Papua, Indonesia

Terang Lentera Sahabat Indonesia

The interior of Papua, Indonesia, is one of the most remote places on earth. It’s only accessible through small aircraft landing on dirt runways carved into the mountains.

It’s here that Dr. Julius Surjadi has set up camp on a community health and evangelistic ministry that has brought transformational change to the Wolani people, a previously unreached people group. While based on Bugalaga, the ministry serves 35 villages in the Mbeamo region.

“By the grace of God, we are seeing the transformation of their life to be a more connected and developed people group,” Surjadi said.

Some of the medical activities include promoting nutrition, tuberculosis treatments and vaccinations. They train health care workers, and conduct health education for pastors and the community. A small clinic and medical storage area was constructed in Bugalaga to assist in the efforts.

The ministry uses a Bible school to provide education to the local children, of which more than 800 have graduated. Regular seminars are hosted for the churches. The ministry also engages in two- to three-week walking evangelistic trips to share the Gospel in the remote areas and to encourage new believers.

 

Dr. Julius Surjadi

About the ministry:

Name: Terang Lentera Sahabat Indonesia

Location: Papua, Indonesia

Director: Dr. Julius Surjadi

Partnership: 2001-present

Staff: 8

Alumni PMT: Mark and Cathy Ailanjian; Dr. Steve and Jackie Baker

 

Our mission:

“To see the transformation of the unreached people groups through medical evangelism.”

Why I love being a director:

“I love to see lives changed by Jesus’ love in the communities, especially in the remote places through medical approaches, and then through the holistic approach including education and community development.”

 
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About Indonesia:

Population: 275.1 million

Size: 1.9 million sq. km, or about three times the size of Texas.

Capital: Jakarta

Borders: Indian Ocean to the south; Malaysia to the north; Papua New Guinea to the east; Timor-Leste to the southeast.

Religious groups: Muslim, 87.2%; Protestant, 7%; Catholic, 2.9%.

Primary language: Bahasa Indonesia, English, Dutch

Literacy (age 15+): 96.0%

Physician density: 0.43 doctors per 1,000 people.

Population below international poverty line: 9.4%

Life expectancy: 72.8 years

Infant mortality rate: 20.2 deaths per 1,000 live births.

Major exports: Palm oil, oil and gas, electrical appliances, plywood, textiles, rubber.

Climate: Tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands.

Terrain: Mostly coastal lowlands; larger islands have interior mountains.

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