DOA dan PUASA

DOA dan PUASA

oleh: Ir. Herlianto, M.Th.
DOA dan PUASA saat ini makin populer di Indonesia, apalagi situasi krisis nasional yang belum terlihat kapan akan berhenti membuat kekuatiran manusia menjadi-jadi. Bagi manusia beriman, doa dan puasa makin belakangan ini makin banyak dipraktekkan dengan harapan Tuhan mendengar doa-doa mereka dan pendoa dilepaskan dari kemelut krisis itu.

TENTANG DOA
Majalah Newsweek pernah memuat artikel menarik hasil angket yang berjudul "Is God Listening?" (31 Maret 1997) dengan sub judul yang berbunyi "Banyak orang Amerika berdoa setiap hari sekalipun tidak ada yang tahu mengapa hanya beberapa yang dijawab." Hasil angket itu menarik untuk disimak, soalnya disebutkan disitu bahwa dalam doa-doa mereka yang disurvai, 82% menyebut mereka meminta kesehatan dan sukses, 75% meminta kekuatan, 73% berharap doa bisa menjawab kebutuhan mereka bila ingin mencari pekerjaan., dan 79% percaya Tuhan akan memberikan mujijat kesembuhan bila mereka berdoa. Jadi, kenyataannya doa-doa cenderung merupakan sarana "meminta-minta untuk diri sendiri." Benarkah doa-doa demikian?
Dari terang angket di atas kita dapat memastikan bahwa maraknya aktivitas dan gerakan Doa dan Puasa akhir-akhir ini di Indonesia akan lebih banyak berorientasi bagaimana pendoa bisa dilepaskan dari krisis yang berkepanjangan dan bagaimana usaha mereka bisa bangkit dan untuk berbisnis kembali. Lebih-lebih, dalam ajaran "kemakmuran" yang menekankan "berkat Tuhan sebagai bukti iman" tentu doa-doa yang tidak berkeputusan itu ditujukan bagaimana berkat itu bisa mengucur kembali kepada mereka dan tidak seperti kucuran pinjaman IMF yang diterima Indonesia yang sifatnya sedikit-demi-sedikit!
Menarik untuk dismak, mengapa masyarakat Kristen yang mulai gandrung kembali mengikuti persekutuan-persekutuan doa dan kemudian ibadat-ibadat doa, doa kuasa dan doa puasa sejak tahun 1960-an dan kini diperluas memasuki jaringan doa secara nasional, tetapi kekristenan malah makin dipersulit, gereja-gereja makin banyak dihancurkan dan banyak yang dibakar, dan bahkan ada bukit doa yang dihancurkan massa? Ada dua kemungkinan jawabannya, pertama adalah doa-doa itu begitu manjur sehingga banyak orang bertobat dan menjadi Kristen sehingga menimbulkan kemarahan pihak lain, dan kedua, mungkin doa-doa itu seperti angket Newsweek di atas cenderung berisi permintaan yang bersifat mencari selamat dan keuntungan diri sendiri tetapi kurang ditekankan dalam mengingatkan diri sendiri dan jemaat Kristen untuk bertobat dari segala dosa KKN dan menjadi "surat-surat Kristus" di tengah-tengah masyarakat.
Kelihatannya kemungkinan pertama tipis, karena dari banyak pengamatan diketahui bahwa pertambahan kwantitas pemeluk Kristen tidak berarti tetapi faktanya memang pertumbuhan jumlah gereja-gereja baru dan persekutuan-persekutuan meningkat luar biasa, jadi yang terjadi bukan pertumbuhan gereja tetapi perpindahan jemaat. Kemungkinan kedua memang lebih besar karena faktanya gerakan-gerakan doa cenderung dimotori oleh orang-orang yang berpandangan iman vertikalis (keselamatan pribadi) dan bahkan ekstatis yang cenderung mengejar kuasa (berjatuhan), mujizat (kesembuhan dan berkat) dan sensasi (tertawa-tawa & kesurupan) dalam kehidupan kristiani. Ini jelas terbukti dari dipopulerkannya "doa menuntut" (ajaran kemakmuran) yang cenderung narsistik isinya sedangkan doa penyadaran tentang dosa-dosa pendoa dan jemaat yang korup, kolusi dan nepotis jarang diucapkan!
Tepat seperti yang dikatakan nabi Yesaya bahwa: "Sesungguhnya, tangan TUHAN tidak kurang panjang untuk menyelamatkan, dan pendengaranNya tidak kurang tajam untuk mendengar; tetapi yang merupakan pemisah antara kamu dan Allahmu ialah segala kejahatanmu, dan yang membuat Dia menyembunyikan diri terhadap kamu, sehingga ia tidak mau mendengar, ialah segala dosamu." (Yes.59:1-2).
Tepat juga kritik Tuhan Yesus yang mengatakan: "Bukan setiap orang yang berseru kepadaKu: Tuhan, Tuhan! akan masuk ke dalam kerajaan Sorga, melainkan dia yang melakukan kehendak BapaKu yang di sorga." (Mat.7:21).
Memang tidak salah kalau doa-doa ditujukan untuk pertobatan orang lain atau suku-suku terasing, tetapi doa juga harus ditujukan untuk orang-orang yang sudah menerima firman agar mereka bertobat dan taat akan kehendak Allah yang diperintahkan dalam firmanNya. Rasul Paulus berdoa syafaat agar "doa bukan sekedar untuk mengenal Tuhan tetapi supaya kita berakar dan berdasar di dalam kasih." (Efs.1:15dst.;3:14dst.), rasul Yakobus mengingatkan bahwa "doa adalah salah kalau meminta untuk memuaskan diri" (Yak,4:3), rasul Petrus mengemukakan doa harus ditujukan untuk "hidup dalam kasih dan menjauhi dosa." (I-Pet.4:7-8), dan rasul Yohanes mengingatkan bahwa "doa kita hanya dikabulkan bila meminta sesuai dengan kehendak Tuhan." (I-Yoh.5:14).
Tuhan Yesus memberikan contoh "doa Bapa Kami" yang terkenal itu (Mat.6:9-13) yang berisi:
Pertama, pujian akan kekudusan Tuhan, Kedua, permohonan agar kerajaannya (dengan umat yang taat) dan kehendakNya (untuk ditaati) berlaku di bumi ini. Ketiga, permintaan akan berkat makanan yang secukupnya (bukan berkelebihan) dan agar kita diampuni dosanya (bertobat) dan agar kita mengampuni orang yang bersalah kepada kita (kasih). Keempat, permintaan agar dilepaskan dari pencobaan (seperti godaan harta, band. Mat.6:19-21) dan kejahatan (seperti KKN tentunya). Kelima, pujian akan kuasa dan kemuliaan Tuhan.
Dari terang pembahasan di atas, jelas doa-doa tidak akan ada artinya dan tidak akan didengar Tuhan bila pendoa masih korupsi, kolusi maupun nepotis, dan tidak melakukan kehendak Allah melainkan masih melakukan dosa-dosa pribadi maupun sosial lainnya.
TENTANG PUASA
Agar doa-doa lebih mantab dan berkhasiat banyak orang cenderung berdoa dengan puasa atau melakukan "doa puasa", tetapi dengarkanlah suara nabi Yesaya mengkritik doa puasa yang hanya bersifat ritual dan lahiriah:
"Berpuasa yang Kukehendaki, ialah supaya engkau membuka belenggu-belenggu kelaliman, dan melepaskan tali-tali kuk, supaya engkau memerdekakan orang yang teraniaya dan mematahkan setiap kuk, supaya engkau memecah-mecah roti bagi orang yang lapar dan membawa kerumahmu orang miskin yang tidak punya rumah, dan apabila engkau melihat orang telanjang, supaya engkau memberi dia pakaian dan tidak menyembunyikan diri terhadap saudaramu sendiri!" (Yes.58:6-7)
Jadi umat beriman tidak ada artinya kalau melakukan puasa secara lahir tetapi tidak mengasihi sesamanya, dengan kata lain tidak ada artinya berpuasa kalau ia tidak menolong sesamanya yang lapar, miskin dan telanjang. Tidak ada artinya doa puasa seorang pengembang Kristen bila ia menggusur rumah-rumah orang miskin, tidak ada artinya dan doa puasa seorang pengusaha selama ia masih menggaji buruhnya dibawah standar atau pabriknya membuang air limbahnya disungai yang mengotori tambak hidup orang lain, demikian juga tidak ada artinya doa-puasa para pengusaha yang merengut dengan berhektar-hektar lahan petani untuk bergembira ria bermain golf.
Masa kini doa-doa dan doa-doa puasa sudah dijadikan hajat nasional oleh banyak orang Kristen dan tidak sedikit sumbangan dana para konglomerat masuk dalam usaha-usaha doa dan doa-puasa demikian. Sudah tiba saatnya dalam era reformasi nasional di tanah air ini, kita meningkatkan doa-doa dan doa-puasa menjadi langkah praktis untuk juga mentobatkan para konglomerat (termasuk donor) dan mengingatkan agar mereka lepas dari yang jahat yang merupakan praktek-praktek KKN masa lalu yang tidak sesuai dengan kehendak Tuhan. Sudah tiba saatnya jemaat, pendeta dan gereja mengingatkan diri sendiri dan gerejanya untuk kembali dengar-dengaran akan kehendak Allah dan melakukannya dalam kehidupan kita sehari-hari dalam kasih, kebenaran dan keadilan, karena itulah doa-doa dan doa-puasa yang sebenarnya!
Amin!

