A sign of solidarity: The Directorate General of Christian Guidance holds a joint prayer for victims of conflict in the Middle East.

Jakarta, November 14, 2023 As a form of solidarity and concern for victims of conflict in the Middle East, the Directorate General of Christian Community Guidance (Dirjen Bimas Kristen) of the Ministry of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia held a joint prayer activity for the solidarity of victims of humanity and peace. The event, which took place on the 5th floor of the PGI building in Salemba Jakarta on Tuesday, November 14, 2023, was attended by various elements of the community and Christian religious leaders. Jeane Marie Tulung, Director General of Christian Community Guidance, said that today, many of our brothers and sisters in the Middle East are facing deep suffering and loss due to conflicts and humanitarian disasters. In his speech, the Director General of Christian Guidance expressed empathy and sadness over the condition. "All of us, without exception, are certainly devastated to see and hear the news about conflicts and humanitarian disasters that are taking place in various parts of the world. Today, many of our brothers and sisters are facing suffering, losing their loved ones, and living in deep uncertainty," he said. The director general of Christian guidance said that joint prayer is a sign of real solidarity and concern. He invited all participants to remind themselves of their responsibility as social beings, saying that when one part of humanity suffers, then we all feel it. "Through this joint prayer, we invite each other to remind ourselves of our responsibility as social beings—that when one part of humanity suffers, then we all feel it," said the Director General of Christian Guidance. This joint prayer is expected to give strength to those who are being tested, provide guidance to world leaders so that they can find peaceful solutions, and provide wisdom to all of us so that we can contribute to the effort to create a better world. "We call on all of us to resolve differences and disagreements by peaceful means by avoiding the use of hard force that can lead to war and violence. Let us also remember the universal human values, such as compassion, tolerance, and justice," he said. The Director General of Christian Guidance hopes that the togetherness of various parties can be a foothold to establish stronger solidarity so that they can support each other and help in efforts to bridge differences and take care of the diversity that is the wealth of Indonesia. "Thank you to all those who attended this activity, because our presence today is the first step in responding to the call of the heart to do good and bring warmth to those in need. Let us welcome this joint prayer activity with sincerity and great hope that our prayers today will be a ray of goodness to improve this world," he concluded. Also present in the joint prayer activity for the solidarity of humanitarian victims and peace in the Middle East region are echelon II of the Director General of Christian Guidance of the Ministry of Religion, leaders of public and private religious universities, rectors, and bureau heads.

The Head/Pemimas Christians; Kasi/Organizers; Supervisors; Extension of Christianity Lecturers and students of PTKK, the Law Bureau, and HDI Leaders and members of the national level, FUKRI, church leaders in the Jakarta area, leaders, members of Christian religious organizations, the ASN Directorate General of Christian Guidance, and the press media