- Author/Institution: Rev. Okiwenty Kombong, Toraja Church, West Sulawesi
- Archive Type: Sermon
- Date Published/Inaugurated: April 13, 2024
- Publisher: Self-published
- Language: Bahasa Indonesia
- Available File(s): pdf.
- Keywords: River, West Sulawesi, Toraja people, Sa’dan, Oiwenty Kombong
- Link: –
Curated by Abel K. Aruan (August 21, 2024)
Sa’dan (literally, “river”) stretches for 112 miles with an area of 2.5 million acres. It is the longest river basin in South Sulawesi and West Sulawesi. As the tale told, when Toraja was created, a god descended from the heavens and became Tomanurung, then married a woman from the waters. Today, Torajan people consider it a transportation track, a provider, and an identity. Sadly, as Mongabay reports, Sa’dan has suffered from many causes, including industrial farming and logging activities.
On April 13, 2024, Toraja Church’s Synod decided to draw the congregation’s attention to the Sa’dan River, by dedicating one of its 77th anniversary events to a “Sa’dan River Festival.” This festival substitutes the Christian traditional Jubileum, which celebrates the year of the Lord where God’s people are liberated from poverty, sickness, and other sufferings. In this important moment, Rev. Oiwenty Kombong, the leading pastor of [need name], addressed a profound sermon that called “to stop the excessive exploitation of nature.” Citing Mark 16:15, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creatures,” he argued that by utilizing and exploiting the natural resources in an excessive way, humans “have pushed nature beyond the limits set by God when he created it.” He also claims that the day of the Lord is not only the day for God’s people but also for the whole universe and all living beings.
Toraja Church’s Synod anniversary was celebrated during April 10-13, 2024. Indonesian Communion of Churches’ General Chief, Rev. Gomar Gultom, also joined the celebration. In his address, he corroborated Kombong’s call by reminding the participants that Sa’dan River, like other rivers, has faithfully “streamed the life (mengalirkan kehidupan)”.
Below are the downloadable sermon texts both in English and Indonesian.
Photo(s)
Sources:
- Tuerah, Freedy Samuel. “Di Festival Sungai Sa’danPdt Okiwenty Kombong: Hentikan Eksploitasi Alam Yang Berlebihan.” Tribun Toraja. April 13, 2024. https://toraja.tribunnews.com/2024/04/13/pdt-okiwenty-kombong-hentikan-eksploitasi-alam-yang-berlebihan#google_vignette
- N.n. “Hadiri Ibadah Raya ll Festival Sungai Sa’dan HUT Gereja Toraja ke 77,Ketum PGI :Mari Kita Memelihara Sungai Yang Mengalirkan Kehidupan.” Torajaku News. April 13, 2024. https://www.torajakunews.com/2024/04/hadiri-ibadah-raya-ll-festival-sungai.html