Indri Gautama,Woman Blazes Trail for Churches in Indonesia

How One Woman Challenged Asian CulturePeople criticized Indri Gautama for daring to be a pastor. Today she is one of Indonesia’s most innovative leaders. By J. Lee GradyIf you walk past Indri Gautama in one of Jakarta, Indonesia's trendy shopping malls you might be tempted to think she is an investment banker or the president of a multinational corporation. Usually dressed in tailored suits, and never without her cell phone, the petite Chinese woman scurries from one meeting to another. She is constantly sending text messages to her office and talking in rapid-fire Indonesian to the dozens of people who work for her.

But Gautama is not a banker or a businesswoman, at least not in the strict definition of the word. She is the newest breed of Christian minister in Indonesia, one who possesses not only biblical knowledge and godly character but also plenty of marketplace savvy.
Those who know her best call her "Apostle Indri." She is comfortable with the title because she has planted a thriving church movement in the heart of the world's largest Muslim nation—a country that is not famous for its female leaders. She got her start in ministry by preaching to the residents of some of Indonesia's most remote, poverty-stricken islands.
Gautama dared to challenge the system, and her courage has opened up a way for many younger leaders to follow.

"The men here looked down on me. Their attitude was, 'Let's see how long she is going to last,'" says Gautama, who is 49. "They thought I was too tough to be a pastor!"
Those who knew Gautama as a girl would never have expected her to be a Christian, much less a minister. But God had a plan.

OUT OF DARKNESSShe was raised in a wealthy family in Indonesia, and her parents practiced ancestor worship. Her father's focus was always on money. Her mother had originally planned to abort her. When Indri was 10, her mom took her to Chinese temples to obtain healing from her frequent childhood ailments.
The sickness and dysfunction in her home made her a very angry girl. "I was taught that money was everything," she says of her past. "I didn't know anything about Christianity. I didn't value God or people. "
Much of her young-adult life was wasted. After graduating from college in Australia she moved in with a Middle Eastern man in Honolulu and spent much of her time in discos. During that rough period of her life she had seven abortions.

Yet in 1984, after returning to Jakarta, she heard the gospel and had what she calls a Damascus road experience. Her "first Bible," she says, was a video of a Benny Hinn crusade.
Then, in 1988, she finally gave her life to Jesus Christ and was baptized in the Holy Spirit while visiting a dying AIDS patient in a Jakarta hospital. After she commanded a demon to leave the young man, a bolt of heavenly electricity seemed to shake the room.

"The doctors who checked on that man later said he had no trace of HIV in his body, and he gained 80 pounds in one night," Gautama says of the incident. It was the first of a long string of miracles that would lead this woman to become one of Indonesia's most prominent ministers.
STARTING AT THE BOTTOMDon't be fooled by Gautama's executive image. Despite her penchant for nice suits and designer handbags, she is not a Christian diva. She cut her teeth in the ministry by giving her life for the poor. Early in her ministry she learned the importance of giving in order to break the cycle of financial lack.

In 1993, at age 36, she sold her passport business and a stuffed toy factory she owned and gave away her other businesses. She became an itinerant evangelist to the people living on the island of Sulawesi—and then to other dangerous areas where Muslims often burn churches. She lived among the natives, ate their simple food and challenged nominal Christians to repent of their spiritual lukewarmness.

"I was like John the Baptist," she says. "They called me 'the bulldozer.'"
Indeed, there is plenty of prophetic power in this small woman. Her gruff voice, which often sounds strained because she preaches so many sermons a week, gets people's attention quickly. She grabbed even more attention when she began a church in Jakarta in 2002 with seven people.
Part of the fire in Gautama's bones is a deep hatred of poverty. She abhors the fact that Indonesia is one of the richest nations in the world in terms of natural resources, yet many of its people barely eke out an existence because of ignorance and idolatry.
Gautama decided she would be part of the long-term solution to turning her nation around. And she started by reaching young people.

Apostolic Generation Church opened officially in 2003 after a divinely orchestrated meeting with Naomi Dowdy, an American missionary living in Singapore. Dowdy had successfully grown a 5,000-member church in another male-dominated culture, and she is known as an apostle among independent charismatic ministers worldwide.

When Gautama founded her congregation she had little training and no support from male pastors in the city, so she asked Dowdy to mentor her, both in her personal life and in church growth strategy. The result: Apostolic Generation Church now has grown to 1,800 members, with seven full-time staff and 50 care cell pastors and other volunteers. In addition, the church recently broke ground to build an impressive downtown office complex that should be completed in 2008.

Known as Kuningan Place, it will feature apartments, offices, a 1,000-seat auditorium, a day care center and a parking garage housed in four skyscrapers, the tallest of which is 30 stories. Members of Gautama's church sold the complex's apartments in two months so that construction could begin. A prominent Australian architect designed the sleek buildings, which will dazzle Jakarta's financial district with their steel and green glass.
"It has been so exciting," Gautama says of the project—which has caught the attention of church leaders who once criticized her. Today, some of them have come to her for advice on how to grow their own churches.
Adds Gautama: "It has been scary at times because we are walking on water, but our faith in God will not be shaken. So we run and make huge leaps of faith."
MAKING DISCIPLESGautama's ministry is guided by the principle of mentoring. She believes that to build strong churches she must pour her life into those she is training. But she also knows she must learn from those who have successfully accomplished what she aspires to do. That's why she looks to Dowdy as a spiritual mother.
"Naomi is the best, most emotionally stable and highly committed woman of God and lady apostle I have ever met in my Christian walk," Gautama says of her friend and role model, noting that the mentoring relationship has provided her with "a safety net" of accountability.
Meanwhile, Dowdy and other American church leaders see Gautama as a model for younger leaders who will have an impact on the 21st century church.
"Indri is setting a trend for this generation," Dowdy says. "She is willing to change and willing to become all that God calls her to be—which involves taking risks, receiving criticism but not being reactionary. Because she is so gracious she has been able to win over many of her former critics."
American minister Barbara Wentroble, who founded her own apostolic network in Dallas recently, has preached in Gautama's church and participated in conferences with her. "Indri is so bold and is such a risk-taker, even though she is coming out of a culture where women are oppressed. The culture has not held her down," Wentroble says.
When you ask Gautama to describe her vision, she talks rapidly and with passion—just as she does in the pulpit at her church. "The members of my church know that they are called to be His transforming agents," she says. "We are to win, nurture and disciple souls and develop them to be apostolic leaders so that we can advance the kingdom of God."
But Gautama is not just talk. She works hard (so hard, in fact, that she has not yet found time to marry) and her staff puts in long hours to carry out the church's vision.
Once a week Gautama hosts in her home a special care cell for 80 children and teenagers. The meeting lasts almost all day, and provides Gautama a chance to personally disciple those who will carry her vision years after she is gone.
"One 15-year-old boy is leading our junior youth care cell, and he recently led a 12-year-old girl to the Lord," Gautama says. "That girl was a test-tube baby and was on drugs and suicidal. Today she is being discipled."
And that will be Indri Gautama's legacy. One way or another, this courageous pioneer will make sure that thousands of young Indonesians not only hear the gospel but are also trained to transform Indonesia for Christ.
J. Lee Grady is editor of Charisma. He visited Indri Gautama in Jakarta in February and interviewed her again in June.

