Church and I

Interacting and Discovering New Spirit

mentoring youth of Panggang Javanese Christian Church

Stube-HEMAT Yogyakarta facilitated youth gathering of GKJ (Javanese Christian Church) Panggang, Gunungkidul at Gesing beach, Gunungkidul on Monday-Tuesday, March 27-28, 2017 with a theme ‘ Church and I'. The facilitation was a follow-up activity of Christianity training and one demand to serve church. It aimed to 1) actualize post-training activities of Christianity training, 2) tell church youth to know the history of Christianity and their church, 3) establish closer relation with local church, and 4) give service in a framework of empowering local church congregation.

Javanese Christian Church (GKJ) Panggang is located in Girisekar village, Panggang district, Gunungkidul regency, Special Province of Yogyakarta. It is about 40 kms away from Yogyakarta and it can be reached within 60 minutes. In 2009 the church became autonomous from Paliyan Javanese Christian Church with 269 people congregation member, spreaded in four branches, called ‘pepanthan’, namely Girisekar, Girimulyo, Giriharjo and Giripurwo. Currently Javanese Christian Church of Panggang is served by a pastor, Pdt. Subagyo, S.Th.

This youth gathering was attended by twenty-four participants. Trustha Rembaka, the coordinator of Stube-HEMAT Yogyakarta conveyed the history of Christianity in Indonesia and how finally it reached Panggang, Gunungkidul. He used creative methods and group games so the participants enthusiastically followed the session by organizing cards that contain historical stages of church, such as ministry of Jesus, Pentecost, ministry of the apostles, church reform until the entry of Christianity in Indonesia. This method encouraged them to discuss and argue while discussing the chronological order of historical stages of church.

Then, activists of Stube-HEMAT Yogyakarta accompanied the participants to dialogue to find activities which be liked by young people. They performed three different role plays, such as church assembly, youth board and youth member. Apparently, although they were young, they showed enthusiasm and active through their expressions of what church youth should do and various activity proposals, such as restarting youth fellowship meeting, sharpen talent of singing, playing musical instruments and dancing, church services and outbound.

The following day, Stube-HEMAT Yogyakarta team facilitated group dynamics activities through three types of games. Elisabeth and Trustha guided 'Participation', a teamwork game, participants moved the ball from the starting point into a glass by connecting bamboo splits. Participants learned how to work together and to take part in an activity.

Next, Wilton and Sipry guided a game of 'Water Relay' where participants moved a tray contained water overhead and keep the water from spilling over to the members. Participants learned how to be calm and be careful in doing actions and protecting their members.

While Redy and Sarloce guided a 'Walking in the Dark' game in which participants should pass a certain area with closed eyes. One person from the group was chosen to provide direction to where the member will move. Participants learned how to be a leader who direct members and how to be  members who listen direction from the leader as well.

Pdt. Subagyo, at the end of the event revealed, "I am very grateful to Stube-HEMAT Yogyakarta for this co-operation. While the activity of our church youth is vacuum and we are looking for facilitator for them, Stube-HEMAT Yogyakarta offers activities here. So this is like the Javanese wise saying 'tumbu oleh tutup' (the container gets the lid) and I believe that God is working on time. In addition, church assembly has been assisted and the youth find new passion from all materials and activities they follow during the process. We hope this cooperation can be continued in the future."

It is true that cooperation will encourage the realization of interaction and in the interaction there is a process of mutual understanding and mutual learning so that there is renewal and progress. Young people, keep interacting in the spirit of togetherness. (TRU).