Church Aids Refugees Despite Violence

Following an overwhelming vote August 30 in favor of independence, the Indonesian island territory of East Timor continues to be racked with violence. More than 200,000 people have fled the massacres by pro-Indonesia militia. Hundreds more have been killed, including Christians and clergy.

Francisco de Vasconcelos Ximenes, the acting head of the Protestant church in East Timor, was shot and killed after being forced out of a church in the capital city of Dili in September.

Leading up to the referendum, at least 25 people were killed in April when a militia attacked hundreds of people seeking refuge in a Catholic church in Liquicia, west of Dili.

“Since the Liquicia incident, the militias pay no attention to the fact that they are attacking a sacred place,” says Catherine Scott, Asia policy officer for the London-based Catholic Institute for International Relations, in an interview with the news service Newsroom. “It is an indication of the seriousness of the situation.” The Vatican has called it genocide.

The Catholic church has been a place of refuge and reform for those opposing the Indonesian government.

The island territory was for 400 years a colony of the mainly Catholic Portugal, but evangelistic efforts were slow, particularly in remote areas.

In 1975, the mostly Muslim Indonesia led a bloody invasion claiming the lives of 200,000 civilians, nearly one-third of East Timor’s population. But the hostile takeover was a boon for the church. “People saw the church as the only place that wasn’t colonized by Indonesia,” says Scott.

And church growth appears to be stronger than ever, ac cording to Nus Reimas, secretary of the Indonesian Evangelical Alliance. Official statistics place the number of Christians at about 15 million of Indonesia’s 200 million people, but many church leaders estimate that number could be 5 million more due to the fast addition of new churches. Reimas says the new Christians are bold in proclaiming their faith, despite the risks.

“Some church leaders [in East Timor] have prices on their heads and each day do not know if they will be returning home at night,” says World Relief’s Arne Bergstrom. “Yet they continue their ministry, keeping as apolitical as possible in an extremely volatile situation.”

Carlos Belo, bishop of Dili and a corecipient of the 1996 Nobel Peace Prize, was forced to flee in early September after militias attacked his residence, where he was providing sanctuary for hundreds of Timorese.

Analysts say the most difficult days lie ahead for the newly independent nation. In addition to ethnic and religious tensions, East Timor has suffered from a severe drought and virtual collapse of its economy during the past year. Most relief agencies have been forced to evacuate the area, shifting aid efforts to the thousands of refugees in West Timor.

Both World Vision and World Relief are providing relief items such as tents, medicines, and food to refugee families.

Copyright © 1999 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Also in this issue

Revelation NOW: What happens when you treat Revelation like other books of the Bible—looking at its historical context before applying its message to our day? Instead of an end-of-the-world preview, you'll find wisdom to help churches stay faithful in a hostile environment.

Cover Story

Apocalypse Now

New President Promises Reforms

Stop the Dating Game

What Hal Lindsey Taught Me About the Second Coming

Is Revelation Prophecy or History?

Called to Hate?

Church Leader Worships Whites

Time Out

Classic & Contemporary Excerpts from October 25, 1999

A Quaker at War with Himself

A Nation That Sang Itself Free

Getting to Know Me

To the Church That Endures Persecution by Steve Haas

Business Funnels Profits to Churches

Church Shooting Creates New Martyrs

In Brief: October 25, 1999

Porn Store Reborn As Church

Virtue Folds

Lutherans and Catholics Sign Declaration on Justification

Christian Journalists Ponder Calling

Religious Freedom Report Released

Editorial

Moms Without Marriage

Wire Story

Pro-Life Pharmacist Sues Kmart

Wire Story

Priest Killed for Illegal Conversions

The Millenial Book Awards

Extending the Dream

Letters

Baptist Foundation Faces Fraud Charges

Interview: George W. Bush on Faith-Based Plans

Christian Filmmakers Flock to End-times Features

Editorial

Make Disciples, Not Just Converts

Wire Story

Africa: Can Christianity and Islam Coexist and Prosper?

Apocalyptic Palette

You've Got Mail

To the Suburban Churches of North America

To the Pentecostal & Charismatic Churches by Todd Hunter

To the Church Called Mainline by William H. Willimon

To the Inner-City Pastor & Church by Gardner Taylor

To the Rural Church by Susan Wise Bauer

To the Church Which Seeks Seekers by John Ortberg

View issue

Our Latest

Go Slow and Repair Things

We’re facing huge problems in our culture—problems an election alone can’t solve. But by God’s grace, we can do the small, daily work of repair.

In a Polarized World, but Not of It 

On Election Day and beyond, conservative and liberal Christians can better understand each other and be ministers of reconciliation. 

Gen Z Is Turning Online for Spiritual Guidance

Where Ya From?

Navigating Cultural Identity with Danielle Marck

Danielle Marck shares the experiences that pivoted the direction of her life toward her callings from God.

News

Charlie Kirk Aims to Expand Turning Point USA to Evangelical Campuses

But not all Christian campuses have embraced the conservative group.

News

Sarah Jakes Roberts Evolves T. D. Jakes’s Women’s Conference

At a record-setting event this fall, 40,000 followers listened to her preach about spiritual breakthrough and surrender.

News

The Evangelical Voters Who Changed Their Minds

Amid a hyperpartisan electorate, a minority plan to vote differently than they did in 2016 and 2020.

Being Human

Walking the Camino de Santiago with Barrett Harkins

The missionary to pilgrims shares wisdom from the trail.

Apple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squareGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastRSSRSSSaveSaveSaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube