A Congregation Opens Its Hearts and Doors

By Rebecca Young

Calm, handy, responsive, and firm are words that come to mind in describing pastor Michiko Saren, who serves the Efrata congregation of the West Indonesia Protestant Church in Padang. Fortunately no one in her congregation of 1,040 members suffered loss of life in the earthquake, but many sustained physical injuries and damage to their homes.

With deft hands and a strong sense of responsibility, this energetic woman faithfully serves a congregation rocked by this recent disaster. She is in constant motion although she admits she is often tired as she acts on behalf of the people of her new hometown of Padang. A native of North Sulawesi (about 3000km from Padang), she served a church in Kalimantan for many years before being assigned to Padang just two months ago.

When the earthquake hit, Michiko was in her manse on the grounds of the Efrata church building, where she has only be living for a few weeks. “When an earthquake comes, no one can avoid it. We can only hope and pray,” she reflected. She had already experienced a strong earthquake (6.9 on the Richter scale) this past August when newly arrived to begin her work here. She recalled, “When that earthquake started, I looked out my window to see if some tractor was doing roadwork.” Before she could think the question through, she felt the ground move like an ocean wave beneath her feet. She felt dizzy and unable to do anything except surrender to it.

So when the most recent earthquake cause such a great deal of damage to Padang and its environs, Michiko didn’t think twice before opening up the doors of the church to volunteers from around the world but mostly from Padang and her own congregation. The church fellowship hall has become the distribution center for aid, serving a thousand folks a day, at night becoming the sleeping quarters for male volunteers. Michiko’s manse has become the temporary sleeping area for the female volunteers, and the kitchen serves fifty to seventy people per meal three times a day.

ACT International is running the distribution center at Michiko’s church. It made the connection through its partnership with the synod of the West Indonesia Protestant Church.  The atmosphere at the distribution post is very pleasant. Whoever comes to visit here to request aid will receive friendly, efficient service. The church’s outside kitchen is always ready to serve and never quiet from the constant chatter of the cooks. With great skill and ease, they prepare food for the volunteers, the church members affected by the earthquake, and the church’s neighbors. Amazingly, the cooks do not ever seem to tire and are always ready with a smile for everyone who needs them.

”Let them come and ask for food, just give it to them. Don’t worry about the cost! We’ll find the funds somehow,” Michiko told her busy cooks. Michiko and her congregation with their warm hospitality have opened their doors and hearts to the public in a remarkable way. Their faithfulness in this hour of need will not soon by forgotten by the people of Padang who have suffered such a traumatic disaster.

The ACT International implementing member mentioned in this story is Yayasan Tanggul Bencana di Indonesia (The Foundation for Disaster Relief in Indonesia). YTBI and the West Sumatra Regional Council of Churches (which includes the West Indonesia Protestant Church (GPIB), the Batak Protestant Christian Church (HKBP), the Mentawai Protestant Christian Church (GKPM), the Nias Protestant Christian Church (BNKP), the Batak Karo Protestant Church (GBKP) and the Methodist Church) have established a humanitarian post in the GPIB Efrata church hall, Padang.