This article appeared in the Dec/Jan 2006 issue.

Indri Gautama is building an apartment and office complex that will also house her church’s



-->In Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation, Indri Gautama is setting a new standard. In a country not famous for female leaders, this business-savvy Chinese woman leads a fast-growing charismatic congregation in Jakarta, where she is also building one of the most impressive church facilities in this nation of 242 million people.
Those who know her best call her "Apostle Indri." She is comfortable with the title because she has planted a thriving Christian movement. "The men here looked down on me. Their attitude was, 'Let's see how long she is going to last,'" said Gautama, 49.
Those who knew her as a girl would never have expected Gautama to be a Christian, much less a minister. She was raised in a wealthy family in Indonesia, and her parents practiced ancestor worship. Her father's focus was always on money. Her mother had planned to abort her.
After graduating from college in Australia, Gautama moved in with a Middle Eastern man in Honolulu and spent much of her time in discos. Yet after returning to Jakarta, she accepted Christ in 1988 and was baptized in the Holy Spirit.
In 1993 she sold her passport business and a stuffed-toy factory she owned and gave away her other businesses. She became an itinerant evangelist to the people living on the island of Sulawesi—and to other dangerous areas where Muslims often burn churches. She lived among the natives, ate their simple food and challenged nominal Christians to repent of being spiritually lukewarm.
"I was like John the Baptist," she told Charisma. "They called me 'The Bulldozer.'" This small woman grabbed lots of attention when she began a church in Jakarta in 2002 with seven people. Apostolic Generation Church opened officially the next year, after Gautama met Naomi Dowdy, an American missionary living in Singapore. Dowdy had successfully grown a 5,000-member church in another male-dominated culture, and she is known as an apostle among independent charismatic ministers worldwide.
When Gautama founded her church she had little training and no support from male pastors in the city, so she asked Dowdy to mentor her. Since then Apostolic Generation Church has grown to 1,800 members, with seven full-time staff and 50 care-cell pastors and other volunteers. In addition, the church recently broke ground on an impressive downtown office complex that should be completed in 2008.
Known as Kuningan Place, it will feature apartments, offices, a 1,000-seat auditorium, a day care center and a parking garage housed in four skyscrapers, the tallest of which is 30 stories. Members of Gautama's church sold the complex's apartments in two months so construction could begin. "It has been scary at times because we are walking on water," Gautama said of the project.
Her efforts have caught the attention of church leaders who once criticized her. Some have even sought her advice on how to grow their own churches. "Our faith in God will not be shaken. So we run and make huge leaps of faith," she said.
Part of what fuels Gautama's fire is her hatred of poverty. She abhors the fact that Indonesia is rich in natural resources, yet many of its people barely eke out an existence because of ignorance and idolatry. Her dream is to change the nation by teaching Christians to give financially while working for transformation.
"The members of my church know that they are called to be His transforming agents," Gautama said. "We are to win, nurture and disciple souls and develop them to be apostolic leaders so that we can advance the kingdom of God." That may be Gautama's legacy. One way or another, this ministry pioneer is determined to make sure that thousands of young Indonesians not only hear the gospel but also are trained to transform Indonesia for Christ.J. Lee Grady

Megachurches in Singapore

Megachurches in Singapore
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Currently, there are a total of 598 registered churches in Singapore. Throughout the 1980s as the Charismatic Movement hit Singapore, a new wave of large charismatic churches were birthed. Victory Family Centre (fomerly Calvary Charismatic Centre), under Rev. Dr Rick Seaward, became the first church to exceed 4,000 in membership. In the early 1990s, Trinity Christian Centre, under Apostle Naomi Dowdy, became the first church to exceed 5,000 in membership. Then in 1996, Faith Community Baptist Church, under Apostle Lawrence Khong, grew to more than 6,000 members. FCBC continued to grow to some 10,000 members by 2001. This was followed by City Harvest Church under Rev Dr Kong Hee, which became the first church to exceed 12,000 in 2002. City Harvest Church has been the largest church in Singapore since, with a membership exceeding 23,000 by 2007. In recent years, 2 other charismatic churches are experiencing phenomenal growth each. The first being New Creation Church under Rev Joseph Prince, which grew rapidly from 3,000 to 15,000 in 10 years. The other is Lighthouse Evangelism under Rev Rony Tan, which has a current membership of 12,000. Here's a list of the Top 10 megachurches in Singapore in 2007.


Top 10 Independant Megachurches 2007
1. City Harvest Church (Senior Pastor: Rev. Dr Kong Hee)

Membership: 23,000

2. New Creation Church (Senior Pastor: Pastor. Joseph Prince)

Membership: 16,000

3. Lighthouse Evangelism (Singapore) (Senior Pastor: Rev. Rony Tan)

Membership: 12,000

4. Faith Community Baptist Church (Senior Pastor: Apostle Lawrence Khong)

Membership: 10,000

5. Victory Family Centre (Senior Pastor: Pastor Danny Han / Apostolic Overseer: Rev Dr. Rick Seaward)

Membership: 6,000

6. Trinity Christian Centre (Senior Pastor: Apostle Dominic Yeo)

Membership: 5,500

7. Church of Our Saviour, Singapore (Senior Pastor: Rev. Derek Hong)

Membership: 4,000

7. Church of Singapore (Founding Elder: Brother Goh Ewe Kheng)

Membership: 4,000

7. Grace Assembly of God (Senior Pastor: Rev. Dr David Lim)

Membership: 4,000

10. Covenant Evangelical Free Church (Senior Pastor: Rev. Edmund Chan)

Membership: 3,200


Other Prominent Churches in Singapore
There are many other prominent churches in Singapore, with membership ranging from 1,000-3,000 each. Below is a list of some of these churches.

Cornerstone Community Church (Senior Pastor: Rev Yang Tuck Yoong)

Riverlife Church (Senior Pastor: Rev Vincent Lun)

Bethesda Cathedral (Senior Pastor: Rev Tay Cheng Kee)

Living Sanctuary Brethren Church (Senior Pastor: Rev Lawrence Chua)

Church of Praise (Senior Pastor: Rev Pang Yan Leng/Rev Pang Yan Cher)

Elim Church Singapore (Senior Pastor: Rev Glen Lim)

Agape Baptist Church (Senior Pastor: Rev Guna Raman)

Hope Church Singapore (Senior Pastor: Rev Ben KC Lee)

