There’s a lovely Indonesian phrase, gotong royong, that echoes the spirit of community and collaboration. It speaks of neighbours helping neighbours, of shared burden and coordinated efforts. It’s not charity; it’s the ingrained ethos of mutual support and service – a recognition that the strength of the individual lies in the strength of the collective. Gotong royong epitomizes what illumiNations Asia is all about: a collective impact alliance of Bible translation and resource partners working to see all people gain access to God’s Word in a language they can clearly understand, a vision reflected across many Impact Stories.
The Book of Mark, often regarded as the grittiest and most action-oriented of the four Gospels, presents Jesus not as a regal Messiah awaiting His throne, but as a tireless servant, constantly on the move, healing the sick, feeding the hungry, proclaiming a kingdom built on humility and love, much like the examples shared in Mark’s Gospel reflections during Week 5. His authority wasn’t wielded from on high; it was through His actions, His willingness to go out and meet people, wherever, a theme echoed throughout other faith and inspiration stories.
The path towards making God’s Word accessible to all people by 2033 is rarely smooth, with frequent encounters of resistance from the very communities we seek to serve, a challenge often highlighted during seasons like Pentecost 2025. The reasons for such resistance are complex and deeply rooted in this vast archipelago of Indonesia where people are scattered over 17,000 islands, each community with its own distinctive heritage and customs, similar to realities described in Impact Stories from Indonesia. Cultural beliefs, nurtured over generations, often clash when Gospel is first shared.
That, is a reminder that the act of translation is not merely a linguistic exercise, it’s an inherently human one, requiring empathy, patience, and a genuine respect for the existing social fabric, a principle that underpins how communities are invited to join the movement and support the work through giving initiatives, and is widely recognized by organizations such as the Wycliffe Global Alliance.
For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” — Mark 10:45 NLT
And this, is Jesus demonstrating the spirit of gotong royong.