We Have Much to Be Thankful For

Bible Week Welcomes 70 Years of LAI

 

In a series of celebrations for the 70th anniversary of the Indonesian Bible Institute (LAI), throughout 2024, Bible Week was held in various cities in Indonesia.  Between June 9-12, 2024, Bible Week was held in Mataram. Mataram became the fourth city to organize Bible Week 2024 after: Balikpapan, Mentawai, and Bengkulu. Bible Week is a form of implementation of LAI's ministry mandate of engagement (bible engagement). Through Bible Week, it is hoped that God's people from various age groups and backgrounds can get to know more about the Scriptures and grow their love for God's word.

 

The cities selected as Bible Week locations throughout 2024 are cities where LAI has never held a major event or exhibition. As an institution that belongs to all Christians in Indonesia, LAI hopes to reach out and serve God's people in various parts of Indonesia in its 70th year.

 

Before organizing the Bible Week, LAI had previously established communication with the Pembimas Kristen of West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Province and formed an organizing committee involving various church denominations in Mataram City. The opening and most of the locations of the Bible Week were agreed upon at Bethel Indonesia Church (GBI) Rock, Mataram.

 

During the four-day Bible Week in Mataram, LAI in collaboration with churches in Mataram City organized various activities including: Exhibition of Bible Objects, Product Exhibition, Seminar on the Bible, Bible Quiz Competition, Verse Memorization Competition, Bible-themed Drawing and Coloring Competition.

 

A short service began the organization of Bible Week. Present on the occasion: representatives of the NTB Government, Pastors and Organizing Committee and people of God from various church denominations. After the service, the Bible Week was officially opened by the Christian Minister of NTB Province, Mr. Johson Nainggolan.

 

The Chief Executive of Bible Week in Mataram, Rev. Supriyadi, in his report said that we should be grateful to be given the trust to carry out this Bible Week activity and hopefully this Bible Week will bring blessings to Christians in the city of Mataram. He also hoped that through the organization of the Bible Week and seminars, the struggles of pastors and people about the Bible and the Divine Names can be answered. The opening of Bible Week in Mataram was also enlivened by the testimony of praise from the West Nusa Tenggara Pesparawi Team who sang two pieces of praise.

 

The Christian Minister of NTB Province, Mr. Johnson Parulian Hottua, thanked LAI for initiating this Bible Week. The presence of the TB-2 Bible is a long-awaited work, the Word of God must continue to be adapted to the context of the times. He further invited the congregation to be grateful for the faithful service of LAI in laying the foundation and sowing the seeds of service for the proclamation of the Good News. Mr. Johnson emphasized that Indonesia is a religious nation, so every Indonesian citizen should be a good religious person. Being Indonesian and religion are two things that cannot be separated. Our religious understanding, which is manifested in practice, is always related to the joints of the nation and state. This is important in the context of Indonesian-ness. Hopefully through this activity the knowledge of church leaders and people will be further equipped and increased.

 

The opening ceremony of the Bible Week ended with the distribution of door prizes to several members of the congregation. LAI hopes that through this Bible Week in Mataram the relationship between LAI and the churches will become closer, as well as the relationship between churches in order to establish cooperation in the ministry of preaching the Good News. (Alp)