27.04.2022

Walking for "United Action"

"Walk a mile" in Sumatra; © Photos: UEM Region Asia

UEM General Secretary Volker Martin Dally and Terri-Lynn Smith, UEM-Coworker and Projectofficer in the Regional Office in Pematangsiantar.

Committed people set out on April 22, 2022, to support the fundraising campaign of the Toba Batak Christian Protestant Church in Indonesia and the UEM and eight other UEM member churches in northern Sumatra.

"Walk a Mile" is both a festive event and a campaign. As a festive event, "Walk a Mile" is an expression of the member churches' gratitude and confession that they are on the journey of faith and mission together, carrying the good news of God's love into their communities. As a campaign, "Walk a Mile" aims to raise funds for United Action. This funds the missionary work of member churches, this year in support of families in need and their children.
Children and young people demonstrated for the implementation of the rights of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child with signs they had designed themselves: "Children have a right to life," "Children have a right to education," "Children have a right to protection from violence," and "Children have a right to medical care."
The UEM General Secretary Volker Martin Dally, visiting Indonesia, and the members of the Executive Board of the Asia Region of the UEM, Dr Dyah Ayu Krismawati, the head of the Asia Department of the UEM, Dr Robinson Butarbutar, the Ephorus of the HKBP, Pastor Binsar Parlindungan Sababalat, the Ephorus of the Church GKPM, and other church leaders of the UEM member churches in North Sumatra accompanied the action.
Together, they planted fruit trees and put young fish in a pond as a call for food security in the region. One of the highlights of the closing event was the various performances after the devotion. For example, the traditional dance by an intergenerational group of women from the Christian Church in Indonesia (HKI).
Since 2014, the UEM Asia Region has been conducting this programme in member churches in Sumatra and other churches in Indonesia.
HKBP recorded the event. Click here to watch the video on Youtube.