As an isolated mountain area, Central Sulawesi remained outside the Dutch sphere of influence until the end of the 19th century. A mission was established here in 1892, after the Minahasa to the north had been Christianized. A. C. Kruyt, who worked here from 1892 until 1932, was one of the first Dutch missionaries in Indonesia to use a new approach: being positive toward local culture, thus preventing Christians from being excluded by society. The first individuals who converted were not baptized until a large group was ready to become Christians (first baptism December 25, 1909). From then on, the number of Christians and the territory of the mission gradually increased until World War II (1939: 42,000 Christians). As in other parts of Sulawesi during World War II, the congr received protection and help from a Japanese minister turned civil servant, S. Mijahira. After the war the first Synod convened (1947). In the ’50s and early ’60s, while under the leadership of F. Lumentut, the GKST was hardpressed in the south by the Muslim guerillas in South Sulawesi, while in Central Sulawesi the secession movement PERMESTA created much unrest. Not until the 1970s could the church embark on a period of stabilization. In 1974 it adopted a new church order. Attempts were made to improve the economy of the economically backward region and to give training to the church members. To this end, an agricultural college was founded. The church has a large number of elementary and secondary schools and a hospital. Until recently the GKST published a magazine,Berita GKST.It considers October, 18, 1947, as its birth date.
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