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.