KONG HEE, Pendeta Besar Yang Juga Sukses Berbisnis

KONG HEE, Pendeta Besar Yang Juga Sukses Berbisnis
Kong Hee, Seorang Pendiri Gereja
Kong Hee menerima Yesus sebagai Tuhan dan Juruselamatnya pada tahun 1975. Setelah pertobatannya, Kong menghadiri pertemuan kecil di Gereja Anglican selama 13 tahun. Setelah lulus dan meraih gelar sarjana komputer dari Universitas National di Singapura, dan setelah sempat bekerja di Gereja Anglican, Kong berencana memulai pelayanannya di Filipina. Ketika itu itulah ia merasa Tuhan menggerakkan hatinya untuk memulai gereja di daerah pinggiran Singapura. Pada tanggal 7 Mei 1989, Gereja City Harvest didirikan dan terdiri dari 20 orang anak muda.
Kini, gereja Khong Hee termasuk gereja yang unik di kawasan Asia karena beberapa alasan berikut ini:
1. Dengan jemaat yang berjumlah 23.000 orang, gereja yang dibangun Kong Hee adalah gereja terbesar kedua di kawasan Asia.
2. Seluruh dinding komplek gedung gereja yang dilapisi titanium dan yang dibangun di bawah tanah itu berharga senilai 28 juta dollar dan telah dibayar dengan lunas.
3. Gaya penyembahan dan pelayanan gereja yang ada di gereja Kong Hee termasuk yang paling kontemporer dan progresif di seluruh dunia.
4. Dengan tingkat pertumbuhan melahirkan 1 gereja setiap 3 bulannya, CHC adalah sebuah gereja misi.
5. Memiliki Sekolah Pendalaman Alkitab jangka pendek yang tersebar luas di seluruh kawasan Asia Tenggara, dan memiliki 10 cabang sekolah di kawasan Timur Jauh, pemuridan menjadi jantung kegiatan CHC.
6. Karena penekanannya untuk menjangkau jiwa, pikiran dan keberadaan anak-anak muda, Konferensi Emerge CHC di seluruh kawasan Asia menarik puluhan ribu anak muda sejak tahun 2004.
7. Motto CHC yaitu kristos kai kosmos, yaitu membawa Kristus ke lingkungan pekerjaan dan kebudayaan masyarakat yang kontemporer dengan cara yang relevan.
Kong Hee, Seorang Pelayan Kemanusiaan
Tahun 1995, Kong merasakan panggilan Tuhan untuk membangun sebuah "Gereja Tanpa Tembok," untuk membawa kasih Kristus keluar dan melintasi keempat pilar gereja dengan cara yang penuh belas kasihan dan praktis. Sejak itu, etos hidup Kong yaitu "menemukan kebutuhan dan memenuhi kebutuhan itu, mencari orang terluka dan menyembuhkannya."
Pada tahun 1997, Asosiasi Pelayanan Komunitas City Harvest didirikan untuk menjangkau orang-orang yang kurang beruntung, tanpa memandang suku, bahasa atau agama. CHCSA memulihkan 17.000 kowa di Singapore setiap tahunnya, sementara membangun dan mengelola banyak sekolah, pusat-pusat kesehatan dan panti-panti asuhan di daerah-daerah kumuh di kawasan Asia Tenggara.

Sebagai orang yang paling dikenal dan orang yang paling sering dicari di kalangan pembicara internasional, Kong menerima ratusan undangan setiap tahunnya untuk mengajar di berbagai universitas, perusahaan-perusahaan, gereja-gereja, dan konferensi-konferensi di seluruh dunia. Sampai detik ini, lebih dari 1 juta orang telah menghadiri seminar-seminarnya, sementara itu tidak terhitung orang-orang di kawasan Asia yang telah mendengarkan kotbahnya melalui siaran televisi mingguan berdurasi 30 menit, "Harvest Time". Kong telah berbicara di negara-negara ini: Armenia, Australia, Canada, China, Fiji, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Jepang, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Papua, Filipina, Rusia, Singapore, Afrika Selatan, Korea Selatan, Swedia, Taiwan, USA, Ukraine, dan Vietnam.

Kong, Seorang Pengusaha
Kong dan istrinya adalah juga pemilik dari 4 outlet fashion. Adapun lokasi outlet-outlet milik Kong tersebar di sepanjang Jalan Orchard sampai ke Pelabuhan Marina, yang merupakan jalur belanja utama di Singapore. Sebagai seorang pemilik usaha, Kong tidak pernah menerima gaji lagi dari CHC sejak tahun 2005. Mereka berdua melayani gereja dan kegiatan-kegiatan masyarakat sebagai sukarelawan, seperti juga orang-orang lainnya yang menjadi anggota dari organisasi-organisasi non-profit.

Sumber: berbagai sumber

Reverend Doctor Kong Hee

Kong Hee
Reverend Doctor Kong Hee (born August 23, 1964) is the founder and senior pastor (Honorary/Volunteer) of City Harvest Church Singapore. Kong is known throughout Singapore and Asia as a religious teacher based in the Charismatic Movement, preaching on promoting character and Charismatic Christianity. As a young man, he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from the National University of Singapore, and thereafter went on to obtain his Master of Divinity in 1991 and Doctor of Theology in 1995.
Kong sits on the executive committee of the National Council of Churches of Singapore and is the current chairman of the Festival of Praise Singapore. In 1992 he founded City Harvest Education Centre. Together with his wife, Ho Yeow Sun, a professional singer and recording artiste with a career based in United States and Taiwan, he is attempting to train people with the purpose of creating strong local churches everywhere in Asia. City Harvest Bible Training Center was born in 1994 to serve this purpose.

In January 2005, Kong's wife gave birth to a son, whom they named Dayan Kong Yi after Moshe Dayan, Israel's defence minister during the Six-Day War and architect of the Camp David Accords. From 1 November 2005, Kong was taken off City Harvest Church's payroll indefinitely to help to raise funds for their new building project. He is now officially a pastor on honorary and volunteer basis

Ho Yeow Sun (何耀珊 Mandarin He Yao Sun) wife of Rev. Kong Hee is a popular secular Chinese pop music singer as well as a top international dance, She is the , the Founder - Senior Pastor (Honorary/Volunteer) of City Harvest Church. She is a professional counselor, and frequently offers counseling over radio and magazines in China, Taiwan and Singapore. She is also the Founder of City Harvest Community Services Association. Since her career as a pop artiste, Ho has actively been involved in raising funds for various charitable organizations.

City Harvest Church
City Harvest is also the name of a New York City-based non-profit food rescue organization which is not affiliated with the churches. City Harvest (Chinese: 城市丰收教会) is a foundation of churches based in Singapore, focusing on Christian missions to the youth, the elderly, the physically challenged, families and the business community. Currently, it is one of the three "megachurches" in Singapore; the others being New Creation Church and Faith Community Baptist Church.
Profile City Harvest Church was founded by Kong Hee with twenty other people in 1989. Within sixteen years it has grown to a membership of more than 20,000. Today, it is the largest youth Christian organisation, with 55% of its members below the age of 25 years. It is the largest church in Singapore right now.
It is also noted that 80% of members are first time converts. The church has evangelists such as Ulf Ekman, John Avanzini, Benny Hinn, Richard Roberts etc. City Harvest became the first church in the world to be awarded the ISO 9001:2000 certification. In 2004, the church’s webcast of its services reached approximately 578,560 viewers from 131 countries, or 11,126 viewers per weekend.

Church building. The church building, eight-storey complex with four underground levels cost S$48 million. Every weekend, the church hires 286 buses to make 1,842 stops and ferry its members. However, Church has moved its weekend English services to Singapore Expo Hall 8.
City Harvest Bible Training Center has 1,000 graduates from more than 30 countries.City Harvest Community Services Association also maintains a welfare organization which in a year provides more than 14,000 Singapore residents of various races and religions with counselling and financial aid. City Harvest Education Centre (CHEC) help effective and affordable education for GCE 'N' and 'O' level examinations.
Criticism Critics allege that the church spends extravagantly in various ways, such as the titanium cladding around the building.

City Harvest Church
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City Harvest Church Logo

CHC Jurong West building
City Harvest Church (simplified Chinese: 城市丰收教会) or "CHC" is one of the megachurches in Singapore.[1] that serves as the spiritual resource center for related churches based in Asia. It has been described by Charisma as "one of the largest congregations in Asia."[2]
City Harvest Church is the largest church in Singapore, with a combined total of over 23 000 members. This makes the church the 2nd largest church in Asia. The church's highest record attendance has gone beyond 51,000 during City Harvest's Christmas Celebration services in 2007. The church is a full member of the National Council of Churches in Singapore, Evangelical Fellowship of Singapore, and Festival of Praise Fellowship. CHC is a multi-site church with multiple, multi-lingual weekend services at two campuses, Jurong West and Singapore Expo Hall 8. The values of CHC are based on the Charismatic and Pentecostal teachings, with doctrinal emphases on the Great Commandment, the Great Commission and the Cultural Mandate. There are 24 different nationalities represented among its congregation.
In Singapore, CHC has spawned religious agencies such as a Bible school, a community service association, an education center, a Christian television department, a performing arts school, and a marketplace ministry for businesspeople. Overseas, CHC has active relationships with churches and Bible schools in Asia, conducting joint conferences and seminars with them annually.
Contents[hide]
1 Mission Statement
2 History
3 Staff
4 Weekly Services
5 Affiliated organisations
6 Culture
6.1 Cell groups
6.2 Missions
6.3 Recordings and Stage Productions
6.4 Broadcasting
6.5 Publications [22]
7 Awards [24]
8 Emerge Conference
9 Church Building
10 References
11 See also
12 External links
//

Mission Statement
The church's mission statement is: "To build a church with a strong spiritual atmosphere of faith and purity, where every member is released into ministry, discipled in the great commandment to obey the great commission."[3]
Together with its Mission Statement, City Harvest Church has 17 Statements of Faith[3], which form the basis of its teachings to the congregation and the foundation of its various ministries.

