I
the Church of God in
ndonesia
OneChurch
:
ManyLocations
The Church-Planting Strategy of Pastor Niko Njotorahardjo
by James E. Cossey
D
RIVING RECENTLY through in human-resource development with the Once the church is established, it is no
a major Southern city, I saw Asian Development Bank (1988-1998). longer an “Indonesian” church, but a
an impressive billboard for a But today, five of seven siblings, includ- house of prayer for that nation, and a
Church of God congrega- ing Djohan, are in full-time ministry. prayer tower is established where interces-
tion, the caption of which read, “One Another such pastor is Richard Pang, sion takes place almost perpetually. Pastor
Church: Two Locations.” The idea that who is the associate pastor for the Bethany Niko developed the prayer tower ministry
the church is not a building, but a move- Church’s English-speaking congregation. over 10 years ago, with a goal of develop-
ment of people under pastoral authority Meeting on the seventh floor of a com- ing a prayer tower in every city and dis-
is not new; it is a biblical concept, and mercial office building, this congregation trict of Indonesia. Pastor Niko insists that
one that has worked well in many parts began in 1993 as a home cell group. Com- “through the prayer tower movement
of the world for many years. prised primarily of young, affluent Singa- there will be a great harvest of souls.”
Such is the concept of Pastor Niko Pastor Niko assisted Pastor Mitch Mal-
Njotorahardjo, a former assistant national oney and the North Cleveland (Ten-
overseer for Gereja Bethel Indonesia (the nessee) Church of God in the establish-
Church of God in Indonesia), and a ment of their prayer tower ministry as an
senior pastor whose billboard could read, adviser and financial contributor. He and
“One Church: 500 Locations!” his associate pastors have also provided
On Sunday, January 11, 2009, this major funding for the prayer tower at the
writer was privileged to minister to over Jerusalem House of Prayer in Israel.
500 people in the 8:30 a.m. service at
Bethany Church, Singapore, originally
Intimacy With God
one of Pastor Niko’s congregations, now Prayer isn’t just about requesting
led by Senior Pastor Djohan Handojo. At things; it is about developing a relation-
the second service that morning, Donnie ship with God. This is one reason why
Smith, director of the Division of Care
Niko
Pastor Niko establishes prayer towers in
Ministries, preached to more than 1,200.
Njotorahardjo
each location. Public services in his con-
While we worshipped, services were also gregations are also characterized by sea-
being conducted in the Mandarin lan- poreans, this growing congregation is sons of deep worship as well as jubilant
guage for the Chinese, youth services nearing the 100 mark in regular atten- praise. His own prayers and even his
were going on, and domestic helpers dance and, to accommodate their growth, preaching and teaching may be interrupt-
(hotel maids and workers, most of them is now moving into the Hyatt Hotel. ed as he engages in the singing of inti-
Muslims) were being taught how to get Using this mother-daughter method mate praises to God. Spiritual discipline,
their high school diplomas and improve of church planting, Pastor Niko has according to Pastor Niko, is essential for
their way of life. Eight services are con- spread the influence of Gereja Bethel intimacy with God. He and each of his
ducted each Sunday by Bethany Church across Indonesia and into Singapore, Aus- pastors fast regularly, including each Sat-
in the beautiful Hyatt Hotel. tralia, New Zealand, Vietnam, Cambodia, urday until afternoon.
Mentored by Pastor Niko, and the son Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philip-
of a Gereja Bethel pastor, Djohan didn’t pines, and major cities all over the world
Cooperation
plan to be a pastor. He was a business- where Indonesians have migrated. Indonesia has the largest concentra-
man with a degree in architecture who tion of Muslims of any nation on earth.
became a consultant for educational con- Prayer Towers In Jakarta, most Muslims are moderate
struction. He collaborated with institu- Niko’s strategy is that “wherever there and coexist peacefully with Christians
tions such as the World Bank, and served are Indonesians, we plant a church.” and other religions. In some outlying
16 EVANGEL • JUNE 2009
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