THE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF PNIEL OENGGAUT

The existence of the church in Oenggaut is basically the work of God. Anyway the church it self doesnt instantly come down from heaven. God initiatively called on men, and men gave response to His call. Answering the call, men strugled with them selves; their weaknesses, sinfulnes, and the impacts of their surroundings. Lots of hardships must be faced, but on the other hand Gods plan has never ever failed. When God opens a way, no one can block it. In accordance with the name of this church, Pniel, the believers of Pniel Oenggaut realise that there are many hardships that they are facing, many things that they have to fight for. Despite all those barriers, Gods church will still live on and work in this world, because The Lord God is on work. He never leaves His children work alone. OENGGAUT IN THE FIRST DAYS The village of Oenggaut was first known as Ingguoka (Oka is a lokal word which means roots). This name is associated with the use of black magic (suanggi, or mistics, or nocturnal evil sorcerers), which undoubtedly related to the practising of hallowing the gods of the ancient people who obviously had not known God in Jesus Christ. As time passed by the name Ingguoka was changed into Oenggaut (in the local language means Spring Water in the Spines). The reason for changing the name was unknown, but the name can be seen as a sign of Hope in the Middle of Akwardnes of Life or Spring in the Middle of Droughts. In the early days, in comparison with other church communities in Delha region, Oenggaut was seen as the most primitive, and got the least attention in the development programs of the villages in Delha. It is said to be the village of all the prowlings or nocturnal evil sorcerers. The efforts to have a new changing life was still undergone despite all the barriers. One of the community members, Selfiana Rau Heu, who has got the special holly vision kept on praying for this community to be brought up as a new church community. In her vision she saw a huge stairway coming down from heaven to the earth. There was a house, whose four corners were lighted by a very bright light. The people of the community were spread into four big groups that occupied the four corners of the house. The first group was The Group Of The Youth Choir, Eklesia. The second group was the Bible Discussion Group, the third group was the Family Gathering Service, and the last group was the Children Service Group (the Sunday School Group). On another vision she saw; A Very Bright Shining Kerosene Lamp that lights through all the village of Oenggaut.

On the fisrt days, the aim of the effort was not to build another new church community, but to renew the way of life of the previous community, that has already existed. PNIEL AS A NEW CHURCH COMMUNITY The people of Pniel Oenggaut were initially not a church community on its own. It is part of the church community of Imanuel Nemberala. There were two service divisions of Imanuel Nemberala located in Oenggaut area. They are Inggudik division and Nembeona division. The distance from the church building was only 1 kilometer. The presence of people from Oenggaut in the services in the church was not as many as expected. The 1 kilometer - distance was the blame for not going to church, especially for members that are very old and cant walk that far. Undergoing such condition for quite a long time made some people pop up the idea of building a smaller service building in Oenggaut, still as part of the main church of Imanuel Nemberala. This idea brought up a kind of fear from other community members of Imanuel Nemberala, that people of Oenggaut are sooner or later will be splitted into a new church. Some of them even mocked Oenggaut members. Such condition ignited the people of Oenggaut to really build a brand new church community. Thus, in March 1990 the people of Oenggaut, gathering after a Sunday service, decided to make a committee that would handle the work of building their own new church building. In the clerical meeting of Klasis Rote Barat Daya the higher commision of the churches under GMIT, in Oebou, the idea of splitting the community of Nemberala into two smaller communities was discussed in the forum, and the result was exposed to the Synod of GMIT. In order to have a new church building, the committee had worked very hard. On August 10th, 1992 the first foundation brick was laid. The service for the foundation laying was held and the speech of the words of God was delivered by Vicar David Fina, S. Th. The work of building was acomplished in three years time. The committee and the community members had worked really hard. There was no funding support from the main church of Imanuel Nemberala. The people in this community raised money, submitting some of what they had to buy materials. The basic fund was Rp. 500 000,- received from the Head of Oenggaut Village, Mr. Hanokh Ndoen. They worked on building rhe road from Inggudik to Ingguona as far as 1 kilometer as a programme from the government, and the money they got was submitted to the committee. On the other hand, each family was urged to submit Rp. 10.000,- each month. Such number was a big deal at the moment. The work of building the house was supposed to be adequate for the moment. On March 25th, 1995 the community held their first service in the new building, and it is counted on as a self-served church. 15 lay preachers were inaugurated on this first service. The members of this new community were 75 families divided into 5 (five) smaller area of home services.