History
City Harvest Chuch was founded by Kong Hee with 20 people on May 7, 1989. During the early years, CHC met at various venues such as Katong Park Hotel, NTUC Auditorium, Ministry of Environment Building, National Productivity Board Auditorium, Hotel Grand Central, Orchard Hotel, World Trade Center, and the Westin Hotel.
On June 4, 1995, CHC leased the former Hollywood Theater at Tanjong Katong Road and met there for six years. On December 15, 2001, the church moved to its permanent 2,300-seater venue at Jurong West Street 91. On December 11, 2005, the church rented another worship site at Singapore Expo Hall 8 to accommodate its growing congregation. From December 2, 2007, CHC holds an additional English service on both Saturdays and Sundays in Jurong West premises, increasing the amount of English services to 4.
On April 29, 2004, City Harvest was awarded the ISO 9001:2000 certification for quality management and process management[4][5]
City Harvest Church currently has 23,000 attendees in its weekend services.[6] 55% of its members are below the age of 25 years.[7] The church has 36 volunteer ministries for its members to participate in.

Staff
The church has 12 pastors, with five of them ordained as Reverends. The church employs 127 full-time staff at two locations: its Jurong West premises and its administrative office at Suntec City.[8]

Weekly Services
The church holds different weekly services in English, Mandarin, Hokkien, Cantonese, and Indonesian. It also has weekly services for children and the mentally challenged. [9]

Affiliated organisations
City Harvest Bible Training Center [10]
City Harvest Bible Training Center (CHBTC) was started in 1994 with the purpose of training up pastors, missionaries and church workers for the establishing of local churches in Asia. It offers a five-month, full-time program in Advanced Certificate of Theology jointly with Oral Roberts University. In the past 12 years, more than 2,000 graduates from more than 30 countries have graduated from its courses. [11]
CHBTC Mission Statement: City Harvest Bible Training Center is committed to offering theological and practical training courses of high quality, comparable to internationally-recognized standards, so as to equip students in doctrinal and practical aspects of church ministry. For every course program we offer, we seek to understand and meet the requirements of students' needs and to inspire, impact and maximise the potential of each and every student.
City Harvest Community Services Association [12]
City Harvest Community Services Association (CHCSA) currently employs 7 full-time staff and was registered with the Registry of Societies (ROS 162/97 WEL) on August 16, 1997. It received full membership with the National Council of Social Service on January 7, 2000. The President of CHCSA is Derek John Dunn. On April 29, 2004, CHCSA attained the ISO 9001:2000 certification. For 2005, CHCSA helped 16,624 service users, out of which 5,860 of them were assisted on a regular basis. [13]
City Harvest Education Centre [14]
Co-funded by the MCYS (Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports)[15], Singapore, City Harvest Education Centre (CHEC) has been registered with the Ministry of Education since 2002. The purpose of CHEC is "to provide effective and affordable education to private candidates taking the GCE 'N' and 'O' level examinations." In 2006, CHEC's students make up about 7% of all private candidates in Singapore taking O Level Examinations. CHEC is also the first school in Singapore to be offering Dance as a GCE 'O' Level subject. CHEC is especially noted for employing unconventional teaching styles to aid students who did not fare well in mainstream schools[16], as well as Singapore's youngest school principal[17].
O School [18]
O School, a performing arts center, is a "social enterprise" supported by MCYS ComCare Enterprise Fund ([1]). A social enterprise is a sustainable business with a social mission, where business is used to serve its social cause. O School was started with three social objectives in mind:
To generate funds for City Harvest Education Centre as bursaries for lower-income students.
To use dance as a befriending tool to reach out to youths-at-risk.
To provide training and employment placement for youths.

Culture

Cell groups
Cell group (CG) is a major part of the church's ministry to its members. The CG meeting is a time where members meet in smaller groups for worship, prayers and Bible studies. The meetings are usually held once a week, on a day decided by the CG leader, and its locations can be found throughout Singapore. Currently there are 600 CG leaders with some running more than two CGs. CG leaders are mostly lay members of the church who have gone through the church's discipleship and leadership training.
Accordingly to CHC's Senior Pastor, as the Church grows larger in numbers, "Cell groups provide the optimum context for effective discipleship"[19], where members can still forge close relationships with fellow Christians in a much smaller setting.

Missions
CHC has 50 affiliate churches and Bible schools in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Japan and Australia. In 2005, CHC sent out a total of 292 mission teams to help Christian agencies overseas.

Recordings and Stage Productions
Like most Charismatic churches, CHC uses contemporary music and settings for praise and worship, with a choir in an environment similar to a rock concert with the related musical instruments. It has also a strong drama team for its stage productions.
1994 : Against All Odds (CD Album)
1995 : Remember Us (CD Album)
1996 : Life (CD Album)
2000 : Future (CD Album)
2001 : Angel—"The Story Of Singapore" (Stage Production)
2002 : Megastar.com (Stage Production)
2005 : Mid-Autumn's Love (Stage Production)
2005 : Cross (CD Album, DVD)[20]
2006 : Emerge (DVD)
2006 : Glory (DVD)
2007 : First Vol. I (Chinese DVD)
2007 : First Vol. II (Chinese DVD)
2007 : Destiny (CD Singles)
2007 : Breakaway (CD Album)

Broadcasting
In 2004, the church’s webcast of its services reached approximately 578,560 viewers from 131 countries, or 11,126 viewers per weekend. The church also has a 30-minute television broadcast program called "Harvest Time," which is broadcast on 13 Cable Television Networks and satellites, with a potential viewership of about 637 million. Harvest Time is available in its original English language or Chinese translation, depending on the broadcast station.[21]

Publications [22]
The church publishes a magazine quarterly called Harvest Times (founded in 1999).[23] It has a readership of 60,000
In 2006, a Chinese version of Harvest Times - Chinese Harvest Times was started and has a readership of close to 45,000

Awards [24]
2002 : 3rd Annual Intelligent20 Award [25]
2004 : ISO 9001:2000 Certification [4] [5]
2005 : Hitwise Award - Ranked #1 in the category: Lifestyle - Religion for most visited website
2006 : Hitwise Award - Ranked #1 in the category: Lifestyle - Religion for most visited website[26]

Emerge Conference
City Harvest Church is the organizer of Emerge, an annual four-day youth conference. In 2007, 8,830 youth leaders and delegates from a total of 16 nations attended the event. CHC also co-hosts Emerge conferences in Malaysia and Taiwan every year. There are 61 competitions including Spelling Bee, Math Olympaid, Word Power, Singing Contest, Preaching Challenge, Blog Design, Short Film, Make-up & Costume Design, Extreme Sports, etc. The May 31 opening night of the Singapore Emerge 2007 was broadcasted "live" on GOD TV to 122 million homes in more than 200 nations and territories.[27]

Church Building
The church building located at Jurong West Street 91 was completed in 2002. Construction of the building cost S$48 million (US$26.6 million) and seats up to 2,300 attendees. [28]
It is the first titanium-clad building in Asia and is modeled after the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain. Special limestone for part of the building was imported from Europe. The front of the building has a world class fountain wall which is lit up at night. There are more than 200 parking lots within the building.
The lounge area on the first floor has plasma television monitors built into the walls featuring the local television programming or video recordings of past church services. There is a café, a rooftop garden, a children’s playground and wading pool, a baptism pool, and even a small putting green for golf enthusiasts. Cool Mist fans blast out moist air over the entire rooftop area to ward off the daytime heat. The bathroom facilities were designed by French designer Philippe Starck.
The auditorium (which is underground) covers 1,700 square meters and is totally column-free. There are two artist make-up rooms directly behind the stage. The stage was created by Dan Hess, a designer who formerly worked with Christie’s Auction House in New York. It features a bright LED screen.
On December 15, 2005, CHC began renting Hall 8 of Singapore Expo as an additional worship venue with a seating configuration that accommodates a maximum of 8,100 attendees.

