True Jesus Church in Indonesia

The True Jesus Church in Salatiga, Indonesia.

The True Jesus Church was first preached into Indonesia in 1939 when a Deacon of the True Jesus Church in Putian, China named Stephen Xiao (蕭司提反) was invited by Brother Jao Hoan Tech to preach in Java, Indonesia. Today, the Indonesian name of the church is known as Gereja Yesus Sejati.

Early background

In 1920, Jao Hoan Tech, born in Putian, China, traveled to Indonesia and settled in Makassar, South Sulawesi. In 1932 he returned to the Chinese mainland to get married; however, three months after the marriage he suffered from fever and his body became very weak to the point where he could not get up and walk. For six months he lay in bed and despite every effort being made to appease the temple gods by his mother, his condition instead deteriorated to the point of dying. At that time, Bie-Jade Ong, her aunt, came to visit him and told him that the True Jesus Church believed in Jesus only. At that, Mr. Jao and his mother (Lois Yao) took the decision to trust in Jesus. He was carried by stretcher to the church to pray. He resided in the church for twenty-eight days, where the church congregation, the elders and deacons prayed for him – he completely recovered. Br. Jao and his mother were subsequently baptized by the Deacon Stephen Xiao.

In January 1936, Brother Jao returned to the Chinese mainland and met with the Stephen Xiao, who was a Deacon at the Putian church. On that occasion, Deacon Xiao asked Brother Jao to obtain permission for him to preach the Gospel in Indonesia. In May of that same year, Brother Jao returned to Makassar and later moved to moved to Surabaya with his family. In 1939, upon the invitation of Brother Jao, Deacon Stephen sailed by ship to Surabaya, Indonesia via Singapore. In Surabaya there were already dozens of other Christian congregations from mainland China in existence.

Shortly afterwards, Mr. Jao was assigned by his company to Jakarta. In Jakarta, Br. Jao preached the gospel to an Elder from mainland China named Tan Chauw Sin (陳照馨) and Elder Tan was later willing to lend his home as a place of worship. So Deacon Xiao travelled from Surabaya to Jakarta and they rented a building which was used as a gathering place and shelter for those people who were physically weak. The congregation grew and by February 1, 1941, Tan Sin Chauw was ordained as the chairman and Jao Hoan Tech was vice-chairman.

Development of the True Jesus Church in Indonesia

After the first True Jesus Church was founded in Jakarta in 1941, Deacon Stephen Xiao began to preach the gospel to Bandung and Cianjur. The Bandung Church was established in 1943 followed by the Cianjur Church in 1947. In 1947, Rev. Maria Chen came from mainland China to Indonesia to help in the pastoring work. In 1950, the church of Pontianak was formed, followed by the Banjarmasin church in 1951. In 1953, Rev. Yulia Lim also arrived from mainland China to Indonesia to strengthen the pastoring work. Preacher Tzu Yen Guo was invited from Hong Kong in 1953 to take part in the evangelical work in Indonesia.

In 1952, Rev. Stephen Xiao fell ill and after recovering, Deacon Shau Bin Yuen, his son, took him to Makassar to undergo treatment. The TJC was formed in Makassar in 1955. On July 5, 1955, he died and the Church in Makassar was disbanded in 1958 due to lack of pastoring.

In 1956, the Church in Tasikmalaya was formed with Deacon Khu Song Min and Deacon Loy Fong Tjie resolving to dedicate themselves fully to serve God. In 1959, the church in Tangerang was established. In 1961, they evangelized in Serang, but the work stopped in 1966, due to the lack of pastoring work.

In 1969, the church in Surakarta of Central Java was established, followed by the church in Salatiga in 1974. In 1976, a prayer house in Pontianak (formerly named Siantan) of West Kalimantan was established. In 1980, the Lasem prayer house in Central Java was formed and was dedicated as a church in 1985. In that same year the prayer house in Sendangcoyo was established. In 1987, the Surabaya church in East Java was dedicated, followed by the Cilacap church of Central Java in 1988.

See also

• Christianity in Indonesia