Conference on Care Concludes With Celebration, Community Outreach
The Global Conference on Care held in Jakarta, Indonesia concluded with a festive celebration of shouts, praises and rejoicings by thousands of individuals attending the conference at the Sentul International Conference Center.
By Coleman Peacocok
During the final service, the Indonesian delegation paused for a special moment of tribute to all thirty of the guest speakers from around the world who contributed to the conference. It was an inspirational moment when they presented gifts to these participants and paid tribute to them for their input into this timely event. The final message was given by Pdt. Dr. Niko Njotorahardjo, Senior Pastor of Gereja Bethel Indonesia and founder of the Foundation of Love and Care for Indonesian People. His challenging message rang out support for the theme of the conference, Freedom From the Power of Poverty. Pdt. Djohan Handojo and Dr. Donnie Smith then closed the final service with a blessing of impartation and anointing to care for the poor and destitute of this world. Dr. Smith’s closing remarks were given, “We will not close this meeting, but we will move it into the streets, the highways and the hedges to proclaim the message of care worldwide.”
So many times, after hearing stirring speeches or moving conference presentations, I have heard people remark, “I hear your words, but I won’t believe them until I see you practice what you preach.” I have also heard people say, “I don’t care how much you know, until I see how much you care.” Taking this to heart, the Global Conference on Care ended with Dr. John Gregory meeting with more than one hundred Indonesian business men, inspiring them to do greater works of benevolence than ever before, then going into a poor section of Jakarta and feeding more than 5,000 Muslim families. The head cleric of the largest Muslim organization in Indonesia, having oversight of more than 160 million people, was there to greet the workers. He welcomed the Church of God workers and expressed his excitement of our presence there. Dignitaries were on hand, including the Chief of Police, Commander of the Security Forces, and individuals from the military. It was a tremendous feeding, and it brought great closure to what has been a tremendously successful week.
In the midst of it all, from the opening session and dedication of the Prayer Tower to the feeding of Jakarta’s poor, God was with us. In this vast equatorial archipelago made up of more than 17,000 islands extending 3,200 miles east to west, between the Indian and Pacific Oceans in Southeast Asia, God has met with His people and assured them of His presence and keeping power. God has reminded us of His blessings upon those who care for the poor, and He has shown us His Shekinah glory by the visitation of His Holy Spirit, giving His approval of this ministry we call the Church of God Division of Care and Benevolence.
Dr. Coleman Peacock
Division of Care and Benevolence
