Living as Sojourners: Faith Formation among Indonesian Christian Diaspora in Malaysia

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53547/z7bp2488

Keywords:

Christian Religious Education, diaspora, faith formation, Indonesian Christian migrants, non-formal Christian education

Abstract

Research in Christian Religious Education (CRE) has shown that faith formation extends beyond formal instruction to the communal life of the church. However, empirical evidence on how non-formal CRE shapes faith formation within Southeast Asian Christian diaspora communities remains limited. This qualitative case study examined how Bethel Church Malaysia (BCM) Johor Bahru fostered faith formation among Indonesian Christian migrants. Data were collected through three months of participant observation (November 2025 to April 2026), semi-structured interviews with nine purposively selected participants – seven congregation members and two church leaders – and analysed using thematic analysis. The findings identified three interconnected dimensions of non-formal CRE: contemplative rootedness through biblical devotional practices, communal belonging through faith-based relationships, and civic witness through culturally engaged participation in the host society. These dimensions emerged from the congregation's everyday communal life and were interpreted through 1 Peter 2:11–12, which frames believers as sojourners and exiles, while Jeremiah 29:7 informed their understanding of civic responsibility. The study concludes that diaspora congregations function as intentional environments of non-formal CRE that strengthen spiritual identity, communal resilience, and public witness. It proposes an empirically grounded model of diaspora faith formation with practical implications for Christian ministry and religious education in migrant communities across Southeast Asia.

Abstrak

Penelitian dalam bidang Pendidikan Agama Kristen (PAK) menunjukkan bahwa pembentukan iman tidak hanya berlangsung melalui pembelajaran formal, tetapi juga melalui kehidupan komunal gereja. Namun, bukti empiris mengenai bagaimana PAK non-formal membentuk iman pada komunitas diaspora Kristen di Asia Tenggara masih terbatas. Penelitian ini bertujuan menganalisis bagaimana Bethel Church Malaysia (BCM) Johor Bahru membangun pembentukan iman di kalangan migran Kristen Indonesia. Penelitian menggunakan pendekatan studi kasus kualitatif melalui observasi partisipatif (November 2025 hingga April 2026), wawancara semi-terstruktur terhadap sembilan partisipan terpilih – tujuh anggota jemaat dan dua pemimpin gereja. Data dianalisis menggunakan analisis tematik. Hasil penelitian mengidentifikasi tiga dimensi yang saling berkaitan dalam PAK non-formal, yaitu keberakaran kontemplatif melalui praktik devosional Alkitabiah, kepemilikan komunal melalui relasi berbasis iman, dan kesaksian publik melalui partisipasi yang terlibat secara budaya dalam masyarakat setempat. Ketiga dimensi tersebut berkembang melalui kehidupan komunal jemaat sehari-hari dan ditafsirkan berdasarkan 1 Petrus 2:11–12, yang menggambarkan orang percaya sebagai pendatang dan perantau, sementara Yeremia 29:7 memberikan landasan bagi pemahaman tentang tanggung jawab sosial. Penelitian ini menyimpulkan bahwa gereja diaspora berfungsi sebagai lingkungan PAK nonformal yang secara sengaja memperkuat identitas spiritual, ketahanan komunitas, dan kesaksian publik. Penelitian ini juga menawarkan model empiris pembentukan iman berbasis diaspora yang memberikan implikasi praktis bagi pelayanan gereja dan Pendidikan Agama Kristen pada komunitas migran di Asia Tenggara.

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Published

2026-09-30

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Vol. 5 No. 2 (2026): September

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Copyright (c) 2026 Dewi Lidya Sidabutar , Abraham Marsal Sakati , Winson Hermanto Simamora (Author)

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How to Cite

Living as Sojourners: Faith Formation among Indonesian Christian Diaspora in Malaysia. (2026). Manthano: Jurnal Pendidikan Kristen, 5(2), 85-99. https://doi.org/10.53547/z7bp2488