It is important to note that those who are burning churches and killing Christians in Indonesia are a small minority of radical fanatics. They love to shed innocent blood; to steal the property of others; to bear false testimony against those they hate; and to rape women and burn churches and other property of Christians. This list of destroyed or damaged churches is only a small portion of the overall damage. One report claims that over 700 churches have been destroyed or damaged since Indonesian independence in 1945. The most recent church burning was in Sulawesi, this month, April 2000. The vast majority of Muslims in Indonesia are friendly neighbors who will often risk their own lives to protect the Christian minority. The radicals claim that they are only protecting themselves against the Christians, but the number of Mosques that have been burned could be counted on one hand -- to count the churches burned, one would need an abacus.

This is a list of 126 churches that were damaged or destroyed in Indonesia between June1996 and January1998 . These churches were either burned, stoned, demolished or closed by government force. 

1.At  Siantan - Province of West kalimantan, 30 March 1996.
Gereja Misi Injili at Village of Peniti- District of Siantan- Regency of  Pontianak : destroyed and burned by a Muslim mob.

2. At SIDOTOPO, Surabaya - Province of East Jawa, 9 June 1996.
Ten churches were looted and destroyed. The Muslim mobs also sexually harassed many Christian women.
The destroyed churches are as follows:

2.1. Gereja Kristen Jawi Wetan (GKJW)- Address: Jl. Sidotopo Indah Wetan II/26.
2.2. Huria Kristen Batak Protestan (HKBP) "POGOT" - Address: Jl. Sidotopo Wetan Indah II/62-64.
2.3. Pos Pelayanan"SILO" GPIB "Cahaya Kasih" - Address: Jl. Bulak Raya.
2.4. Gereja Bethel Indonesia (GBI) "Firman Hayat"-Address:Jl. Tenggumung Baru Selatan 51.
2.5. Gereja Pantekosta di Indonesia (GPdI)-Address: Jl. Jatisrono Tengah 11.
2.6. Gereja Kemah Injil Indonesia "Kalvari"-Address: Jl. Bulak banteng Madya no 4.
2.7. Gereja Pentakosta Tabernakel - Address: Jl. Wonosari Wetan Baru Gg. Sekolahan 22.
2.8. Persekutuan Doa Gereja Bethel Indonesia (GBI)- Address: Jl. Bulak Banteng  Wetan IV/2-4.
2.9. Gereja Sidang Jemaat Pantekosta (GSJP)- Address: Jl. Tenggumung Karya III/54.
2.10. Gereja Pantekosta di Indonesia (GPdI) - Address: Jl. Sidotopo Wetan Indah.

3. At WATES, Kediri - Province of East Jawa, 14 June 1996.
Gereja Kristen Jawi Wetan (GKJW) was attacked and destroyed at 2 p.m. by a Muslim mob.

4. At PARE, Kediri - Jawa Timur, 25 Juni 1996.
Gereja Pantekosta di Indonesia (GPdI) was destroyed, the church's musical instruments and other equipment were taken out and burned by a Muslim mob of about 200 people. This incident occurred at 12 noon.

5. At  PONDOK GEDE, Regency of Bekasi - Province of West Jawa,  at sequence by  16 , 20 & 21 of July 1996. Gereja Pantekosta di Indonesia (GPdI) were destroyed by a Muslim mob.

6. At the CITY of BEKASI  - Province of West Jawa , 17 September 1996.
Gereja St. Leo Agung (Katolik) were destroyed with the total loss of about US $300,000 by a Muslim mob.

7. At SITUBONDO , PANARUKAN, WONOREJO, ASEMBAGUS, BESUKI, RANUREJO -
Province of East Jawa, 10 October 1996.  There were 24 churches altogether destroyed and burned by about 3000 people identified as Muslims. At this incident 5 people (Rev. Ishak Christian and his family) were martyred for Christ and burned with their homes. 
Those 24 churches are as follows:  