[edit] References
^ "West Meet East", MinistriesToday (no. January,February): Pg:32-33, 2004
^ Why Isn't the American church growing?. Charisma Magazine. Retrieved on May 29, 2007.
^ a b Statement of Faith. City Harvest Church. Retrieved on May 29, 2007.
^ a b Cheok Soh Hui. "Harvest Times-City Harvest Church:PSB ISO 90012000", The Straits Times, June 30, 2004.

PASTOR KONG HEE BIOGRAPHY

Full name
: Kong Hee
Born
: 23 August
Accepted Christ
: 1975

Qualifications:
Raffles Institution: 1977-1980
Raffles Junior College: 1981-1982
Graduated from National University of Singapore,Bachelor of Science (Computer & Information Sciences):1985-1988
Theological Qualifications:
New Covenant International Theological Seminary (USA):Master of Divinity: 1989-1991
New Covenant International Theological Seminary (USA):Doctor of Theology: 1993-1995
Ordained:
Bethany Christian Centre (Singapore): 6 Jan 1991
Founded:
City Harvest Church: 1989
City Harvest Bible Training Center: 1994
Harvest Times (quarterly magazine): 1999
City Harvest Education Centre: 2002
O' School: 2006
Co-Founded with Rev. George Ong:
Harvest School of Ministry: 2001
Malaysian Harvest Christian Fellowship: 2003
Position:
President, City Harvest Church, Singapore: Since 1992
Chairman, Festival of Praise, Singapore: 1997-2001, 2005-now
President, Word of Life, Singapore: Since 1997
Board of Reference, Transform World, Indonesia: Since 2005
Committee Member, National Council of Churches, Singapore: 1999-2004
Board of Advisor, Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship International, Singapore: 1996-2000

Kong Hee
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Kong Hee (born August 23, 1964) is the founder, honorary and volunteer senior pastor of City Harvest Church in Singapore. Kong is a Christian leader based in the Charismatic Movement, with a philosophy of ministry that emphasizes the Great Commandment, Great Commission, and Cultural Mandate[1] . Under his leadership, City Harvest Church has grown to more than 23,000 members and has jointly developed 40 churches and 10 Bible schools in Asia [2] [3] [4] [5]. Kong has also co-founded an education center, a performing arts school, a publishing house, a missions agency, a ministerial fellowship and a magazine [6]. Kong is also a motivational speaker and runs a retail business.[7]
Kong Hee’s wife, Sun Ho, is a pop music singer, who currently resides in the United States. They have a son, Dayan Kong.


Life
Kong is the fifth child of Kong Leng, a professional engineer, and Toh Poh-Eng, a diamond trader. He graduated with the Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from the National University of Singapore in 1988, the Master of Divinity in 1991, and the Doctor of Theology in 1995.
From 1975 to 1988, Kong was a member of Marine Parade Christian Center, an Anglican church located in eastern Singapore. During his university years, he worked part-time for the Chapel of the Resurrection under the oversight of Anglican vicar, Reverend Dr. Canon James Wong. During that tenure, he helped Canon Wong set up a new congregation, Orchard Christian Centre. Upon graduation from the university, Kong worked a short stint in a local publishing house as a programmer.
In 1989, Kong was a staff evangelist with “Christ For Asia,” a missions organization in the Philippines led by Assemblies of God minister, Reverend Randy Sing. At that same time, there was an opportunity for Kong to pioneer a new church in Singapore. With the support and encouragement of some senior pastors in the city, Kong decided to relocate back to Singapore and helped set up a new congregation with 20 youths. On May 7, 1989, City Harvest Church was founded as a department (known as "Ekklesia Ministry") of Bethany Christian Centre (Assemblies of God). [8]
Kong often travels to assist churches in Asia, Europe and Australia. He specializes in leadership and staff development, church growth and organization, and contemporary worship and creativity. His weekly 30-minute television program “Harvest Times” is broadcasted by 13 satellite television networks to 140 countries[9].
Since 1997, Kong is the executive director of the Festival of Praise, an annual event that brings together more than 100 churches for united prayer and worship.
Kong is a board member of Dr. David Yonggi Cho’s Church Growth International (South Korea) and Dr. Luis Bush’s Transform World (Indonesia).

Educational Qualifications
Raffles Institution (1977-1980)
Raffles Junior College (1981-1982)
National University of Singapore, Bachelor of Science (Computer & Information Sciences) (1985-1988)
Theological Qualifications
New Covenant International Theological Seminary (USA): Master of Divinity (1989-1991)
New Covenant International Theological Seminary (USA): Doctor of Theology (1993-1995)

Title Ordination
Bethany Christian Centre (Singapore): January 6, 1991

Founded
City Harvest Church (1989)
City Harvest Bible Training Center (1994)
Harvest Times (quarterly magazine) (1999)
City Harvest Education Centre (2002)
O School (2006)

Co-Founded
Harvest School of Ministry (2001)
Malaysian Harvest Christian Fellowship (2003)

Positions held
President, City Harvest Church (Singapore): 1992-Present
Executive Director, Festival of Praise (Singapore): 1997-2001, 2005-Present
President, Word of Life (Singapore): 1997-Present
Board of Directors, Church Growth International (South Korea): 2007-Present
Board of References, Transform World (Indonesia): 2005-Present
Committee Member, National Council of Churches (Singapore): 1999-2004
Vice President, City Harvest Community Services Association (Singapore): 1997-2007
Board of Advisors, Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship International (Singapore): 1996-2000
Board of Advisors, The Living Faith Church (Singapore) : 2001-Present


References
Kong Hee's Biography. City Harvest Church. Retrieved on May 29, 2007.
^ Kong Hee's Profile. City Harvest Church. Retrieved on June 5, 2007.
^ Why Isn't the American church growing?. Charisma Magazine. Retrieved on May 29, 2007.
^ Speakers. City City Church. Retrieved on June 29, 2007.
^ Kong Hee's Profile. City Harvest Church. Retrieved on June 5, 2007.
^ History Of The Church. City Harvest Church. Retrieved on June 5, 2007.
^ Kong Hee's Biography. City Harvest Church. Retrieved on June 5, 2007.
^ Kong Hee's Profile. City Harvest Church. Retrieved on June 5, 2007.
^ "Every Member is a Minister' at Singapore Megachurch", Church & Ministry, 2004-02-10.
^ Harvest Time. City Harvest Church. Retrieved on June 06, 2007.
Others
Ministries Today Magazine (December 2003).
External links
City Harvest Church official site
City Harvest Bible Training Centre
City Harvest Community Services Association
City Harvest Education Centre
Attributes Christian Bookstore
Kong Hee's Biography
Other Related Kong Hee's Sites

Symbol of Indonesia's Pancasila

Symbol of Indonesia's Pancasila

Pancasila

Source:Wikipedia

Pancasila, is the Dasar Negara, philosophical foundation of the Indonesian state. Pancasila consists of two Sanskrit words, "panca" meaning five, and "sila" meaning principle. It comprises five principles held to be inseparable and interrelated.

The first principle: Belief in the one and only God.

The second: Just and Civilised humanity

(Internationalism, it does not mean Cosmopolitanism),

The third principle: the unity of Indonesia

(Nationalism, not Chauvinism; Sukarno quoted Gandhi: I am a nationalist,

but my nationalism is humanity),

The fourth: Democracy led by wise guidance through consultation/representation (representative democracy)

and

social justice for the whole Indonesian people.

History
In 1945, facing the need to pull together the diverse archipelago, the future President Sukarno promulgated Pancasila as "Dasar Negara" (philosofical foundation/political philosophy of Indonesian state). The ideology was announced in a speech known as "The Birth of the Pancasila", in which Sukarno gave to the Independence Preparatory Committee on 1 June 1945 (Saafroedin Bahar et al 1995:63-84; Kusuma,2004:150-166).

