The History of the Founding of GMAHK Hang Tuah
Early Beginnings and Pioneers
In the beginning, worship activities for the Hang Tuah Sabbath School Branch were centered in a shophouse located at Jl. Hang Tuah No. 15B, Denpasar. This place was willingly provided by a church member. Sabbath services were held on the third floor of the building, which was equipped with adequate facilities such as air conditioning (AC), a microphone, and musical instruments — all contributed through the love offerings of the members.
This spiritual movement was led by eight families who would become the pioneers and founders of the Hang Tuah Church as we know it today. These eight pioneering families were:
In addition to the families above, the early ministry was also supported by the enthusiasm of young people, including Emelyn Simalango and Wilson Tampung.
Growing into a Church
Within a matter of months, this Sabbath School Branch experienced remarkable growth, both in membership and in the scope of its activities. Seeing this rapid development, the "branch" status was no longer considered sufficient to accommodate the needs of the growing congregation.
Through prayer and various efforts together with Pastor Gerry Takaria — who was the overseeing shepherd at the time — a major step was taken. Finally, on June 10, 2000, the Hang Tuah Sabbath School Branch was officially organized into an independent church named GMAHK Hang Tuah. This historic inauguration was led directly by Pastor J.W.S. Wagiran, who at that time served as the President of the East Java Region Conference.
Formation of the First Church Board
The organizing event took place solemnly and was attended not only by officers from the East Java Region Conference but also by board members from the mother church, GMAHK Denpasar (Jl. Surapati).
On that blessed occasion, the first Pastor and Church Board were also officially installed to serve GMAHK Hang Tuah, as follows:
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Church Pastor: Pastor Gerry Takaria
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Church Leaders: Mr. Jimmy Kolibu & Mr. Harry Djimesha
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Secretary: Mr. Suwahyo
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Treasurer: Mrs. Suzanna Kolibu