7.1. Gereja Bethel Indonesia (GBI) Bukit Sion - burned.
7.2. Gereja Pantekosta di Indonesia (GPdI) - demolished.
7.3. Gereja Bethel Injil Sepenuh (GBIS) - burned.
7.4. Gereja Sidang Jemaat Pantekosta (GSJP) - burned.
7.5. Gereja Kristen Jawi Wetan - burned.
7.6. Gereja Pantekosta Pusat Surabaya (GPPS) - burned.
7.7. Gereja Protestan di Indonesia bag. Barat (GPIB) - demolished.
7.8. Gereja Katolik Bintang Samudra - burned.
7.9. Gereja Katolik Panarukan - burned.
7.10. Gereja Pantekosta di Indonesia (GPdI) Wonorejo - burned.
7.11. Gereja Pantekosta di Indonesia (GPdI) - stoned.
7.12. Gereja Kristen Jawi Wetan (GKJW) - burned.
7.13. Gereja Bethel Tabernakel (GBT) - burned.
7.14. Gereja Katolik Asembagus - stoned.
7.15. Gereja Bethel Injil Sepenuh (GBIS) - burned
7.16. Gereja Pantekosta di Indonesia (GPdI) - destroyed.
7.17. Gereja katolik Besuki - burned.
7.18. Gereja Pantekosta di Indonesia (GPdI) - destroyed.
7.19. Gereja Bethel Injil Sepenuh (GBIS) - destroyed.
7.20. Gereja Kristen Jawi Wetan (GKJW) - destroyed.
7.21. Gereja Katolik Ranurejo - destroyed.
7.22. Gereja Kristen Jawi Wetan (GKJW) Mother Church - burned.
7.23. Gereja Kristen Jawi Wetan (GKJW) Sister Church - burned.
7.24. Gereja Kristus Tuhan (GKT) - burned

8. At TASIKMALAYA - Province of West Jawa, 26 December 1996 (the day after Christmas).
Fifteen churches were either burned or destroyed by mobs of Muslims. Four Christians were martyred. The fifteen churches are as follows:  

8.1. Gereja Katolik "Hati Kudus Yesus" ,- Address:  Jl. Sutisna Senjaya no. 50 - burned.
8.2. Gereja Kristen Indonesia (GKI) - Address : Jl. Veteran 49 - burned.
8.3. Gereja Pantekosta di Indonesia (GPdI) - Address: Jl. Panyeurutan 10 -burned.
8.4. Gereja Kristen Pasundan (GKP) - Address : Jl. Selakaso 61 - burned.
8.5. Gereja Bethel Indonesia (GBI)- Address:  Jl. Tentara Pelajar - burned.
8.6. Gereja Gerekan Pantekosta (GGP) "Ebenhaezer" - demolished.
8.7. Gereja Kristen Indonesia (GKI) "Sion" - Address: Jl. Tentara Pelajar 8-  demolished.
8.8. Gereja Bethel Tabernakel (GBT)-Address:  Jl. Veteran 72 - destroyed.
8.9. Huria Kristen Batak Protestan (HKBP)- Address: Jl. Merdeka 24 - destroyed.
8.10. Gereja Yesus Sejati ,- Address: Jl. Empang Sari 32 - destroyed.
8.11. Gereja Kristen Immanuel (GKIm) - Adress: Jl. Mayor Utarya 11 - destroyed.
8.12. Gereja Kerasulan Baru, - Address: Jl. Tentara Pelajar 50 - destroyed.
8.13. Gereja Bethel Tabernakel (GBT)-Adress: Jl. Mekarsari, Cipanas Cipatujah - demolished.
8.14. Gereja Kristen Pasundan (GKP) - Address: Jl. Cikaong Ading kalaksanaan Cipatujah - burned.
8.15. Kapel Gereja Katolik - Address: Jl. Raya Ciawi Ds. Palemanggu - burned.

9. At Village of ARJASA , Situbondo - Province of East Jawa, 13 January 1997.
Gereja pantekosta di Indonesia (GpdI)  was closed by the head of district of Arjasa  (Mr. Mansejar) for unknown reasons.

10. At RENGASDENGKLOK - Province of West Jawa, 30 January 1997.
There were five (5) churches destroyed and burned by Muslims. One was burned to the ground. Those five churches are as follows:  

10.1. Gereja Pantekosta di Indonesia (GPdI)- Address: Jl. Raya Bedeng - burned..
10.2. Gereja Kristen Indonesia (GKI) - demolished.
10.3. Gereja Bethel Tabernakel (GBT) - mother church - Address: Jl. Raya Bedeng - demolished.
10.4. Gereja Bethel Tabernakel (GBT) cabang - demolished.
10.5. Gereja Pantekosta di Indonesia (GPdI) Bantar Jaya - demolished.

11. At AMBON - Province of Maluku, 10 February 1997.
Playground-Junior High School-Senior High School of Catholic Foundation were burned by Muslims with an attempt to also burn the church within the compound.