He thus helped solve the conflict between Muslims, nationalists and Christians. The 1945 Constitution then set forth the Pancasila as the embodiment of basic principles of an independent Indonesian state.

The Five Principles

(1) Belief in the one and only God (Ketuhanan yang Maha Esa)
This principle reaffirms the Indonesian people’s belief that God does exist. It also implies that the Indonesian people believe in life after death. It emphasizes that the pursuit of sacred values will lead the people to a better life in the hereafter. The principle is embodied in the 1945 Constitution and reads: "The state shall be based on the belief in the one and only God".

(2) Just and civilized humanity (Kemanusiaan yang Adil dan Beradab)
This principle requires that human beings be treated with due regard to their dignity as God’s creatures. It emphasizes that the Indonesian people do not tolerate physical or spiritual oppression of human beings by their own people or by any other nation.

(3) The unity of Indonesia (Persatuan Indonesia)
This principle embodies the concept of nationalism, of love for one’s nation and motherland. It envisages the need to always foster national unity and integrity. Pancasila nationalism demands that Indonesians avoid feelings of superiority on the grounds of ethnicity, for reasons of ancestry and skin color. In 1928 Indonesian youth pledged to have one country, one nation and one language, while the Indonesian coat of arms enshrines the symbol of

"Bhinneka Tunggal Ika" which means "unity in diversity".

(4) Democracy guided by the inner wisdom in the unanimity arising out of deliberations amongst representatives

(Kerakyatan yang Dipimpin oleh Hikmat Kebijaksanaan dalam Permusyawaratan/Perwakilan)

Pancasila democracy calls for decision-making through deliberations, or musyawarah, to reach a consensus, or mufakat. It is democracy that lives up to the principles of Pancasila. This implies that democratic right must always be exercised with a deep sense of responsibility to God according to one’s own conviction and religious belief, with respect for humanitarian values of man’s dignity and integrity, and with a view to preserving and strengthening national unity and the pursuit of social justice.

(5) Social justice for the whole of the people of Indonesia

(Keadilan Sosial bagi Seluruh Rakyat Indonesia)
This principle calls for the equitable spread of welfare to the entire population, not in a static but in a dynamic and progressive way. This means that all of the country’s natural resources and the national potentials should be utilized for the greatest possible good and happiness of the people. Social justice implies protection of the weak. But protection should not deny them work. On the contrary, they should work according to their abilities and fields of activity. Protection should prevent willful treatment by the strong and ensure the rule of justice.

Development
Since its inception, Pancasila has been in the center of differences of opinion. One prime area of contention concerned the first of the five "pillars", the belief in the all-oneness of God (ketuhanan yang mahaesa). During the negotiations concerning this principle the nationalists were concerned that the formulation ought to promote religious freedom The Muslims wanted a formulation where the religion of Indonesia is Islam.
A historical anachronism is found in the Constitution. On August 18 1945, the group that ratified the Constitution unanimously agreed that the term "Allah" should be replaced by "Tuhan" (God), a more general term which was supported by the Hindus (Saafroedin Bahar et al 1992:305). The word 'Tuhan' is used in the preamble to the Constitution, but the term Allah appears in Article 9, which specifies the wording of the presidential oath of office. There is an alternative presidential 'promise' in the same article which does not mention God at all. Incidentally, the word 'Allah' is used in Indonesian language version of the Bible, but the pronunciation is different from that used by Indonesian Muslims.

Apparently many Muslims wanted an Islamic state where Muslims would be obliged to abide by sharia law. They therefore proposed an addition to the first principle: "…with obligation to follow sharia law for its adherents" (Jakarta Charter, 22 June 1945). This was turned down in 1945. Later this led to a deadlock in the "konstituante", the national assembly that in 1956 was elected to draft a new Constitution. In 1959 president Sukarno solved the problem by dissolving the "konstituante" and issuing the following decree: "We believe that Jakarta Charter of June 22, 1945 is the soul of the Constitution of 1945 and that it functions as a unit with this Constitution… therefore we, the President of Indonesia and Commander in Chief of the Indonesian forces, declare… that the 1945 Constitution is reinstated." Thus the Jakarta Charter has no legal status beyond its inspirational character. Indonesia's second president, Suharto, was a strong supporter of Pancasila. In his time Pancasila was made mandatory in the constitutions of social and religious organisations. Additionally, a one– or two–week course in Pancasila (P4) was made obligatory for all who wanted to take higher education.

Philosophies of Pancasila
Pancasila is a state philosophy of Indonesian Republic. The content of the philosophy has been changeably interpreted by different philosophers. Pancasila has been an object of philosophical discourse since 1945 onwards. The Pancasila philosophers continually reinterpreted the content, so that its meaning varied from time to time. The following are chronological analyses of the content of philosophies of Pancasila.

The Founding Fathers’ philosophy
Pancasila was original philosophy of Indonesian origin that accepts foreign influence from Islam,Hindu,Budha and Western thought. The first draft was formulated by Sukarno alone (Nationalism, Internationalism,Representataive Democracy, Social Justice and Believe in ONe and Only God), delivered on June 1, 1945 before the Investigating Committee For the Preparation for Independence(Indonesian:Badan Penyelidik Usaha Persiapan Kemerdekaan (BPUPK), without word Indonesia (Kusuma, 2004:1). The second draft of Pancasila was formulated in "Jakarta Charter" by "Panitia Sembilan" (Sukarno, Hatta, Yamin, Maramis, Subardjo, Ki Hadikusumo. Wachid Hasyim, Agus Salim and Abikusno). Sukarno accept the suggestion of the other member of Panitia Sembilan to change the "sequence" of Pancasila. The fifth Sila of Sukarno become the first Sila of "Jakarta Charter" and the wording becomes "Ketuhanan dengan kewajiban menjalankan syariah Islam bagi pemeluk-pemeluknya" (Belief in God Almighty with the obligation for its muslim citizens to carry out the Islamic law/Syari'ah). On August 18 1945 Panitia Persiapan Kemerdekaan Indonesia (Committee for the preparation of Indonesian Independence) changed the formulation of the first sentence of Pancasila by removing the words "with the obligation of its muslims citizens to carry out the Syariah". And the first Sila becomes "Ketuhanan Yang Maha Esa".

Sukarno’s philosophy
The first draft of Pancasila philosophy had been formulated by Soekarno alone on June 1 st 1945. Soekarno always stated that Pancasila was original philosophy of Indonesian origin, which he found out of the philosophical tradition taking roots in Indonesian history, including indigenous philosophical tradition, Indian-Hindu, Western-Christian, and Arab-Islamic traditions. 'Ketuhanan', to him, was originally indigenous and he is true, while 'Kemanusiaan' was inspired by Hindu concept of Tat Twam Asi, Islamic concept of fardhukifayah, and Christian concept of Hebs U naasten lief gelijk U zelve, God boven alles. Soekarno never touched 'Persatuan'; he might admit silently that it was taken from Western concept of nationalism. He finally explained that 'Keadilan sosial' was inspired by Javanese concept of Ratu Adil (The Just Lord), a messianistic Javanese ruler who would set the people free from all kind of oppression. Pancasila is widely acknowledged as the brainchild of Soekarno, and has substantially contributed to the unity of the ethnically heterogeneous Indonesia.

Suharto’s philosophy
In Soeharto’s hands, philosophy of Pancasila underwent what be called ‘indigenization’. All Western elements subsumed within Pancasila since 1945 were eradicated systematically by some groups of Pancasila philosophers, sponsored by Soeharto through his Culture and Education Department (Depdikbud) in order to find out indigenous legacy (adat) which accords with Pancasila’s five basic teachings. There is no Western residues survived before those philosophers in Pancasila. ‘Ketuhanan’, ‘Kemanusiaan’, ‘Persatuan’, ‘Kerakyatan’, and ‘Keadilan Sosial’ were claimed by them as purely Indonesian notions of indigenous origin. They proved the teachings as indigenous by exploring and finding out adat legacies scattered out in provinces of Indonesia, such as adat social structure, adat literary products, adat religious teachings, and adat ethics. They succeeded enormously and their findings were used by Soeharto to unite Indonesian people. Among the Pancasila philosophers sponsored by Soeharto are Sunoto and R. Parmono. They both are also known as the pioneers of Indonesian philosophy studies. Without any slightest doubt, Soeharto's concept of Pancasila was deeply ingrained in Javanese highly feudalistic and mystical political culture, which to some extent is incompatible with the more egalitarian and pragmatic political culture of the Outer Islands.

