“Seven springs” sounds like a fairy tale does it not? But the story of Gereja GBI Tabgha in Singapore is as real as the ground we stand on. Gereja GBI Tabgha’s journey began far from here in Batam.
In 1991 Pdt DR Ir Niko Njotorahardjo started a ministry. By 1992 he received a vision. It came from Isaiah 54:2-3. Expand your tent enlarge your dwelling place. Spare no effort. Lengthen your cords strengthen your stakes. You will spread out to the right and to the left. Your descendants will dispossess nations. They will settle in their desolate cities. This message resonated deeply. He poured resources into building God’s kingdom in Batam.
Back then only 50 people attended services each week. Still Pdt DR Ir Niko Njotorahardjo faithfully sent musicians and preachers from Jakarta every Sunday. This aligned with Isaiah 54:2. The church was initially known as GBI Bethany Pulau Batam. Pdt Djoko Basuki coordinated it from 1993 to 1995. Afterwards Alm Pdt Jimmy Mulya took over.
In 1994 God prompted Pdt Niko to expand the ministry to Singapore. The goal was to serve Indonesian citizens living there. Alm Pdt Jimmy Mulya moved from Batam to Singapore. He developed the ministry with a full team from GBI Batam. In 1996 Pdt Hanny Andries took over the congregation in GBI Bethany Batam. At that time the congregation had around 200 people.
Pdt Niko then envisioned building a prayer tower. It was to guard the city and nation in 24-hour prayer and worship. This inspired Pdt Hanny. He committed to establishing a 24-hour prayer tower in 1998. This prayer tower has been running ever since. Since its creation the church has grown significantly. Within four years it planted churches in several provinces in Sumatra including Riau Jambi Palembang and also in Singapore. By 1999 there were 35 church locations. They held a total of 45 services each week.
In 1999 Pdt Hanny journeyed to Israel. He visited a small chapel the Church of Multiplication. It stood near the Sea of Galilee in Tabgha. This is where Jesus broke five loaves and two fish to feed 5000 people. The Holy Spirit strongly impressed upon Pdt Hanny to pray for a church building. God revealed the building’s structure and name Tabgha. Tabgha comes from the Greek Septagon meaning seven springs.
Returning from Israel Pdt Hanny continued to expand the ministry. The congregation grew rapidly. It increased from about 200 people to 2500 in 2000. By 2007 it reached 7000. Baptism records show over 20000 people had been won for Jesus. However many were contract workers who returned to their home regions after being baptized and discipled.
This rapid growth created challenges. They needed a larger worship space. Few hotels had rooms large enough. The congregation often had to change venues unexpectedly. The staff and congregation prayed constantly. The revelation Pdt Hanny received in Israel seemed impossible. The church’s current situation was far from being able to build it. They gathered in a warehouse at Mall My Mart now Batam One Mall.
On December 24 2000 the warehouse used for worship was bombed during the second Christmas Eve service. This was the first bombing. It marked the start of terrorism in Indonesia. Thankfully no one was hurt.
The bombing became God’s way of performing miracles. The government agency Otorita Batam could allocate land. The church was able to buy 8200 m2 of land for only Rp 5000 per square meter. Getting building permits seemed impossible. They applied for a permit for a multipurpose building. But the permit was never approved. The application was lost. This was a rebuke for only believing in a multipurpose building instead of a church.
The church sought forgiveness for their lack of faith. They reapplied for a building permit for a church. They stepped forward in obedience to God. Miraculously all necessary permits were granted within three days at no extra cost.
With all requirements met construction began. God showed Himself as Jehovah Jireh. He provided everything. This included funds for the building. The church’s finances were unstable. God provided and sustained them. The bombing was no longer a disaster. It was God’s way of leading the church out of Egypt into the Promised Land.
The night before the groundbreaking God confirmed the name Tabgha. Alm Pdt Timotius Abdul Rahim a prayer intercessor from Jakarta had a vision. He had never heard of the building’s name. He saw a fountain springing from the church grounds. It reached high into the sky then split into seven. The streams arched over nations like bridges. A year later God fulfilled this vision. After the church was dedicated guests from many nations came to learn about prayer.
Today Gereja GBI Tabgha continues to grow. It prepares God’s people to impact the city with transformative ministry. This is based on Matthew 5:14. “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.”