12. At SUMENEP, Madura Island - Province of East Jawa, 11 February 1997.
Gereja Sidang Persekutuan Injili Indonesia (GSPII) was closed by the decree of the head of regency of Sumenep.

13. At CIPAKU, Regency of Bogor - Province of West Jawa , 12 February 1997.
Gereja Bethel Injil Sepenuh (GBIS) was attacked and destroyed by Muslims.

.14. At CISEWU, Regency of  Garut - Provine of West Jawa , 22 February 1997.
Gereja Kristen Pasundan(GKP) - burned by Muslims.

15. At RANCABUAYA, Regency of Garut - Province of West Jawa , 6 March  1997.
Gereja Sidang Jemaat Allah (GSJA) - was completely demolished by a mob of Muslims.

16. At WONOSOBO - Province of Central Jawa, 9 March 1997. Two churches of
GKJ (Gereja Kristen Jawa) and 1 Catholic School were stoned by those returning from an Islamic prayer group.

17. At the City of SURABAYA - Province of East Jawa, 13 March 1997.
Gereja Kristen Indonesia (GKI) - Address :Jl.Ngagel was stoned by some Senior High Technical School students.

18. At the City of SURABAYA - Province of East jawa, 28-30 March 1997.
Gereja Bethel Indonesia (GBI) "Petra" was stoned.

19. At WIDODARI, Regency of Ngawi - Province of East Jawa, 28 March 1997.
Gereja Bethel Indonesia (GBI) "Immanuel" pos PI cabang Kedung Gudel - burned.

20. At the City of SURABAYA - Province of East Jawa , 12 April 1997.
Gereja Bethel Indonesia (GBI)- Address:  Jl.Sulung AND another Gereja Katolik - Address: Jl. Kepanjen were stoned at 7 p.m.

21. At the City of SURABAYA - Province of East Jawa, 13 April 1997. Gereja
Protestan di Indonesia bag. Barat (GPIB) - Address: Jl. Bubutan next to the Police Station was stoned.

22. At SEMANDING, Regency of Tuban - Province of East Jawa, 15 Mey 1997.
Gereja Pantekosta Pusat Surabaya (GPPS) - Village of Bejagung- was burned.

23. At the City of BANJARMASIN - Province of South Kalimantan, 23 Mey 1997.
Thirteen (13) churches were either destroyed or burned. Those thirteen churches are as folows:

23.1. Katedral Kudus/Sasana Sehati,- Address:  Jl. Lambung Mangkurat - burned.
23.2. Gereja Santa Maria Kelayan, - Address: Jl. Rantauan Timur - destroyed.
23.3. Gereja Hati Kudus Yesus, - Address: Jl. Veteran Merpati - destroyed
23.4. Gereja GKE EBEEN EZER, - Address: Jl. S. Parman No. 96 - destroyed
23.5. Huria Kristen Batak Protestan Resort Banjarmasin, - Address:  Jl. P. Samudera No.83 - burned.
23.6. Gereja G.K.K.A, - Address: Jl. Veteran No. 85 - destroyed
23.7. Gereja Yesus Sejati (GYS),- Address: Jl. AES. Nasution - destroyed.
23.8. Gereja GPDI Pantekosta,-Address: Jl. Veteran No. 35 - destroyed
23.9. Gereja Jemaat GBI Bethani,- Address:  Jl. Veteran - destroyed.
23.10. Gereja Terang Kristus,-Address: Jl. Lambung Mangkurat - destroyed.
23.11. GBI Jemaat Siloan, - Adress: Jl. RK. Ilir - destroyed
23.12. GPIB Jemaat Banjarmasin, - Address: Jl. Gatot Soebroto - destroyed.
23.13. GPPS Jemaat Banjarmasin, - Address: Jl. Lab. SMP 6 - destroyed.

24. At PASURUAN - Province of East Jawa , 23 Mey 1997:

24.1 Gereja Pantekosta Sion - destroyed
24.2 Gereja Bethel Indonesia - destroyed
24.3 Gereja Protestan di Indonesia bag. Barat - destroyed.
24.4 Gereja Bethel Indonesia (GBI) Jl. Halmahera - destroyed
24.5 Gereja Katolik - destroyed

25.At The City of  KUDUS - Province of Central Jawa , 23 Mey 1997.
Gereja Kristen Muria Indonesia - destroyed.

