STFT GKI STUDENTS ATTEND THE 110TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF THE GOSPEL'S ARRIVAL IN SKOUW

Jayapura, 14 September 2024 – Students from the Sekolah Tinggi Filsafat Theologia (STFT) GKI Izaak Samuel Kijne, under the guidance of Rev. Amel Waimuri and Dr. Uwe Hummel, participated in the 110th-anniversary celebration of the Gospel's arrival in Skouw. The students, including residents of Women's Dormitory Unit 1, attended a thanksgiving service led by Rev. Hiskia Rollo and Dr. Uwe Hummel. During the service, the students performed a song of praise, adding to the atmosphere of gratitude and joy.

One of the most memorable moments was a drama presented by the youth of the Skouw congregation. The drama depicted the journey 110 years ago when the Gospel was first introduced in Skouw, continuing to the present day. It highlighted the efforts of Ondoafi (Tribal Chief) Barite Ante Rollo, who actively invited Evangelist Jakob Agustinus Nanulaita from the village of Booy, Saparua Island, to cross the sea to Skouw by sailboat, bringing the Gospel and a new way of life.

The drama illustrated how Barite Ante Rollo faced resistance from his own tribe, who rejected the evangelist, fearing that he was defying the ancestral spirits worshipped at that time in Skouw. However, Ondoafi Rollo took a wise approach, offering his own family as the first to learn about Christ. If Christ's teachings positively changed their lives, then the rest of the community would follow. History proved that the coastal community of Skouw eventually embraced the Gospel and made it their way of life.

To this day, the descendants of Barite Ante Rollo continue the legacy of leadership, both in the church and in the community. The fourth generation, such as Rev. Hiskia Rollo in the ecclesiastical field, and Mr. Abisai Rollo, serving as Chairman of the Regional House of Representatives (DPRD), stand as strong examples of leadership.

The descendants of Evangelist Nanulaita are also still honored in Skouw. On this special occasion, they were invited to cut the anniversary cake, a symbolic recognition of their role in the Gospel's history in the region.

This celebration was filled with love and gratitude, reminding us that when community and church leaders work together in harmony, peace and prosperity will abound.