"FEAR NOT! LOVE CONQUERS FEAR!" - NOV 29-30-DEC 1 2002 28 October 2002

Friends in Christ Shalom!!

Because the Tragedy in Bali has been felt heaviest by Indonesia and Australia and because of the over-reaction by many nations in virtually blacklisting Indonesia for tourists, I have felt greatly burdened that we need to do something to bless Bali as a clear testimony that the Church is able to make things happen to release the blessing of God on Indonesia.

In initiating this plan to put this burden into action Annette and I went to Bali and took part in an ecumenical service on the 21st October which was attended by around 2000 people - Catholics, Reformed, Presbyterian, Salvation Army, Baptist, Charismatics and Pentecostals. The Catholic Bishop, the Reformed Bishop, the Bethany Fellowship Pastor, a Presbyterian Pastor and myself shared in the service. We conducted two leadership meetings over two days to discuss this vision and it was agreed by all churches to form a key working team to put this event together.

The foundation of this vision is that the Lord created the church to be a light to the nations. Fear is bound to darkness and light is liberty and freedom through the love of Christ. So how can we demonstrate it and let the light shine? While I was praying I felt the Lord give me a special burden to mobilize the Body of Christ and this is what we can do:

1. Conduct an international service especially from Australia and Indonesia but with Christians from all other nations joining together with the Church in Bali to make a stand and to declare that: a. The Church will not give in to the fear of terrorism b. The Church will be a blessing, and indeed be the forerunner of releasing God's blessing on Bali and Indonesia in the post Bali bombing period c. The Church will call to the world not to be crippled by fear, especially believers in the world-wide Body of Christ so that we from the Church can be the forerunners in both blessing Bali and leading in its restoration. d. The international Church can demonstrate Christ's love to the nation of Indonesia and especially to Bali by coming to the island e. The Church has been given a mandate from the Lord to make breakthroughs and to destroy the powers of darkness that have ruled over Bali and to let the light of the Gospel and the love of Christ shine in Bali through the Church. On September 11, 2001, the Church did not flee from New York or Washington, they came from all over and prayed and blessed the city. Their witness was powerful and effective. Let us do the same for Bali and Indonesia. Let's not be wimps for Christ, for love casts out all fear!

2. Conduct an event to declare the voice of the Church. Since there will be leaders from many fields coming, both locally and internationally (Church, Parliament, Business) we will have a leaders forum where the leaders can have their voice heard with a theme of "Fear Not! Love conquers Fear!" Time will be provided for these declarations (in harmony although with different ways of expressing it) so that the prophetic voice of the Church from Australia, Indonesia and other countries represented such as NZ, UK, Japan, USA etc. We will declare that we love the nations more than we fear terrorism and we will not give into the terrorists. We will fulfil our God-given destiny and be a blessing to the nations. This is the time to prove that we can be just that to the nation of Indonesia. This event will be attended by local and international press. It will conclude with a Press Conference and Press interviews.

3. Some have suggested, even requested - although this has not yet been discussed with the Working Team in Bali - that apart from the international service, the leaders meeting to proclaim a united prophetic message to the nations, and the Press Conference, that all those gathered from the many nations on the Saturday November 30 would hold a Festival of Love with singing groups, choirs, etc from all over the world.

To make this event a success as a prophetic voice to the nations and to bless Bali we need your participation. We need you to break though the fear of man that cripples faith and brings a snare and to be here in Bali. We need you to mobilize your networks and friends and congregations. We need you to respond positively and by faith. We need you to adjust your busy schedules and to burst through this window of opportunity and to be a nation changer and come to Bali. We need you to multiply this news and let the whole Body of Christ, from many nations rise up and declare that Jesus lives!

We ask you to help us through your contacts so that as many people as possible know to come to Bali. We need you to invite, Members of Parliament and Congress who are fellow believers so that we can all come together flooding into Bali. We need to see this event and its timing in the transformation of Indonesia as a kairos moment that needs to be given special priority. If we as the Church respond apathetically how tragic it would be! If we love the nations and want to see them filled with the glory of God, if we love Bali and Indonesia, like Jesus does, then respond enthusiastically, energetically, willingly and by faith that together we can the instrument of the Lord to release the blessing of the Lord on this nation. We sing about reaching the nations, but now we need to act!

The attached letter written by Bishop Ayub of the GKPB church is an invitation on behalf of all the Churches in Bali. Please spread it abroad so that as many as possible might be motivated to be present. Invitations are being sent abroad locally and internationally so that from the Church we will take a stand and break the power and the spirit of terrorism and that as many as possible from around the world, especially from Australia will come and join with the Christians of Indonesia in the love event. Thank you for your enthusiastic, loving and believing response as we release the love of Christ for the nation of Indonesia,

May the Lord bless you abundantly,

Dr. Jeff Hammond

PS. Please contact Rilya on: if you need more information on this event.

YBI Bless Indonesia Today is an expression of an International Foundation: International Friends of Compassion

Bless Bali, Bless Indonesia October 29, 2002

To all Christian friends around the world!

Greetings in the love of Christ.

Seventeen days ago, just 1 year, 1 month, 1 day and 1 hour after the Al Qaedah attacks against the World Trade Center, New York, and the Pentagon, Virginia, USA, another mass bombing with tragic loss of life took place. This time it was Bali, Indonesia. As a result of this maniacal attack over 500 hundred lives were lost or wounded and the economy of Bali devastated. Everywhere we walked in Bali there was a state of shock, disbelief and trauma.

