06.05.2025

Walk A Mile 2025

This year the charity walk went from HKI district office Sumatra East 1 to the Emmanuel ressort church.

That's where the worship service started. Front row, 5th from right: Rev Dr Dyah Ayu Krismawati.

During the service, the values of Walk A Mile became visible. In the back, Rev Astudillo on the way to the pulpit.

In the next years, topics of Walk A Mile could become even broader. The Youth Asia Network already joined this year. All photos: UEM

“Through this "Walk a Mile" initiative, our faith in Christ, rooted in the Gospel, is our common identity as UEM member churches.“ Rev Jurcelyn Boncales-Astudillo, UEM Deputy Executive Secretary for Asia, points to the core of Walk A Mile.

This April 2025, hundreds of participants laced up their shoes in Pematangsiantar City, Indonesia, for Walk a Mile 2025: This annual charity walk, first initiated in 2012 by UEM, brought together churches from across the region, hosted by the UEM member church HKI*. The event was attended by leaders and grassroots members from UEM member churches in North Sumatra, as well as Executive Secretary Division Asia/Germany and member of the UEM Management Team, Rev Dr Dyah Ayu Krismawati, strengthening the sense of shared purpose and fellowship.

Vital for the churches, a blessing for the society

A highlight of the event was the sermon delivered by Rev Astudillo. She emphasized how the values of Walk A Mile are not only vital for the Communion of Churches, but also serve as a blessing to the wider society. Rev Astudillo reminded participants that such solidarity paved the way for harmonious coexistence across ethnicities and religions.

She also highlighted the core mission of Walk a Mile: to support fundraising for United Action, UEM's campaign that symbolises the joint efforts of all UEM member churches in all three Regions, Africa, Asia and Germany, to work together to improve people’s lives and living conditions. The donations raised are used to support projects and programmes of the UEM on the ground. Rev Astudillo says: “We must strengthen and uphold this unity and solidarity among us. This activity also aims to show the community: we can build harmonious connections with our brothers and sisters of other faiths. Additionally, it serves as an opportunity for us to share and actively participate in the United Action.”

Looking ahead to Walk a Mile 2026, Rev Krismawati encouraged UEM members in North Sumatra to consider enriching future events by addressing additional topics such as climate change, youth engagement, women’s empowerment, and children’s rights. These themes would not only broaden the impact of Walk a Mile but also deepen its relevance for the communities served.

We thank all participants and look forward to walking together again in 2026! Here you find the summary of Walk a Mile 2025 on Youtube.

*HKI = Huria Kristen Indonesia (Christian Church of Indonesia)