They have no hope. That s why we need help, says Lobulisa. A group of Christians educators, journalists, pastors, retired military, and businessmen met in Jakarta to talk with me and two other American visitors about rising persecution, but they insisted on not publicizing the meeting. One politely observed at the start, the situation is very difficult. But emotions soon rose, prompting another almost to shout, people are crying for help.
Despair is a natural reaction.
As a former general turned religious leader put it, Because of the Moluccas, Christians feel they really can t rely too much on the central government. Despite all of the promises, no good has been done. It is getting worse. A coalition of churches, ranging from Catholic to Pentecostal, have called for a mass evacuation of Christians by the U.N. high commissioner for refugees and the introduction of peacekeeping forces by the United Nations. The people whom I met were united in little other than a desire that the United States do something.