Love of Emmanuel Church
ministers from the cradle to the grave
V
ERONICA BACKER is a 58- Pastor Backer believes that before the of Love of Emmanuel Church. Whose he
year-old widow and pastor of church can expect unbelievers to take its was or where he came from is a mystery.
Gereja Bethel Indonesia Kasih hand in fellowship, it must reach their That incident in 1997 was the beginning
Emmanuel (Love of Emmanuel hearts through Christ’s love. In a commu- of the Love of Emmanuel Orphanage.
Church of God), which is literally located nity predominantly Muslim, with a sprin- Now in the fourth grade, 12-year-old
at the city dump in Jakarta, Indonesia. kling of Hindus and Buddhists, she began Abednigo (the name given to him by Sis-
Born on January 16, 1951, into a Muslim the work by ministering to their greatest ter Backer) is a vibrant young man full of
family, Veronica’s mother converted to need—poverty. This was an area that had the Spirit, a prayer warrior and a leader of
Catholicism while her children were still been saturated with crime, and a hideout praise and worship in the school, orphan-
small. Young Veronica became a devout area for gamblers, murderers, and others age, and church. Sixty-five children are
Catholic, studied to become a nurse, and who lived afoul of the law. She began now housed in two dormitories that have
later became a successful businesswoman with prayer, and God led her to begin a been built through the generosity of
and the leader of a women’s group in her God’s people. One miracle after another
church.
Pastor Veronica Backer
has provided adjoining properties for the
Pastor Backer’s introduction to Pente- with Editor in Chief expansion of the ministries of the church.
cost came when a businesswoman friend
James Cossey
Because of the abject poverty in the
invited her to a women’s Charismatic community, many elderly men and
Bible study. Resistant because of warnings women die on the streets. A dying Muslim
she had been given about this “strange man with no family and no place to die
sect,” she decided to go anyway because was brought to Pastor Backer. Because, at
of the possibility of new sales for her busi- the time, there were no other facilities, he
ness. This meeting was the beginning of a was placed in the dormitory with the
new way of life. She had never heard boys. This incident birthed Love of
praying like these women prayed, so she Emmanuel Old Folks’ Home, which has
asked if they could write down some of allowed impoverished elderly men and
their prayers so she could pray them too. women to die with dignity. Through this
Soon afterward, she began attending a feeding program for the children of the compassionate ministry, Muslims, Hindus,
Pentecostal church, but found it, in her community. She and a friend would and Buddhists have come to receive Christ
words, “Pentecostal in name only.” Dis- come daily and provide food, give free during their final days on this earth.
satisfied, she attended Rose of Sharon haircuts, and with Bible nearby, witness Today, Love of Emmanuel Church
Church, came under the ministry of Pas- about Jesus. The congregation grew from averages around 400 in Sunday worship
tor Jacob Nahuway, and became a part of six to 60 in a shack with no electricity. attendance and ministers around the clock
Gereja Bethel (the Church of God). In 1996, Pastor Veronica felt impressed to Jakarta’s poorest of the poor. When
After several attempts had been made to begin a medical clinic. She protested to asked what is next for the church’s min-
to establish a church in the community at God, Where will I get the doctors? He assured istry, Pastor Backer explained that from
the dump, Veronica and her husband her that He would provide. And what about time to time she takes in an unwed moth-
accepted the challenge in 1993. Other a nurse? she inquired. The Spirit reminded er and helps her through her pregnancy,
attempts had failed for lack of support, her of her earlier nursing training, saying, but that the greatest need now is for a
but she would pastor the church and live You will be the nurse! Today, medical doc- funeral home since most of the people of
from her husband’s income. Six years, tors donate one day a week to the clinic, the area have no funds for burial prepara-
and many ministry successes later, her and Pastor Backer is the nurse, providing tion. When that dream is realized, it can
husband, a merchant marine, died and ministry to body, soul, and spirit. truly be said that Love of Emmanuel
left her to lead the work alone and with- Twelve years ago, a tiny infant boy Church has a ministry that reaches from
out his income for support. with a shaved head was left on the doors the cradle to the grave. —James E. Cossey
EVANGEL • JUNE 2009 19
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