February 1966 came with Jakarta's grey skies and the people's hearts filled with anxiety. The streets of the capital were filled with the shouts of students, posters of demands, and the clatter of soldiers' boots that never really stopped. From Salemba to the Merdeka Palace, from Bogor to the surrounding satellite cities, the air was heavy with uncertainty. Six months after the G30S, the nation was still reeling between hope for change and fear of chaos. On the corners of markets, in classrooms, in humble homes, people whispered about soaring prices, faltering leaders, and a hazy future. This was a time when Indonesia's history was being written with the sound of demonstrations, tears, and courage.

 

On Wednesday morning 9 February, just before ten o'clock, a military helicopter flew low in the sky over Bogor. Shortly afterwards the helicopter swooped down and landed in the spacious courtyard of a new 5,124 square metre building in Ciluar village, Kedunghalang sub-district, Bogor district, almost 50 km from Jakarta city centre. Several figures stepped out of the aircraft, one of them a well-known and respected figure, Deputy Prime Minister Johanes Leimena. This time Leimena did not come for political or governmental matters. He was there to inaugurate the Printing Unit of the Indonesian Bible Institute (LAI), the first specialised Bible printer owned by a national Bible Institute.

 

The idea of having and establishing a specialised Bible Printing Unit had been in the mind of the first General Secretary of LAI, Giok Pwee Khouw, since early 1959. From the Dutch colonial era to the early days of independence, the provision of Bibles and parts to fulfil the needs of churches and Christian communities was not always easy. The printing of Bibles at that time was done abroad, among others in England, by the British Bible Society (BFBS) and in the Netherlands, through the Dutch Bible Society (NBG). The supply of Bibles by way of imports often encountered obstacles in their delivery to Indonesia. When there were tensions in relations between the Dutch Government and its former colonies, shipments of Bibles did not go smoothly and supplies were scarce. Similarly, when World War II arose, shipments of Bibles, both from Britain and the Netherlands, were delayed. In fact, until the time LAI was established on 9 February 1954, the supply of Bibles in the country was still difficult to ensure, due to tensions in Indonesian-Dutch relations. Yet the need for Bibles and spiritual readings was increasing.

 

In 1962, the government issued an import ban on Indonesian language books. President Soekarno wanted all textbooks and religious books in Indonesian to be printed domestically. The president in his speech proclaimed the need for Indonesia to stand on its own feet (berdikari). This means that if possible, all goods must be produced by the nation itself, not produced or imported from abroad.

 

In addition to the government's import ban, another factor driving the printing procurement was to realise the Indonesian Bible Society's vision of producing affordable Bibles. In addition, Bible printing requires a special type of paper (bible paper). Meanwhile, commercial printers in Indonesia at that time could not print the Bible on special paper. Due to the difficulty of finding domestic printers capable of printing the Bible, the government gave LAI dispensation until 31 December 1963.

 

At the direction of the Chairman of LAI, Prof. Dr. Sutan Gunung Mulia, in the LAI board meeting of 10 December 1963, the work plan for the construction of the LAI Printing Press was immediately put into action and a Printing Press Development Task Force was formed. The construction of the LAI Printing Press began in early 1964 and was completed two years later. Funds for the construction were obtained from donations from Indonesian Christians, assistance from the Association of Indonesian Bible Societies (United Bible Societies/UBS) and money from the sale of the old LAI office on Jalan Teuku Umar No. 34, Jakarta (before moving to Jl. Salemba Raya No. 12, Jakarta).

 

In the inauguration service of the LAI Printing House, the Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Indonesia, Dr J Leimena, gave the keynote speech on behalf of the Dwikora Cabinet Presidium. From the Executive Board of LAI, the Chairman of LAI, Prof. Dr. Sutan Gunung Mulia, gave a speech. While the ribbon cutting was done by Mrs Hartini Soekarno, who departed from her residence at the Bogor Palace.

 

Attending the inauguration of the printing press were, among others, UBS General Secretary Dr Oliver Beguin and British Bible Society (BFBS) General Secretary Canon HM Arrowsmith. Also present were J.J. Kijne, Translating Secretary of the Netherlands Bible Society (NBG) and the General Secretary of the Indian Bible Society, Reverend Dr A.E. Inbanathan, who happened to be in Indonesia in connection with Bible translation activities in Indonesia.

 

Almost 30 years later, on 4 October 1995, the new LAI printing building in Nanggewer village, Cibinong, Bogor Regency was completed. The inauguration was conducted by the Minister of Religious Affairs, Dr Tarmizi Taher. In addition to the LAI family, there were present at the inauguration of the new LAI printing plant: officials of the West Java Provincial Muspida, the DKI Jakarta Provincial Muspida, the Bogor Regency Muspida, Church leaders at both national and local levels, as well as the Word Action Committee.

 

The effort to develop the LAI printing press was initiated in 1990 based on the report of the Feasibility Study Team. This development plan was fully supported by various parties, including businessmen, executives and professionals who then formed the Sabda Action Committee. The purpose of this committee is to make concrete efforts in order to fulfil the call of the Word, namely to raise funds from Christians in Indonesia to establish a new Bible printing press. Thus the new printing press in Nanggewer will be 100 per cent self-supporting.

 

With the new printing plant, LAI hopes to fulfil the expectations of churches and Christians for the Bible. In his speech on the establishment of the LAI printing press, the Chairman of LAI at that time, Rev Prof Dr P.D. Latuihamallo stated that Indonesian society was changing rapidly from an agrarian society to a modern society. This rapid change affects the mentality and spirituality of people in general. This situation is a challenge for LAI  to provide the Bible and its parts in various presentations according to technological developments and needs.

 

President General of the Association of Indonesian Churches (PGI) Rev Prof Dr Soelarso Sopater stated that the presence of the new LAI printing building will enable LAI to better fulfil its duties in providing the Bible in both Indonesian and local languages. He added that the presence of LAI and its publications is also vital in the role of supporting public education. He pointed out that there are many groups of people who, due to the unavailability of sufficient reading materials, have become illiterate again. The availability of Bibles and spiritual readings will enable people to become literate and motivate them to delve deeper into the contents of the Bible.

 

The challenge of our times is hungry humans. It is not only the stomach that wants to be filled, but also the “heart” that longs to be served. When the disciples came to the Lord Jesus  about the hungry crowds, His command was clear, "You must feed them!" (Mark 6:37). The world today longs for righteousness. Hoping for the Good News. It is our collective duty to work together to feed them!

 

Dirgahayu Printing LAI, dirgahayu Lembaga Alkitab Indonesia. May God bless and help the ministry of LAI and its partners in making God's word present for all generations.