26. At the Cities of CIKARANG, LEMAH ABANG, BEKASI, TANGERANG - Province of West Jawa, 23 Mey 1997. Those churches are as follows:

26.1. Gereja Kristen Pasundan Pos Cikarang - destroyed & burned..
26.2. GPDI Cikarang - stoned.
26.3. Gereja Pantekosta Yerusalem Lemah Abang - destroyed.
26.4. Gereja Kristen Pasundan - stoned.
26.5. GPDI Kisamun - stoned
26.6. GBI Betlehem - stoned.
26.7. Gereja Katolik Santa Maria - stoned.

27. At KEBAYORAN LAMA - Regency of South Jakarta , 23 Mey 1997.
Gereja Bethel Injil Sepenuh Rawa Kemiri was attacked and destroyed.

28.At  PAMEKASAN, Island of Madura - Province of East Jawa , 23 Mey 1997.
Gereja Katolik - Address : Jl. Jokotole - destroyed

29. At KADIPATEN - Province of West Jawa , 26 May 1997.
Gereja Kristen Pasundan (GKP) - Address  Jl. Brawijaya - destroyed.
Its convention Hall at Cideres was also stoned.

30. At BANGKALAN,Island of  Madura - Province of East Jawa , 14 June 1997.
Gereja Bethel Indonesia (GBI) AND Gereja Pantekosta di Indonesia (GPdI) were destroyed and burned.

31. At Village of BETET , District of  Pesantren, Municipality of  Kediri -Province of East Jawa, 10 July 1997.
Gereja Pantekosta Tabernakel "Yesus Penolong" was closed down by Government of Municipality Kediri.

32. At CISARUA, Regency of  Bogor - Province of West Jawa , 21 July 1997.
Prayer Mount of "Bukit Zaitun" was attacked and burned while students of the Theology School were using it for a retreat.

33. At KANDANGAN ,Regency of  Kediri - Province of East Jawa , 27 July 1997.
Gereja Pantekosta di Indonesia (GPdI) "Puthuk" was burned by about 300 people at 22.30 local time .

34. At the City of BANDUNG - Province of West Jawa , 15 August 1997.
Gereja Baptis Baitlahim Sukamenak was banned by the local people to be used as a worship place.

35. At BARITO PACIFIC -  Province of South Kalimantan, 22 August 1997.
Gereja Kristen Oikumene (GKO) - burned.

36. At the Village of  BARAKO -, Regency of Gorontalo - Province of North Sulawesi , 5 September 1997.
Gereja Masehi Injili Bolaang Mongondow - destroyed

37. At the City of UJUNG PANDANG - Province of South Sulawesi , 15-16 September 1997.
Gereja Katolik "Kristus Raja" - Address: Jl. Andalas 61 UP. was destroyed while the vehicles, Bibles, and church equipment was burned outside the building. Six Catholic Schools and several other Protestant Schools were also destroyed while 13 other churches were stoned lightly.

38. At the City of BANDUNG - Province of West Jawa , 28 September 1997.
Gereja Isa Almasih Arcamanik Bandung was ordered to stop their activities.

39. At CISARUA - Regency of Bogor - Province of West Jawa Barat, 14 October 1997.
Some students of Senior Economic School were attacked by 60 people while they were having their Retreat Programmes. Two students were injured.

40. At KEPANJEN, City of Malang Selatan - Province of East Jawa , 15 October 1997.
Gereja Kristus Tuhan was terrorised and finally was closed by the local government in which they are not allowed to run the church activities.

41.At  MUMBULSARI,Regency of Jember Jember - Province of East Jawa, 17 October 1997.
Gereja Pantekosta di Indonesia (GpdI) was robbed/ransacked and destroyed. Finally the church was ordered to be closed.

42. At PLOSOREJO, District of Garum, Regency of Blitar - Province of East Jawa , 27 October 1997.
Gereja Kristen Baithani - destroyed.

43. At TANGGUL, Regency of Jember - Province of East Jawa , 3 & 10 November 1997.
Gereja Bethel Indonesia (GBI) Bethany was closed by the Government staff of Ministry of Religion.

44. At SANAN KULON, Regency of Blitar - Province of East Jawa , 13 November 1997.
Gereja Utusan Pantekosta (GUP) was forced to be dismantled/demolished while the other church of  Gereja Tuhan di Indonesia (GTDI) was burned. Three policemen were injured.

45. At BANTUL - Province of Yogyakarta, 16 November 1997.
Gereja Persekutuan Injili Baptis Indonesia (GPIBI) pushed to be closed and finally was destroyed by a mob of about 500 people. The local government was involved in closing this church.

