8/19/2025 Indonesia (International Christian Concern) — On Aug. 2, local authorities in Purbayani Village, Caringin District, Garut Regency, Indonesia, permanently closed the Immanuel Prayer House, a part of Bethel Tabernacle Church (GBT). Following the closure, an evangelist and leader of the Prayer House was forced to leave the district.

Bethel Tabernacle Church (GBT) Pangalengan Pastor Yahya Mulya said the prayer house was established in 2010 to serve about 100 local Christians from five subdistricts who would otherwise travel up to 60 miles to worship.

Tantowi Anwari, a representative of the Task Force on Freedom of Religion and Belief (KBB), said that after the Aug. 2 closure, evangelist Dani Natanael Gunawan, the leader of the Immanuel Prayer House, was also evicted from the Caringin area of Garut Regency, and that he and his school-aged son were forced to leave the area.

Anwari explained that the suspension of worship activities and Gunawan’s subsequent relocation happened after Dani signed a statement with Forkopicam and the Caringin Police. As a result of the closure, many Christians from the Caringin District and surrounding areas no longer have a designated place of worship.

Ucu Cintarsih, coordinator of the Interfaith Network, stated that the closure of the prayer house in Garut reflects concerns regarding the protection of freedom of religion and belief in Indonesia, particularly in West Java.

“Restricting the right to worship to avoid conflict is not a way to maintain harmony,” he said. “It condones discrimination and increases the trend of intolerance in society.”

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