“Hear ye, hear ye”, echoes in my mind as I think about the Gereja Tiberias Indonesia. This is not just any church. It is a Pentecostal charismatic church with a unique calling. Today we explore the story of Tiberias.
Gereja Tiberias Indonesia or Tiberias Ministry is a Protestant church. It stands as a distinct synod in Indonesia. A key characteristic is its healing ministry. This ministry is expressed through Holy Communion and the Anointing of Oil.
Tiberias Indonesia is a church of revelation. The Lord Jesus commanded Pdt. DR. Yesaya Pariadji to establish it. The church’s mission is to prove Jesus Christ. He is Lord God Almighty. This is demonstrated through His miracles. The Word of God is not just words but power. God’s Word is greater than all human knowledge. People must live in repentance and holiness. Only then are they worthy to stand before Him and feast in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Before becoming an independent synod, Tiberias was part of Gereja Bethel Indonesia GBI. It was known as GBI Tiberias. Gereja Tiberias Indonesia was officially founded on August 17, 1990. Its pastor Pdt. DR. Yesaya Pariadji sold his valuable assets. He then established Gereja Bethel Indonesia Jemaat Tiberias.
Later the GBI synod decided to eliminate names like Tiberias from its congregations. Pdt. DR. Yesaya Pariadji, then the pastor of GBI Tiberias, separated. He formed his own synod called Gereja Tiberias Indonesia.
Gereja Tiberias Indonesia has a ministry for young people. It is called Boanerges Youth Ministry. It is based at the GTI branch in Balai Sarbini Jakarta. Today GTI has branches in several cities. These include Manado, Bandung, Surabaya, Batam, Bali, Makassar, Semarang, and Medan. Tiberias has also expanded internationally. You can find branches in Singapore and Australia.
The church oversees several institutions. These are STT Tiberias in Roxy and Sekolah Alkitab Tiberias. Gereja Tiberias holds services every day from Monday to Sunday. These include Sunday services and midweek services. The schedules are detailed in the Tiberias Bulletin. This is a weekly newsletter.
Tiberias offers various worship services. There is Beloved Kids for children. Boanerges Youth Ministry caters to young people. Healing services with Holy Communion are also held. Other ministries include counseling and deliverance prayers. There are Bible studies for men and women plus economic recession release services. Faith building, praise, and intercessory prayer meetings are also part of Tiberias’ services.
On August 9, 2008, Pdt. DR. Yesaya Pariadji received his doctorate. He earned a Doctor of Ministry in Leadership and Transformation. This was from Harvest International Theological Seminary HITS. His dissertation explored the history of Gereja Tiberias Indonesia.
Gereja Tiberias acknowledges five sacraments. These are baptism by immersion, holy communion, and anointing with oil. It also recognizes child dedication and marriage.
So as we stand here, remember the story of Gereja Tiberias Indonesia. From its humble beginnings to its global presence, Tiberias continues to spread its message. Its message focuses on healing, repentance, and the power of Jesus Christ. It is a beacon of faith. Its light shines brightly in Jakarta and beyond.