A brief history of BSI Tabanan SDA Church by elder Mika Seleky

The BSI Tabanan Congregation originated from two families who were members of the Denpasar Congregation who were resided in Tabanan, namely the family of Mr. Stenly Teleinoni and the family of Mrs. Wida. These families longed to receive more comprehensive spiritual care, particularly with respect to regular worship services. Initiated by the Denpasar Congregation as the mother church—then shepherded by Pastor Kristiyono Sarjono—in approximately 1999, Sabbath School Branch of Tabanan (Sekolah Sabat Cabang Tabanan / SSC Tabanan) was established.

The activities began with Wednesday evening worship services held at the home of Edy Triyoso family at Jalan Tukad Yeh Nu, and subsequently moved on door to door basis for several months. As these worship meetings became increasingly regular and intensive, and considering the distance and limited transportation facilities to the mother church in Denpasar, the Denpasar Congregation deemed it necessary to accommodate the growing ministry needs by assigning the first CDV (Community Development Volunteer / TSPM), Mr. Suhandoyo, who at that time was still a member of the Singaraja Congregation.

After serving for approximately one year, Mr. Suhandoyo’s ministry concluded in 2000 and was continued by Mr. Edy Triyoso, a young man with a strong commitment to evangelism who willingly changed his profession from a private-sector employee to serve as a CDV.

During the Poso civil unrest in 2000, the family of I Gusti Made Arya, consisting of seven members, joined SSC Tabanan. God blessed SSC Tabanan with various opportunities to spread the Gospel of Salvation through vegetarian cooking demonstrations and low-cost community markets, involving participants from the Hindu, Moslem, and Buddhist majority communities. Around 2001, another young man, Daniel Sinambela, joined SSC Tabanan, contributing additional ideas for evangelism through collaboration with other Christian denominations in Tabanan.

In approximately 2002, the rented house occupied by Mr Edy Triyoso family—which was regularly used as the worship venue—was reclaimed by the owner for personal use, with only six months remaining on the lease. Consequently, SSC Tabanan faced a serious challenge due to the lack of a worship facility. This matter was conveyed by Mr. Edy to Mr. Tonny Simalango, who was the chairman of the mother congregation. However, the Denpasar Congregation was unable to provide significant assistance at that time due to its major church construction project.

Undeterred by these challenges, SSC Tabanan, under the leadership of Mr. Edy, brought the matter directly to God in prayer. Early morning prayer meetings were initiated at 4:00 a.m., starting from Mr. Edy’s home, continuing to Mrs. Wida’s, Mr Stenly family’s, Mr. Daniel’s, and concluding at the home of I Gusti Made Arya family in Kediri. These early morning prayer meetings were conducted consistently for three months, from October to December 2002.

In response to these prayers offered in faith, God provided an answer through the Global Mission program to build 100 churches, clinics, and schools within the East Java Conference (Konferens Jawa Kawasan Timur / KJKT). After conducting surveys at several locations, and with the support of the Denpasar Congregation and EJC, the Global Mission program was realized through the acquisition of a modest residential building located at Jalan Tukad Medewi Block 8 No. 14, Bukit Sanggulan Indah Housing Complex, Kediri, Tabanan. This house was designated to serve as a place of worship as well as the establishment of a kindergarten, which was planned to be managed by Ms. Joan Balemangngi, who had prior experience as a kindergarten teacher at Permata Ibu School in Denpasar.

To initiate this plan, the house underwent renovations with assistance from the Bosco Nugroho family. SSC Tabanan then began pioneering several community programs, including computer courses with three computer sets donated by a sympathizer (a friend of Mr. Edy) of the Krishna Hindu faith, as well as English language and abacus arithmetic courses. SSC Tabanan also launched various evangelistic and outreach programs, including:

• The procurement of tables, chairs, and benches for the kindergarten through fundraising efforts such as selling food and transportation tickets during the Adventist Women’s Ministries Convention organized by the West and East Indonesia Unions in Nusa Dua;
• A Revelation Seminar conducted by Pastor Susilo Mundriharto, attended by more than 50 participants from various church denominations in Tabanan;
• A charity medical clinic in cooperation with Bandung Adventist Hospital;
• Family seminars and healthy cooking demonstrations;
• A Bible study group hosted by the Mika Seleky family at Graha Luhur Damai Housing Complex, which resulted of baptism of two individuals of Mr and Mrs Made;
• Community service activities conducted jointly with residents surrounding the church.

Over time, God blessed SSC Tabanan with the growth of membership from within the housing complex and surrounding communities, including the families of Mr. Pasek (Made Sari), Mr. Nyoman, Mr. Wayan Slamet, and Mr. Made Mertayasa. This growth was further strengthened by several families from the Denpasar Congregation who relocated to Tabanan, including the families of Isaac Wairata, M. Markus, and Theodorus Waworuntu, as well as several young sympathizers. When Mr. Edy was assigned to a new mission field in Blitar in 2005, SSC Tabanan had grown to approximately 50 members.

The ministry leadership was subsequently continued by Young Pastor Soleman Tatengkeng for approximately one year. In 2006, following his relocation to Sulawesi, the ministry was continued by Young Pastor Edward Balbed. Considering the rapid growth of God’s work in Tabanan—in terms of membership increase, spiritual maturity, and organizational strength—the aspiration to organize SSC Tabanan into a fully constituted congregation grew stronger. After consultation and coordination with the mother congregation and submission to EJC, the matter was deliberated during the Executive Committee Meeting of the East Java Conference on October 18, 2007. Through Decision No. Kep. 07-067, the Sabbath School Branch of Tabanan was deemed eligible to be organized as a congregation.

Two days later, on Sabbath, October 20, 2007, under the leadership of the EJC President, Pastor Albert Saroinsong, the official organization process was formally conducted. This moment marked a historic milestone for the members who had long awaited the establishment of an Adventist church in the Tabanan region. On that occasion, the first pastor, elders, and church officers were appointed, namely: Pastor: Edward Balbed; Elder: Mr. M. Markus; Secretary: Mr. Mika Seleky; and Treasurer: Mr. Willy Rompis.

Since its organization until present, the Seventh-day Adventist Church (GMAHK) BSI Tabanan has stood for 18 years as a center of worship, ministry, and spiritual growth for its members, while also exerting a positive influence on the surrounding community. Since its establishment, SDAC BSI Tabanan has been led and served by the following pastors:

1. Young Pastor Edward Balbed;
2. Young Pastor David Indra Utomo;
3. Pastor Priharyanto Budi Rahardjo;
4. Pastor Kurnaedi;
5. Pastor Franky Maupula;
6. Pastor Jerry Hermanus Wauran (late);
7. Young Pastor Gavrila Alexander Clark Laloan.