Eliezer Ministry helps singles find life partners
Eliezer Ministry helps singles find life partners
Indra Harsaputra, The Jakarta Post/Surabaya
To kill time, Hariono Eko, an interior designer from Surabaya
browses through a Dragon Ball comic book while waiting for the
launching of an event organized by the Eliezer Ministry at JW
Marriott Hotel Surabaya on Monday.
"I was invited to this event, which is specially organized for
those who are looking for a life partner," he told The Jakarta
Post.
The Surabaya-based Eliezer Ministry society provides
counseling for men and women seeking partners through the
organization and plans to establish branches across Indonesia and
Australia through an inter-church network in both countries.
It is run under the auspices of the Changing Life Ministry
Foundation, a Christian brotherhood which also publishes the
Sangkakala magazine and Radio Sangkakala, for the Christian
community in Indonesia.
The name Eliezer is taken from a character in the Bible who
united Rachel and Isaac, Abraham's son, in marriage.
Hopefully, the counseling body can act as a bridge for those
who are seeking a life partner.
Hariono said that he was unsure at first about attending such
an event as he knew of other events along the same lines usually
organized on Valentine's Day.
Events organized by numerous dating agencies in Surabaya are
all much the same. Members usually meet, make a date, and some
who feel mutual attraction, even commit adultery.
He told of an event he attended held by one of the dating
agencies in Surabaya. He did not meet a prospective partner, but
rather was asked if he wished to be a distributor of cosmetics.
Some of his colleagues even told him that some of the female
members were willing to have sex for a fee. Hopes that he would
find a lasting relationship, ended after such tasteless
encounters.
Hariono expects something different from the Eliezer Ministry
event.
But, what has the Eliezer Ministry got to offer? The Ministry
helps someone to find a life partner even as far as Australia.
After its launching, one of its members asked: "Could you find
me a life partner in Australia?"
Coordinator of the Eliezer Ministry in Australia Reverend Agus
Gunawan replied that it could be possible because many Australian
citizens in his parish were seeking Indonesian spouses. "They
wish to be introduced to Indonesian people who may later become
their partners," he said.
To become members, one must meet the requirements set by the
society. One must be a Christian, be physically and mentally
healthy and have a sense of responsibility.
Before becoming members, they must first of all fill out forms
and go through a selection process, including interviews with the
appointed counselors.
After they have been registered as a member, the counselors
will guide them until they meet their perfect match.
To avoid undesirable consequences of the match-making, such as
male members evading their responsibilities after fathering a
child, counselors have the sole right to terminate the
relationship of both parties.
Membership is free and confidential. Every member will receive
a special password to access the membership database in Indonesia
and Australia. Members can make contacts by e-mail or chat with
other members under the guidance of counselors.
Counselors are selected from the brotherhood churches and are
given training before being appointed as a counselor. "We only
wish to serve them by helping them to find a life partner in
accordance with Christian teachings," said Agus.