In the first days of the church, Pniel Oenggaut faced a difficulty in human resource There were only 1 person who passed a senior high school in this community. Most of the people only passed elementary school. Therefor it was hard to find people who were ready to stand and speak the words of God in front of many people. It was even harder because they thought being a lay preacher, one must be able to read and speak Indonesian fluently, due to the bible written in Indonesia language. There were three persons who had been lay preachers when they were still united with the church of Imanuel Nemberala; Anderias Rau, Welhelmus Pello, and Matheos Rau. Hence these three persons were automatically chosen to be the first lay preachers of the church, and two others who were supposed to have the ability in such work were added to the number. The church community of Pniel Oenggaut is one part of the six churches in Delha region: 1. The church of Imanuel Nemberala 2. The church of Ebenhaizer Sedeoen 3. The church of Syalom Tunggaoen 4. The church of Solavide Boa 5. The church of Bethania Ndorobonggo 6. The church of Pniel Oenggaut. These six churches were served by one preacher, Pdt. Trianus Lalang. In 1999 these six churches were divided into two smaller regions; Delha Utara (North Delha) consisting 2 churches, Imanuel Nemberala and Ebenhaizer Sedeoen, and Delha Selatan (South Delha) with the rest 4 churches. Delha Utara region was served by Pdt. Yosepus Asbanu, S. Th. While Delha Selatan did not have a priest at the moment. An Orientation priest or a vicaris, Amitu Maubila, S. Th. served Delha Selatan for 2 years time. Since there was no one serving as a full-time priest in Delha Selatan, all the major services like wedding, sacrament of baptism or the holly supper sacrament were served by Pdt. S. B. A. Meza-Tauk, who was the mentor priest for Vicaris Amitu Maubila, S. Th. The Synod of GMIT placed Pdt. Naomi Sodakain, S. Th. as a full time priest in Delha Selatan but she only served for about 7 months and then moved away. Again Delha Selatan had no full time priest and was served by the KPWK or the head of Klasis at that time, Pdt. Besly Y. T. Messakh, S. Si. In August 2001 another priest was sent to serve the churches in Delha Selatan. Her name was Pdt. Heni Maahury, S. Th. Hence she served the churches of Delha Selatan, and stayed in the Parish House of Pniel Oenggaut. In Oktober 2006 the church of Pniel Oenggaut declared itself to be a selfserved church that can manage all the services and fundings on its own. Therefor, Delha Selatan was left with three other churches. Pniel Oenggaut is now on its own, served by Pdt. Heni Maahury, S. Th. In January 2011 Pdt Heni Maahury moved to serve in another church on Timor Island. She was replaced by a new priest, Pdt. Marselina J. Wadu, S. Th., who served for only 3 months and moved away.

In November 2011 another priest was placed to serve the church of Pniel Oenggaut. Pdt Paulus Bambang Irawan Matoneng, S. Th. is now taking the charge of the services of Pniel Oenggaut. As time goes by the community of Pniel Oenggaut is getting bigger, and now it is devided into 8 area of home services; 1. Inggudik 2. Ingguonak 3. Mbiadaemengge 4. Londamok 5. Tonameko 6. Nembeona I 7. Nembeona II 8. Nembeona III The members of the community is getting bigger all the times. (see the statistics of the community) Pniel Oenggaut is still on existence. Despite all the hardships, or failures, or weaknesses it will live because it does not live by its self, but The Lord Jesus Christ lives with it