Theme Rationale

The importance of leadership is on display during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. President Zelinsky acted in a Churchillian way. He did not flee or retreat. He requested for ammo when he was offered a ride to flee Ukraine. His leadership ignites the courage of the Ukranians to fight against Russian missiles and tanks.

We can see the importance of leadership throughout the Bible. God raises leaders to initiate the transformation of the world during specific moments in time. God raised Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt so that they could worship Him freely as a nation. God raised Nehemiah to build the wall so that Israelites could be gathered back in Jerusalem as prophesied.

God’s faithful servants became spiritual leaders that commanded their kinsmen because God blessed them with two abilities: they understand the opportunities/challenges of their times and know what ought to do. The Bible specifically mentions this in 1 Chronicles 12:32, “Of Issachar, men who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, 200 chiefs, and all their kinsmen under their command”.

These men of Issachar tribes had these two abilities that enabled them to command the whole Israel. These leaders had to be godly spiritual leaders. Leaders who are faithful, reputable, and knowledgeable of the Word. Hebrews 13:7 says plainly how God wants us to choose our leaders. God wants us to be led by people that know the Word of God, reputable, and faithful.

Without knowing the Word and having a close relationship with God, these leaders would not be able to discern and execute effectively. Poor judgment and execution lead to distrust and loss of credibility. No one can lead without trust and credibility.

How does God plan to raise godly Christian leaders with these abilities? One of the ways is through the Church. In Matthew 28, Jesus asks us to go and make disciples of all nations so that they may believe in Him. This is our core calling as Christian leaders. It is through His Church that God empowers us to influence the people that He has placed in our lives.

Despite the imperfections that we see in Indonesian churches, we can see how God has sustained and worked through His people. After a decade of persecution in the late 1990s, Indonesian churches have responded well to their calling to bless the nation. Over the last three decades, we have seen Indonesian churches raise godly leaders in Indonesia’s national scene, such as Christian governors, political leaders, business executives, and many more. With the help of their influences, Indonesia has enjoyed peace, stability, and prosperity during moments in time.

In 2024, Indonesia will experience a major leadership transition in a decade as Jokowi terms end. The church must play an essential role for the future of Indonesia. Therefore we as the church must continue to develop and deploy godly leaders. We need to pray and hope that the Indonesian churches do not follow that path of Western churches. The Western churches have fallen into celebrity culture that worship itself instead of the Almighty God such as portrayed in the popularity of Donald Trump among Christian circles. The Western churches have been on the decline and rarely produce leaders for the world anymore2.

Can the Indonesian church stay true to its calling to produce godly leaders? What critical challenges do the next generation leaders have to deal with? Can Indonesian churches develop leaders to meet these challenges that will happen? What can we, FICA (Indonesian Christian students and professionals in America), do to help the Indonesian churches in empowering these leaders?

We will invite church and public space leaders to OMC this year to guide us in discussing the answer of these three questions. At the end of OMC, we will learn and create a plan to guide FICA and/or its partners’ engagement in helping the Indonesian church prepare future leaders to create impact in their communities for Christ.