “the needs of a contemporary church actively serving the young people”.

Now, the Upper Room, a function hall with a 2,000-strong capacity, is always packed with parishioners on Sundays, most of them falling somewhere in the teen to mid-30s age range.

It is a spacious, modern, well-lit room, with plasma TV screens to beam the lyrics of songs played by a full band, in jazz, soft rock, pop and even a touch of Brit-rock tones. The full service, done with professional video and show direction, can also be viewed from the screens.

The song leaders are 20-somethings, and the ushers – who direct parishioners from the parking lot and elevator and to their seats – are mostly teenagers who coordinate with other ushers via walkie-talkies.

Mario Parthalar, 22, says he likes attending Jakarta Praise Center services because they are not boring. He likes the music and the church bulletin presented as a video news telecast before the service begins, but most of all he likes the sermons.

“I can relate to the topics. It’s current and it addresses the kind of issues that I face in my daily life,” he said of the service performed by a young pastor dressed in jeans and a trendy shirt.

The service discussed aiming high, striving for success while not forgetting to be thankful for one’s current blessings. Unlike long-winded sermons in conventional churches, it was short and concise.

Indonesia has seen a significant rise in evangelical and Pentecostal churches since 1996. Starting small, the churches have been successful in attracting young Christians because of their ability to adapt to the lifestyle of modern youth.

Bethel Church Indonesia, one of the pioneers in Indonesia’s evangelical churches, was established in Jakarta in 1998 with 400 members. Today, it has grown to 650 local churches, with its branches serving most Indonesian parishioners in the United States, Australia and Europe. Around 60 percent of its 300,000 members are aged between 15 and 35.

While the main messages are similar to those given in conventional churches – salvation through God, living in righteousness and the redemption of sin – the modern church does not enforce rigid ceremonies.

The music is up to date, the pastors deliver the messages of God with wit and people are free to express themselves during the service.

Aside from the usual listing of upcoming events, church bulletins now also list events for young single Christians where they can meet other singles while learning more about the Bible.

In mid-August, a huge Christian youth gathering called The Call Indonesia was held in Senayan, South Jakarta. People from all over the country joined together to pray and fast.

Pastor Andy Tjokro, who is also the head of Bethel’s youth group, believes the young generation is looking for something that entertains them while also accommodating their needs to experience and feel accepted by God.

Bethel’s “youth crusaders”, bearing messages of acceptance as God’s friend, attempt to draw in hesitant or uninformed young Christians.

“Church is changing now. It’s now opening its doors for all kinds of young people, realizing that we need to pay attention to this generation to be able to sustain Christianity in Indonesia,” Pastor Andy says.

Tempuh Pangellah, a 21-year-old graphic design graduate who attends Abbalove Ministries, skipped church for two years after a personal disappointment left him questioning his faith.

He asked God what he wanted from his life, and later decided to channel his talents into the multimedia section of his church.

“I didn’t want to waste more time being angry and disappointed and decided to do something for at least the people around me,” he says.

“It’s not just about religion but the presence of a higher being, something to believe in – the kind of something that gives life meaning.”

Photos by Jerry Adiguna

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