Indonesian Flood Impacts Ministry

In early February deadly rains and mudslides in Manado, Indonesia caused infrastructure damage to the Indonesian Seminary where Fellowship International missionary, Edwin Karwur ministers. In addition to this, the Karwur’s home on campus is at risk of severe damage because of its precarious location in the area which was heavily saturated by days of rain.

Edwin has provided the following details concerning this natural disaster which has significantly impacted them and their ministry.

“After torrential rains for numerous days, on February 11, the city of Manado was flooded. There were more than 10,000 houses flooded and damaged.  We also witnessed more than 30 landslides/mudslides in many areas of Manado.  This disaster killed 19 people.   Most of the serious land or mudslides happened on the seminary’s property and in our neighborhood on the seminary campus. The biggest slide occurred on our campus and destroyed some of our dormitories.  The dormitory for the married staff and students cannot be used anymore and must be rebuilt.  We thank the Lord that there wasn’t anybody who was injured when it happened.   Helmi and I have been worried for the condition of our house.  It is located by an earth cliff.  There have been a few small landslides happening along the earth walls.  Therefore it is important for us to build a concrete wall to prevent further landslides.  

Specifically we need to build, or rebuild, the following:   

1. Eighty (80) meters of concrete wall along our backyard to prevent further and more serious landslides.  The approximate cost is $4,000 CDN: (Materials:  $2,650; Labor: $1,350)

2. The staff and family student dormitory (this building was condemned because of the extensive damage). The approximate cost for this six unit dormitory is $4,650: (Materials: $3,300; Labor: $,1350)

3.  The single men’s dormitory was flooded from the water that came from the hills behind it.  We need to build concrete walls and concrete drainage for the water to prevent further floods and possible landslides.  The approximate cost is $2,750: (Materials:  $800; Labor: $1,950)

The Southern Baptists are also partnering to try to raise funds to help with the family student dormitory.  If the overall fund raising exceeds the above needs the extra funds would be designated for completion of the building of one of our faculty homes on the campus which is unfinished due to lack of funding and not yet usable.” 

Fellowship International, as always, wants you to be aware of this urgent need that directly relates to the ministry and livelihood of one of our career missionaries.  Please pray for Edwin, Helmi and family as this has been very traumatic for them.  Fellowship International would also ask that you consider responding with a financial gift at this time to help the seminary work through these serious, unexpected issues, and enable the administration and teaching staff to refocus their full attention on leadership training and church planting.

Gifts can be designated “Indonesia Seminary Rebuild” and forwarded to our National office, or CLICK HERE to make an a donation online. 

Join us in praying that the repairs will be completed in a timely fashion and that this would not cause too much disruption in the lives of students and faculty.