Indonesians’ faith journey to the Global Gathering

The Indonesian delegation along with several other friends at the Global Gathering.

Johannesburg, 2 November – When the African music began and delegates opened the Global Gathering with worship Thursday morning, Ayu Soewandi shed tears. Ayu is the Director of the Bible Translation Centre of GMIM in Indonesia—and along with most of her group, she almost didn’t get here. 

‘I cried because I saw a small heaven,’ she says. ‘I saw people from different nations singing, praising and clapping while others waved flags and pieces of cloth.’ Ayu imagined what they would have missed, adding: ‘I am so happy that as a director, we have time here to reflect and see what God is going to do through us.’ 

A few hours before their flight to Johannesburg, seven of the delegation’s nine members still had not received visas for travel to South Africa. In faith, they began their journeys from various islands in Indonesia, hoping the visas would be approved by the time they reached their meeting point in Jakarta. For many, those were four-hour flights. 

How God cleared the roadblocks

‘I already submitted all the documents on 9 September 2024 and made all the arrangements,’ Ayu says. 

On 20 September, she was asked to complete more documents, which she promptly did. She tried to get further updates in the next several weeks, but heard nothing.

The delegation grew more and more worried as their travel day came closer. ‘We had not yet bought the tickets,’ Ayu adds. 

The team finally received an update last Friday, 25 October  — a promise that their visas would be issued the following Monday.  They needed to travel on Monday, but on that day, they were again asked to come back the next day. 

‘We were like, “What's happening?” We just want to get a yes or no,’ Ayu says.  

They needed to update the Global Gathering organising committee on whether they were still coming. 

‘When I read the prayer request asking the other Alliance organisations to pray for us, I was reassured and set out for the trip,’ Ayu said. 

So, even without visas, they all went to Jakarta on Monday 28 October. About midday Tuesday, they got the news that they had all been granted visas. They bought their tickets to Johannesburg—and amazingly, at a discounted price not usually available for last-minute travelers.  

‘In all of this, I had peace in my heart that God would bring me to the Global Gathering,’ Ayu says.

Ayu Soewandi not only made it to the Global Gathering on time, she also co-emceed on Saturday.

Story: Isaac Forchie. Photos: Jennifer Pillinger.