During the first week of September, 2006, my wife and I were honoured to represent the Canada and Bermuda territory at the opening and dedication of several Salvation Army projects in Indonesia.The first impression that hit us was that we quickly became aware that we have a vibrant Army in Indonesia with splendid properties, programs, and personnel. In spite of it being a strong Muslim nation, the Army’s corps and social ministries is wide-reaching through its schools, hospitals (with nurses training), clinics and children’s homes. We sensed that it is in these institutions that much of their effective evangelism is taking place. We were also impressed with the zeal and competence of the officers we met and of their potential for future leadership.

Of special interest, and the main purpose of our visit, was to fly into Meulaboah in the northern province of Aceh, where the tsunami had hit the hardest. We also drove to the village of Kuta Padang, where the government had allocated land for the Army to build new homes for the tsunami victims.

We found it difficult to comprehend the vastness of the devastation that had taken place there in December 2004. Not only was there the loss of all properties, as we had seen on our TV screens back home, but even more significantly, there was the loss of some 150,000 lives. By now, the vegetation was growing healthily once again and a considerable amount of reconstruction has already taken place.

Phase 1 of the Army’s development took place in December 2005 with the handing over of 500 homes to victims’ families. Now Phase 2 was being completed with a further 220 homes. It was obvious at the hand-over ceremony that the government and the people of this village are most appreciative of the Army’s quickness of action immediately following the tsunami and of our continuing assistance, both material and spiritual. An officer is presently appointed to this area and it is the hope of their territorial commander that, through their ongoing ministry, a corps may soon be established there.

Another unexpected impression was made at the opening and dedication of the new children’s home and school outside Jakarta. The land for this project had been donated to the Army, and the donors (husband and wife) were present for its opening. In conversation with them following the ceremony, when they learned that we were Canadians, they told us how they themselves first met when they were children in the Army’s children’s home and how a Canadian missionary officer-Lt-Colonel Lavina Kroeker, who spent the whole of her 42 years active service in Indonesia-was influential in their spiritual development. We thought to ourselves that it would have been nice if the home had been named in her memory but that was not to be. We found that her name is still highly revered in Indonesia, together with other long-serving Canadian officers such as Brigadier Hadsley and Major Estelle Kjellson. Having known these fine officers, it was a proud moment to be Canadian!

We came away from Indonesia with gratitude for all that we had seen of the Army’s ministries and for the open door of opportunity that presently exists in that great land. We pray that this door will remain open in the years to come and that the gospel of Christ will continue to be heard and received by its peoples.

by Commissioner Donald Kerr

For more information on the work of The Salvation Army in Indonesia read the February, 2007 edition of Salvationist