The Church is called to bless the nations

Paul said that the Gospel preached to Abraham was: "All nations will be blessed through you" (Gal 3:8), and this promise now belonged to the Church (Gal 3:29). It is time for the Body of Christ to stand up and be a prophetic voice to the nations. It is time to bless Bali, to bless Indonesia. Let us not give in to fear, for if we do the terrorists win. Let us demonstrate the love of God in a practical way for "Love conquers fear" (1Jn 4:18).

International Proclamation in Bali - November 29, 2002

In just one month, churches all over Bali and around Indonesia are being mobilized to come to Bali for an international church service designed to bless Bali and to bless Indonesia. Let us seize the day and be a part of this international event where the Church can shine as a light to the nation. Let it send out a message to the nations that the church of Jesus Christ will not give in to fear. We will not give in to terrorism, but we will bless the nations. At the international church service there will be a special part for the victims and their families.

Organize a Love Bali Tour and join with the Indonesian Church

We are inviting you to organize a tour group, small or large, or come yourself and bring your family. Do not be crippled by fear, but break through by faith, for perfect love casts out all fear, but the fear of man brings a snare. Bring a choir, bring your singing groups and let us make this national tragedy a turning point in the history of Indonesia. Your participation can help make the difference.

Rise up O Church and let's make the most of this opportunity and help change the destiny of this nation. Contact us on for further details. An accompanying "email" invitation from the Bishop of Bali is attached. All Bali church groups will be participating, Catholic, Presbyterian, Reformed, Evangelical, Pentecostal and Charismatic.

See you in Bali, Dr. Jeff Hammond International Director of IFC

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October 24, 2002 Mitra-416

Dear friends and partners, May God's peace and grace be with you.

On behalf of the Protestant Christian Church in Bali I would like to express my deep appreciation for your deep concern, sympathy and prayer supports to GKPB and Bali society in general who are now having a heavy temptation after the bombing incidents on October 12, 2002.

Today is the twelfth day after the tragedy of bombing explosion in Legian Kuta. The feeling of sadness and fear is still haunting our mind. Economic condition is starting to descend rapidly. Hotel occupancy is decreasing drastically until 20%. The airport is getting quiet. Some hotels are starting to lay off their staffs. Specifically, there is more than ,.1 million Bali society who gets their income from tourism industry. A porter who usually receives Rp. 100,000 per day, but now he only receives no more than Rp.10,000. From travel agent reports, most tourists have canceled their visit to Bali. This of course gives negative impact toward income of the Bali Church because most of our members work in tourism sectors. Beside, some of our projects are having relation with tourism.

Protestant and Catholic churches in Bali are working together to help bombing victims by sending their volunteers. Meanwhile, they are still working to help the bombing victims. They have been given special training so they know what to do. Christians in Bali give donations for the victims through "Solidaritas Kasih (Love Solidarity)" action, which is extended through doctors in hospital.

Some countries have announced travel bans to Indonesia, which is an exaggeration in my opinion because terrorist attacks could happen anywhere in this world. In this condition, as Christians we have to convince all people in order not to be afraid to come to Bali.

The Protestants, Catholics and Pentecostals have decided to hold an international worship service this coming November 29, 2002 with the topic "Fear Not! Love Conquers Fear". We plan to do the meeting in the form of seminar, sharing and praying. As God's church that holds prophetic duties we have to be able to strengthen His people, not only Balinese but all the people in the world, so they will soon recover from the bad feelings after the bombing incidents. We deeply hope that Christians in Bali, church leaders in Indonesia and also church partners from overseas will take part in the international worship for world peace. On the 29th of November, God's Mission "Fear Not! Love Conquers Fear" will be echoed to all corners of this world. As this is considered to be our responsibility as Christians, we would like to invite all churches to take part in this worship by sending delegations, i.e. young people, fellowship groups, choirs etc. We will very much appreciate if church leaders from overseas either Protestants, Catholics and Pentecostals will come to take part in this worship in order to convince the world not to be afraid because Bali is always in God's Mercy.

Through Rev. Dr. Jeff Hammond of the Bless Indonesia Foundation ( ), we will try so that some of the Australian Christian parliament members and maybe even the Prime Minister of Australia or his Deputy to be present in this international worship.

I am happy because the President of the Uniting Church in Australia, Professor James Haire and its Director of Unity and International Mission, Rev. John Barr are willing to participate. I thought our friends and partner churches in Perth and West Australia are also having a big possibility to come and join the worship. We would like to invite all church leaders around Australia to join with us. Let us pray for the families of the victims.

Let us heal the land. Come and join us and bring your friends to Bali and let us together bless Bali and be a blessing to the nation of Indonesia.

I myself, and Leader of Catholic Church in Bali, Mgr. Dr. Benyamin Y. Bria Pr. are acting as hosts of the international worship. Herewith, we are happy to invite you all to come and join us in the worship with topic "Fear Not! Love Conquers Fear" being held in Bali on November 29, 2002. Please give us confirmation if you able to come.

I am looking forward to hearing from you soon and I send you my best wishes.

Sincerely yours,

Bishop K. Suyaga Ayub