No Longer On The Sidewalk, Congregation Of The Indonesian Christian Elim Church Worships Temporary At The Bobby Nasution Walkot Office

Congregation of the Indonesian Christian Election Church (GEKI) performs worship in the office room of the Mayor of Medan, Sunday (11/6)/PHOTO of the Medan City Government Diskominfo

The congregation of the Indonesian Christian Election Church (GEKI) held worship in the office room of the Mayor of Medan, Sunday (11/6). The congregation previously prayed on the sidewalk in front of Bobby Nasution's office because permission to worship at Suzuya Mall had not yet been issued.

This service was carried out by the GEKI Congregation after the Mayor of Medan Bobby Nasution allowed them to worship in the office, no longer worship outside the courtyard of the Mayor's office as before.

Bobby Nasution gave permission for the GEKI Congregation to temporarily worship in the Medan Mayor's office because the Medan City Government was present as a facilitator over the problems facing the GEKI congregation while waiting for permission to worship at Suzuya Marelan Mall to be published.

The head of the GEKI congregation, Pastor Octavianus Nathanael, represented by Fitrianus Telaumbanua, appreciated the Mayor of Medan Bobby Nasution for giving permission for the GEKI congregation to worship in the Medan Mayor's office.

"We appreciate the provision of hall facilities at the Mayor's office for temporary worship. The mayor also told us not to worship outside the Medan Mayor's office until later he was able to return to worship at the Suzuya building," he said, quoted from a written statement from the Medan City Government, Sunday, June 11.

Fitrianus said the facilities provided by the Medan City Government for the GEKI congregation were very comfortable. Congregations can worship in peace.

"Very comfortable and satisfied with the facilities provided by the Medan City Government for the GEKI congregation to worship," he continued.

Meanwhile, one of the GEKI Congregations, Jonious Wao, revealed that he and other congregations welcomed it because they could worship inside the Medan Mayor's office no longer on the outside sidewalks like the previous worship.

"We are happy to be able to worship in the Medan Mayor's office. However, the congregation hopes to return to worship at the church in the Suzuya Building, because the entire congregation of their house is in the Marelan area," he said.

Jonious hopes that the GEKI church permit in Marelan can be issued immediately so that the congregation can worship as usual at the church. "We hope that Medan Mayor Bobby Nasution can facilitate the permit for the GEKI church to come out soon, that's the hope of the entire congregation," he hoped.