46.At  KOTA GEDE  - Province of Yogyakarta, 22 November 1997.
Gereja Kristen Jawa (GKJ) "Modalan" AND Church of GKJ at  "Babadan Gedongkuning" were also burned. Some churches at the city called bantul were also being intimidated by this group of people who burned the two churches mentioned above.

47.At  KOTA GEDE - Province of Yogyakarta, 24 November 1997.
Gereja Kristen Jawa (GKJ) - stoned.

48. At KARYA TANI - Province of Lampung, 25 November 1997.
Gereja Kristen Muria Indonesia (GKMI) - Mennonite Church was attacked and burned to the ground.

49.At BANDUNG - Province of West Jawa , 9 December 1997.
Muslim controlled Regional Office of the Ministry of Religious Affairs ordered to stop church construction of Gereja Kristen Perjanjian Baru (GKPB) Fajar Pengharapan, and at the same time appealed to City Mayor to cancel its building permit.

50.At  LIMUS  TUNGGAL,  District of  Cileungsi - Regency of Bogor - Province of West Jawa , 20 & 27 December 1997.
Muslims attacked the public utilities and building after the Christmas Ceremony had just ended at those places.

51.At  TAMBUN, Regency of Bekasi - Province of West Jawa , 21 December 1997.
Church of GKII was terrorized by Muslims while Christians were celebrating Christmas. The celebration had to stop for the sake of security. The Pastor escaped by climbing the fence wall.

52. At BUMI SERPONG DAMAI, regency of  Tangerang - Province of West Jawa, 23 December 1997.
Gereja Kristen Oikumene (GKO) was attacked and completely destroyed by Muslims, even though the church is located in a non-Muslim area.

53. At SONGGON- Regency of  Banyuwangi - Province of East Jawa , 23 December 1997.
Gereja Pantekosta di Indonesia (GpdI) was burned while the Pastor was not at the church.

54. At CITEPUS,Regency of  Subang - Province of West Jawa , 25 December 1997.
Pos Gereja Protestan di Indonesia bag. Barat (GPIB) Bethel was blocked by Muslims from another area. The Christians' vehicles were scratched and the Christmas celebration was not allowed.

55.At  LANGENSARI - Regency of Ciamis - Province of West Jawa , 29 December 1997.
Gereja Masehi Advent Hari Ke Tujuh (GMAHK) was dismantled/demolished as directed by local Muslim leaders.

56.At The Municipality of BANDAR LAMPUNG , 3 January 1998.
Christians at the RSS Sukabumi Indah were intimidated by some young Muslims to stop their church services (Baptist Church) since December 27, 1997

57. At KALISAT Regency of Jember - Province of East Jawa , 19 January 1998.
Gereja Kristen Jawi Wetan was closed by the order of the Muslim head of the local district.

58. At PUGER, Regency of  Jember - Province of East Jawa , 20 January 1998.
Gereja Pantekosta di Indonesia (GpdI) was stoned by an unidentified mob.

59.At KRAGAN, regency of  Rembang - Province of Central Jawa , 26 January 1998.
The Chapel of Gereja Katolik-Kragan and the Gereja Kristen Jawa (GKJ) Kragan were destroyed. Some shops belonging to Christians were also looted and completely destroyed by Muslims.

60.At the village of BULU BANJAR - Regency of Tuban - Province of East Jawa 28 January 1998.
Gereja Pantekosta di Indonesia (GpdI) was destroyed. For example : Chairs, sound system, fan, podium, and name board were heavily damaged.]

It is important to note that those who are burning churches and killing Christians in Indonesia are a small minority of radical Muslims. They love to shed innocent blood; to steal the property of others; to bear false testimony against those they hate; and to rape women and burn churches and other property of Christians. This list of destroyed or damaged churches is only a small portion of the overall damage. One report claims that over 700 churches have been destroyed or damaged since Indonesian independence in 1945. The most recent church burning was in Sulawesi, yesterday, April 16, 2000. The vast majority of Muslims in Indonesia are friendly neighbors who will often risk their own lives to protect the Christian minority.

Jesus said, "There will come a time when those who kill you will think they are serving God!" From the cross He said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do!" May God empower the Christians to have the same attitude toward their radical Muslim persecutors! After the resurrection Jesus commanded His people to go into all the world and preach the Good News that Christ Jesus is the Savior of the world!

Source: FKKJB = Christian Communication Forum - West Java

Note: Gereja = Church