ENGLISH MINISTRY

In 1992, recognizing the opportunity and responsibility to serve the throng of tourists coming to the Kuta district, the Protestant Christian Church in Bali (GKPB) began to conduct English-speaking worship services at the Philadelphia (Legian) Church. Past Bishop Wayan Sudira Husada was the pastor of the Philadelphia at that time, and was instrumental in inviting English speaking pastors and missionaries who were known to be visiting or living in Bali. Among the first were Rev. Doug McKenzie from the Uniting Church of Australia and Rev. Eddy Trotter, a missionary from Australia who was active in prison ministry in Bali.

In 1993 retired Sumatra Wesleyan Methodist missionary Rev. W.L. Armstrong served as one of the pastors and then set up the current VIM program of recruiting retired clergy to hold worship services in English.

In 1999 a second service was added to serve the Nusa Dua area in the newly constructed church known as Bukit Doa. Rev. Wendell Karsen, a Reformed Church in America missionary, was assigned to begin a morning English language service in the new Bukit Doa Church that was shared by the Bukit Doa Indonesian Church. The first service was held in January 1999 with four people in attendance. By the end of Karsen's service in May 2000, the church was organized with the ordination of elders, with some 75 people in attendance.

Now serving two congregations Rev. Armstrong continued to coordinate the VIM ministry until 2003 when Rev. Tom Aiken became coordinator. Rev. Lyle Predmore became the coordinator in 2004 and continues to serve in that role.

In 2008 under the leadership of VIM Pastor Richard Solberg’s two year ministry the Bukit Doa Congregation (BDIC) became an official congregation of the GKPB

In 2010 The Legian congregation became the Kuta International Christian Church (KICC) and a recognized congregation and member of the GKPB. KICC continues to share the sanctuary and facilities of the Philadelphia Congregation. An additional building is to be finished in mid 2010 that will provide much needed space for both Congregations for their ministries close to the bustling Kuta shopping and tourist district.

In January 2011 Rev. Kade Mastra, a GKPB pastor was assigned to the two International Congregations to work as a team with the two assigned sort term VIM clergy. She served in this role until 2012 when she was replaced by Rev. Nyoman Agustinus as GKPB liaison for KICC and Rev. Made Budiarsa for BDIC.

The two congregations are:

Bukit Doa International Church (BDIC)

Jl. Kurusetra, Complex Puja Mandala, Kampial, Bualu, Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia

Kuta International Christian Church (KICC)

Jl. Patimura, Legian Kelod, Kuta, Bali, Indonesia