COVID-19 Update from The Evangelical Protestant Church of Timor (GMIT) in Indonesia

Greetings in the love of Christ,

We give thanks for the longstanding ecumenical fellowship between our churches, The Evangelical Protestant Church of Timor (GMIT), The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), and the United Church of Christ, through the Common Global Ministries Board. We feel blessed by the common work of GMIT and Global Ministries in many fields of ministry. Especially in difficult times, we have always been able to count on Global Ministries.

In recent days, with growing concern, we have followed the news of the tensions and public outcry that have been happening in the USA, both regarding the effects of the Covid-19 outbreak and the public reaction to racially-based violence throughout the US. We also grieve for the more than 100,000 Americans who have died from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Through this letter, we want you to know that we in GMIT remember you all in prayer. We pray for the families who have lost loved ones, as well as for church communities who are grieving in the current situation. We pray that the churches in the USA, especially our two partners, will remain faithful witnesses to Christ in the face of the pandemic and the current social unrest. May your faith, and your hope, and your love remain strong in these difficult times.

We also ask that you remember us in your prayers. Here we are experiencing the effects of the pandemic in many areas of life: health care, the economy, politics, food security, and social and cultural life. Working together with national and local government as well as various civil society partners, we are struggling to deal with the impact of Covid-19.

We are aware that we all need God to heal our world. May the prophetic voice and actions of the church remain clear amid the confusing noise of anxiety, panic, hope, and hatred in these times. In this season of Pentecost, we also pray that the Holy Spirit in Her love will heal the earth and lead us to repentance from the racism that is hurting us all. May the Triune God whom we worship use us as agents of healing for the physical and inner wounds, and the wounded relationships, among people of all backgrounds. 

With our greetings and prayers, 

Rev. Dr. Mery Kolimon
Moderator

Rev. Yusuf Nakmofa, MTh
Secretary                      

The Evangelical Protestant Church of Timor (GMIT)