Indonesia (MNN) — Indonesia is experiencing its most violent wave of protests in over two decades.
Ten people have been killed and at least 1,042 were taken to hospitals, according to the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation.
FMI’s Bruce Allen explains, “Anti-government protests in recent days have spread to 32 of the country’s 38 provinces. Across major cities on multiple islands, government buildings [and] police stations have been attacked and burned – some in locations where our FMI-supported church planters serve.”
Protestors are angry with lavish government spending and police abuse. But the protests turned violent after a police vehicle ran over a young motorcycle taxi driver who was not part of the demonstrations.
“Overall, the public feels betrayed and that the government officials and police are being very callous toward them,” says Allen. “The heavy-handed response of the authorities has only really served to incite further backlash from the public.”
Pastor Bakti of Sumatra, Indonesia, expounds the Scriptures to a congregation of about 80 people. (Photo, caption courtesy of Bruce Allen/FMI)
Some pastors fear the unrest could revive the authoritarian policies of the late 1990s, when churches were systematically targeted and destroyed.
Allen says, “In speaking with some of our ministry leaders in recent days because of these protests, they’re sensing that there’s a real possibility that martial law could be imposed within the next few weeks.”
Yet, Indonesian churches are setting an example of peace through prayer.
One regency had recently passed restrictions on Christian worship. But when local pastors were invited to government headquarters to pray for peace, they agreed.
Allen says, “The video of that prayer meeting brought me to tears this morning as I watched. I’m sure that was a very refreshing moment for the church leaders of that regency as well. So prayer is a major point.”
You can link arms with Indonesian believers who are seeking to be a Gospel light. Allen asks, “Pray that the Christian community is a visible demonstration of Christ’s compassion.”
Header photo: Graffiti from anti-government protests in Indonesia earlier this year, March 2025. (Photo by Rafael Christopher and Vanesh De Gabze, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=162786473)
