Our Response

In Indonesia, TWR is also known as LTWR, which stands for Lembaga Tresna Wedharing Rahayu. This is translated into English as “Love that Brings Salvation”. TWR’s ministry in Indonesia was founded in January 2000, and since then, the ministry has grown to reach most of the bigger islands of Indonesia. Over the years, TWR has developed partnerships with 121 local radio stations in Indonesia, broadcasting programs in both AM and FM. TWR also broadcasts from two shortwave stations which cover almost every part of the country.

TWR’s main areas of focus in Indonesia include strengthening the church, reaching out to children and youth, women, as well as oral communicators.

To be more effective in reaching out to listeners in need, TWR believes that it is important to first strengthen the Church in Indonesia, and form partnerships with local churches. To do this, TWR conducts small group training and workshops, and organizes fellowship gatherings. To date, TWR has built partnerships and relationships with more than 900 church leaders in Indonesia, of whom more than 250 volunteer their time as listener coordinators to help in ministering to, and discipling listeners in more than 3,200 listener groups.

To supplement on-the-ground efforts, programs such as Thru the Bible and The Word Today are broadcast from more than 20 local FM stations in various languages such as Bahasa Indonesia, Javanese, Sundanese and Madurese. These programs help pastors in rural areas with no formal theological training lead and guide their church.

Following the tsunami in Aceh, TWR distributed thousands of radios, VCD players, and television sets to the displaced survivors who were living in tents, schools and other emergency accommodation. These proved to be useful in helping survivors get information, entertainment, and also helped them unite in the face of adversity despite coming from different families. Holistic programs were also broadcast to help listeners have better understanding about basic health and sanitation issues in languages that they can understand.

There are also specially designed programs which reach the tsunami victims in Aceh, to encourage them and help them rebuild their lives. In addition to the programs, the ‘Microloan’ project helps families in Aceh start businesses and get back on their feet. A sum of money, Rupiah 3 million (about SGD$420), is loaned, interest-free, to families or individuals to set up shops selling necessities, buy livestock, or start a small business, in the hope that it will help them and the community get back on their feet.

Programs such as Gembira (Joyful) and Harapan (Hope) reach out to the young with upbeat, lively and unique content designed for children and youth. Joyful uses stories to engage children, while Hope aims to shed Biblical light on modern day issues that youth face, such as abortion, homosexuality, substance abuse, relationships and living a meaningful life.

In addition to the above, Project Hannah’s Women of Hope program is broadcast in three languages (Bahasa Indonesia, Javanese and Madurese), and shares the gospel of Jesus Christ with women, making it known to them that there is still hope and that there are people who care for them. It also helps them understand their role in the family and society. Prayer groups are set up among the female listeners, and there is also ministry in a women’s prison in North Sumatra where the local area coordinator visits regularly to teach the women about Biblical truths. Other forms of direct ministry include teaching underprivileged women to make handicrafts which they can then sell to supplement the family income.