And church growth appears to be stronger than ever, ac cording to Nus Reimas, secretary of the Indonesian Evangelical Alliance. Official statistics place the number of Christians at about 15 million of Indonesia's 200 million people, but many church leaders estimate that number could be 5 million more due to the fast addition of new churches. Reimas says the new Christians are bold in proclaiming their faith, despite the risks. Yet they continue their ministry, keeping as apolitical as possible in an extremely volatile situation. Carlos Belo, bishop of Dili and a corecipient of the 1996 Nobel Peace Prize, was forced to flee in early September after militias attacked his residence, where he was providing sanctuary for hundreds of Timorese.
Analysts say the most difficult days lie ahead for the newly independent nation.
In addition to ethnic and religious tensions, East Timor has suffered from a severe drought and virtual collapse of its economy during the past year. Most relief agencies have been forced to evacuate the area, shifting aid efforts to the thousands of refugees in West Timor. Both World Vision and World Relief are providing relief items such as tents, medicines, and food to refugee families. FREE Christianity Today Newsletter Subscribe to the CTDirect Newsletter Attack on America Prayer, news, and resources for responding to the tragedy.