Inspirational quotes by William Arthur Ward

Quotes by Famous People - William Arthur Ward
(1921 - 1994)

William Arthur Ward was an American, author, editor, pastor and teacher. As you read his quotes you will see a man who had a lot of common sense! His quotes are both motivating and inspiring.

Inspirational quotes by William Arthur Ward:

Optimists enrich the present, enhance the future, challenge the improbable and attain the impossible.”

The mediocre teacher tells.
The good teacher explains.
The superior teacher demonstrates.
The great teacher inspires."

The price of excellence is discipline. The cost of mediocrity is disappointment.

Forgiveness is the key that unlocks the door of resentment and the handcuffs of hate. It is a power that breaks the chains of bitterness and the shackles of selfishness.”

God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one to say "thank you?

Nothing limits achievement like small thinking; nothing expands possibilities like unleashed imagination.


Blessed is he who has learned to admire but not envy, to follow but not imitate, to praise but not flatter, and to lead but not manipulate.

Wise are those who learn that the bottom line doesn't always have to be their top priority.

Friendship flourishes at the fountain of forgiveness.

Opportunities are like sunrises - if you wait too long, you miss them.

The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails.

A true friend knows your weaknesses but shows you your strengths; feels your fears but fortifies your faith; sees your anxieties but frees your spirit; recognizes your disabilities but emphasizes your possibilities.

“Before you speak, listen.

Before you speak, listen.
Before you write, think.
Before you spend, earn.
Before you invest, investigate.
Before you criticize, wait.
Before you pray, forgive.
Before you quit, try.
Before you retire, save.
Before you die, give.”


We must be silent before we can listen.
We must listen before we can learn.
We must learn before we can prepare.
We must prepare before we can serve.
We must serve before we can lead.”

4 Tipe Manusia Dalam Menghadapi Tekanan Hidup

- Jawaban.com -
"Semua kesulitan sesungguhnya merupakan kesempatan bagi jiwa kita untuk tumbuh" (John Gray)

Hidup memang tidak lepas dari berbagai tekanan. Lebih-lebih hidup di alam modern ini yang menyuguhkan beragam risiko. Sampai seorang sosiolog Ulrich Beck menamai jaman kontemporer ini dengan sebutan masyarakat risiko (risk society). Alam modern menyuguhkan perubahan yang cepat dan tidak jarang mengagetkan.

Tekanan itu sesungguhnya membentuk watak, karakter, dan sekaligus menentukan bagaimana orang bereaksi di kemudian hari. Ada empat tipe manusia yang dapat menggambarkan kepribadiannya, terlihat melalui sikapnya dalam menghadapi berbagai tekanan tersebut.
Tipe pertama, tipe kayu rapuh. Sedikit tekanan saja membuat manusia ini patah arang. Orang seperti ini dalam kesehariannya terlihat bagus. Tapi sebenarnya di dalam hatinya ia sangat rapuh. Orang ini gampang sekali mengeluh pada saat kesulitan terjadi.
Sedikit kesulitan menjumpainya, orang ini langsung mengeluh, merasa tidak berdaya, menangis, minta dikasihani atau minta bantuan. Orang ini perlu berlatih untuk berpikir positif dan berani menghadapi kenyataan hidup.

Majalah Time pernah menyajikan topik
"Generasi Kepompong" (cacoon generation).
Time mengambil contoh di Jepang, di mana banyak orang menjadi sangat lembek karena tidak terbiasa menghadapi kesulitan. Menghadapi orang seperti ini, kadang kita harus lebih berani untuk tega. Sesekali mereka perlu belajar dan dilatih untuk menghadapi kesulitan. Posisikan diri kita sebagai pendamping mereka.

Tipe kedua, tipe lempeng besi.
Orang tipe ini biasanya mampu bertahan dalam tekanan pada awalnya. Namun seperti layaknya besi, ketika situasi yang menekan itu semakin besar dan kompleks, ia mulai bengkok dan tidak stabil. Demikian juga orang-orang tipe ini. Mereka mampu menghadapi tekanan, tetapi tidak dalam kondisi yang berlarut-larut.

Tambahan tekanan sedikit saja membuat mereka menyerah dan putus asa. Untungnya orang tipe ini masih mau mencoba bertahan sebelum akhirnya menyerah. Tipe lempeng besi memang masih belum terlatih. Tapi, kalau mau berusaha, orang ini akan mampu membangun kesuksesan dalam hidupnya.

Tipe ketiga, tipe kapas.
Tipe ini cukup lentur dalam menghadapi tekanan. Saat tekanan tiba orang seperti ini mampu bersikap fleksibel. Cobalah Anda menekan sebongkah kapas. Ia akan mengikuti tekanan yang terjadi. Ia mampu menyesuaikan diri saat terjadi tekanan. Tapi, setelah berlalu, dengan cepat ia bisa kembali pada keadaannya yang semula. Ia bisa segera melupakan masa lalu dan mulai kembali ke titik awal untuk memulai lagi.

Tipe keempat, tipe manusia bola pingpong.
Inilah tipe yang ideal dan terhebat. Jangan sekali-kali menyuguhkan tekanan pada orang-orang ini karena tekanan justru akan membuat mereka bekerja lebih giat, lebih termotivasi, dan lebih kreatif. Coba perhatikan bola pingpong. Saat ditekan justru ia memantul ke atas dengan lebih dahsyat. Saya teringat kisah hidup motivator dunia Anthony Robbins dalam salah satu biografinya.
Untuk memotivasi dirinya, ia sengaja membeli sebuah bangunan mewah sementara uangnya tidak memadai. Akan tetapi justru tekanan keuangan inilah yang membuat dirinya semakin kreatif dan tertantang mencapai tingkat finansial yang diharapkannya.

Bangun network
Hal seperti ini pernah terjadi dengan seorang kepala regional sales yang performance-nya bagus sekali. Tetapi, hasil yang telah dicapainya ini membuat atasannya tidak suka. Akibatnya, justru dengan sengaja atasannya memindahkan sang kepala regional sales ke daerah yang lebih parah kondisinya. Tetapi bukannya mengeluh seperti rekan sebelumnya di daerah tersebut, ia malah berusaha membangun netwok, mengubah cara kerja, dan membereskan organisasi. Di tahun kedua di daerah tersebut justru areanya berhasil masuk dalam daerah tiga top sales.

Contoh lain adalah novelis dunia Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky. Pada musim dingin ia meringkuk di dalam penjara dengan deraan angin dingin, lantai penuh kotoran dengan tebal seinci, dan kerja paksa setiap hari. Ia mirip ikan herring dalam kaleng. Namun Siberia yang beku tidak berhasil membungkam kreativitasnya.Dari sanalah ia melahirkan karya tulis terbesarnya, seperti "The Double" dan "Notes of The Dead". Ia menjadi sastrawan dunia.

Hal ini juga dialami Ho Chi Minh. Orang Vietnam yang biasa dipanggil Paman Ho ini harus meringkuk dalam penjara. Akan tetapi penjara tidak membuat dirinya patah arang. Ia berjuang dengan puisi-puisi yang ia tulis. "A Comrade Paper Blanket" menjadi buah karya kondangnya.
Orang-orang ini hanyalah sebagian kecil dari manusia yang berhasil mengatasi tekanan dalam hidupnya. Yang penting sekarang adalah Anda. Ketika Anda menghadapi kesulitan, seperti apakah diri Anda? Bagaimana reaksi Anda? Tidak menjadi persoalan di mana Anda saat ini. Tetapi yang penting bergeraklah dari level tipe kayu rapuh ke tipe selanjutnya. Hingga akhirnya bangun mental Anda hingga ke level bola pingpong. Saat itulah kesulitan dan tantangan tidak lagi menjadi suatu yang mencemaskan untuk Anda. Sekuat itukah mental Anda?

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