Country Profile

Indonesia is the world’s fourth most populous country, with a population of more than 230 million. It is also one of the world’s biggest Islamic countries – if not the biggest – with official statistics listing the percentage of Muslims as 87 percent of the entire population .

As an archipelago of about 17,000 to 18,000 islands, one of the main challenges that TWR faces in ministry in Indonesia, is doing direct ministry and reaching the whole population. (Operation World, 21st Century Edition)

The use of media is an opportunity to reach the vast population in Indonesia, so that they have chance to listen to the gospel.

Needs

Some issues which the people face include youth issues such as drug abuse, as well as poverty and diseases, which were made worse because of the tsunami in 2004 and the threat of bird flu.

Parts of Indonesia are still being rebuilt as the people recover from the physical, psychological and economic effects of the tsunami. In areas such as Aceh, whole villages were devastated, leaving the survivors with almost nothing.

It is also estimated that there are about 4 million drug abusers in Indonesia, which works out to be about one in every 60 people. A study by the International Labor Organization (ILO) in Indonesia has shown that around four percent of illicit drug users in the country are under 17-years-old, and two out of every 10 users are involved in trafficking. ILO Jakarta believes that teenagers start getting involved in producing and trafficking narcotics between the ages of 13 and 15 (International Labor Organization).

Also, as basic infrastructure is lacking in many parts of the country, and the transportation system does not reach the entire country, there are many places which are isolated from each other. In many of these places, churches do not have pastors. As a result, the members do not have enough support or Biblical training.

To reach out and minister to these people and others in need, TWR uses the radio as a primary means of spreading the gospel’s message of hope and love in Indonesia.