News / Thoughts

Indonesia: Shocking church attack

This isn’t an easy story to read, but please do read, and please do pray. Tragically a young child has died and three others are in intensive care after a church bombing in Samarinda, East Kalimantan, Indonesia, which took place on Sunday, 13 November.

Two-year old Intan reportedly died on Monday morning from severe burns. Alvaro (4), Trinity (3), and Anita (2) are currently in intensive care in a local hospital as they also suffered from severe burns.

The bombing was carried out by an Islamic extremist who had previously been convicted for terrorism, and had even attacked a church before.

According to Pastor Elmuel Rumahorbo, who was leading the service on the day the of the attack, the children saw the perpetrator’s effort to ignite and throw the cocktail bomb several times before it finally lit and exploded. That experience has psychologically affected the other children as many of them expressed their fear and refusal to go the same church for Sunday school.

Pray now…

• For the children, church members and elders who are experiencing deep trauma. that the Lord will heal them and give them peace
• For the government to do more to prevent similar attacks in the future
• For Indonesian Christians to remain calm, forgive the terrorists, and spread Christ’s love