Indonesia

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife reporting from Jakarta, Indonesia JAKARTA, INDONESIA (BosNewsLife)-- The priest of Jakarta Cathedral, Indonesia's most known Catholic parish, has urged the government to prevent a repeat of attacks against churches ahead of upcoming presidential elections. Markus Yumartana, 53, said he hopes authorities would continue on the path of religious tolerance that he claimed surrounded the recent Asian Games, the largest sports event ever held in terror-prone Jakarta, the capital.

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife reporting from Jakarta, Indonesia JAKARTA, INDONESIA (BosNewsLife)-- When Ferry Mamangkey had a liver health scare he knew he needed a miracle. Now many prayers and "miracles" later, the recovered 62-year-old evangelist has become 'Indonesia's Billy Graham' traveling through often remote areas of this diverse archipelago of thousands of islands. "My healing was a miracle. The Lord touched me in my home. Now I am praying for the sick as part of the Gospel outreach."

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent reporting from Jakarta, Indonesia JAKARTA, INDONESIA (BosNewsLife)-- Global Christian broadcaster Trans World Radio (TWR) has begun airing programming aimed at encouraging and informing survivors in Indonesia's earthquake-shattered Lombok. The program comes amid warnings of more aftershocks after the quake hit the island on August 5, killing more than 400 people and leaving over 350,000 displaced.

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife reporting from Jakarta, Indonesia. JAKARTA, INDONESIA (BosNewsLife)-- A lack of funds overshadows preparations by dozens of native Christians to secretly translate and bring the Bible to 30 language groups in Indonesia who have been waiting for that moment for generations, an official supporting the project told BosNewsLife.

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent reporting from Jakarta, Indonesia JAKARTA, INDONESIA (BosNewsLife)-- Religious leaders in Indonesia's North Sumatra province have reportedly agreed to stop protesting the prison term given to a local Buddhist woman for allegedly insulting Islam. Meiliana, a 44-year-old ethnic Chinese woman, had complained the Muslim call to prayer, repeated five times a day, was being played too loudly at the mosque near her house in the port town of Tanjung Balai in North Sumatra.

By BosNewsLife Asia Service JAKARTA, INDONESIA (BosNewsLife)-- The Islamic State group claims its fighters have bombed three churches in the capital of Indonesia's East Java province during services on Sunday, May 13, killing at least 13 people and injuring dozens more.

By BosNewsLife Asia Service JAKARTA, INDONESIA (BosNewsLife)-- Indonesian police say a sword-wielding man who attacked a church congregation and injured four people during Sunday Mass wanted to join the Islamic State group.

By Martin Roth, BosNewsLife Senior Columnist JAKARTA, INDONESIA (BosNewsLife Columns)-- Fears that Islamic State supporters may be planning attacks in Indonesia are a further concern to the country’s Christian minority, who are already suffering from the growing Islamist presence in their nation. Australia’s Sydney Morning Herald daily newspaper reported that Indonesian police stepped up security at places of worship, along with embassies and shopping malls, following the recent Paris attack

By BosNewsLife Asia Service JAKARTA, INDONESIA (BosNewsLife)-- Islamic authorities in Indonesia's conservative Aceh province have begun destroying several small churches after hardline Muslims demanding their reportedly killed at least one Christian.

By Martin Roth, BosNewsLife Senior Columnist JAKARTA, INDONESIA (BosNewsLife Columns)-- Indonesia is supposed to be one of the more moderate of all the Muslim countries. Christians comprise more than 10 per cent of the population, and the country’s constitution guarantees freedom of religion