2027 Bible Prayer Month Service

JAKARTA, LAI — A solemn yet warm atmosphere filled the hall of the Bible Centre on the morning of Wednesday, 9 September 2026. Around 200 people—comprising the wider family of the Indonesian Bible Society (LAI), ranging from the foundation’s governing body, current staff and retirees to partners and volunteers—gathered together for the 2027 Bible Prayer Month Service. This annual event serves as an important occasion to give thanks for God’s help in guiding every ministry of the LAI and its partners in translating and disseminating the Holy Scriptures, ensuring they are always available in a language that is easy to understand and close to the hearts of all believers.&

This service was not only experienced by those physically present, but also reached many partners across the nation who joined via Zoom and online streaming channels. 
The Chairperson of LAI, Rev. Dr Henriette Hutabarat-Lebang (Rev. Erry), in her opening address, expressed her deep gratitude and appreciation for the support of all churches and sections of society for LAI’s ministry, particularly during Bible Prayer Month. 

Rev. Erry emphasised the importance of ecumenical spirit in the ministry of bringing God’s Word to people. “We are also grateful that this September, our Catholic brothers and sisters are also celebrating the Month of the Holy Scriptures,” he said warmly. Thus, this celebration of the Month of Bible Prayer is a form of synergy and a shared expression of gratitude to support every effort to make the Bible available in people’s mother tongues. 

The preacher was Rev. Yerry Pattinasarany, a servant of God and influencer known for his tagline “God is Present”. Opening his sermon, he expressed the hope that the Bible Prayer Month service would not ultimately remain a mere ceremony, but would become a new milestone in the ministry of bringing the Bible to life in Indonesia. 

”We are grateful and give thanks for the ministry of our colleagues at LAI, for we have seen so many significant impacts that occur when the Word of God is present, inspiring and transforming the lives of the congregation,” he explained at the start of his sermon.&

Highlighting LAI’s theme for 2026, “The Divine Word Inspires Digital Culture”, rooted in the scripture John 1:14 (TB-2), Rev. Yerry Pattinasarany emphasised that the incarnation of Christ—the Word made flesh—is tangible proof that God always chooses to be present and to relate directly within the very fabric of human life. The penetration of the Gospel has proven capable of breaking down cultural barriers, transforming social structures, and even reaching the most remote and hard-to-reach mother tongues in the far corners of the archipelago. 
In today’s modern era, Rev. Yerry highlighted a new reality. There is one group, or ‘tribe’, that is truly unique, which has now become the focus of attention in the industrial, social and cultural spheres. This tribe is not defined by geographical boundaries—whether ‘advanced’ or ‘backward’—but is bound together within a single ecosystem. 

“Ladies and gentlemen, there is a very unique tribe. This tribe has a unique mother tongue,” he said. “It is not a backward, progressive, right-wing or left-wing tribe. Its representation is very strong. The name of this tribe is ‘netizens’, ladies and gentlemen… The all-righteous and all-holy netizens,” he quipped, to the laughter of the audience. 

Rev. Yerry explained that the ‘native language’ of this ‘netizen’ tribe takes the form of digital platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Threads and TikTok. People’s lifestyles in the digital age have also shifted drastically from a culture of privacy towards a culture of complete openness. 

Faced with this dynamic digital phenomenon, Rev. Yerry reminded the audience that the digital space has never actually closed its doors to the Gospel. The ‘netizen tribe’ offers a vast space, although it is often dominated by industry algorithms and a tide of debate that is frequently confusing. 

Therefore, amidst the whirlwind of ‘likes’ and conflicting narratives, LAI is called to stand firm as a digital platform that presents the authentic and true Christ—the Word of God that emphasises grace and truth, without putting others down.&

Bible Prayer Month 2027 serves as an opportunity for LAI and its partners to reaffirm their commitment: to ensure that the Word of God is never silenced and is passed on to everyone, regardless of their background. This includes those with special needs who require the Bible in specialised formats and languages. For the 2027 Bible Prayer Month celebrations, LAI is inviting its partner churches throughout Indonesia to support the Bible translation effort into Sign Language.

The hope, of course, is that our deaf friends will also gain easy access to the Holy Scriptures in a language and format they can understand and which resonates deeply with them. 

Thank you to LAI’s ministry partners for their support in sharing the Good News through prayer, hard work, evangelism and financial contributions. May the Word of God continue to be present, dwell amongst us, and transform human civilisation towards honouring and glorifying Him.