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Background of the Ministry in Korowai
For more than two decades, local evangelists in Korowai Batu, South Papua, have been faithfully bringing the Gospel and education to remote communities. One of the milestones of this ministry is the establishment of Samuel Dormitory in Danowage, founded with the vision of nurturing Korowai children spiritually, morally, and academically through a discipleship-based dormitory model.
The dormitory was founded through the collaboration of Evangelist Jimmy Weya, Rev. Trevor Johnson, and international mission partners. Over the years, it became a home for children from various Korowai villages who had no access to formal education. Through this ministry, many children came to know Jesus Christ, received education, and even continued their studies at universities in Tangerang and Jakarta.
The Emerging Conflict
In early 2024, the ministry faced a major challenge. According to reports from Evangelist Jimmy Weya, differences in leadership approach and ministry philosophy arose between him and Rev. Paul Snider, a missionary involved in overseeing and supporting the dormitory.
Jimmy explained that under Paul’s leadership, several decisions were made without sufficient coordination with local evangelists — including appointing a new dormitory manager and staff, and changes in sponsorship policies. Some of these actions led to misunderstandings, tension, and the eventual disruption of dormitory operations.
Impact on the Children and the Ministry
The internal conflict had a significant impact on the daily life and future of the dormitory. Reports indicate that the dormitory was temporarily closed, livestock was sold, and some assets were removed from Danowage.
As a result, the number of children in the dormitory dropped sharply, threatening the sustainability of Sekolah Lentera Harapan (SLH) Danowage, which relies on the dormitory to house students coming from distant Korowai villages.
Ev. Jimmy and the local ministry team expressed concern that without the dormitory, the hope to raise a new generation of Korowai children who know Christ and are capable of leading their people would fade. They emphasized that education and spiritual formation in Korowai can only thrive when managed with a genuine sense of calling, humility, and cultural understanding.
Appeal to GIDI Leadership
On October 21, 2025, the local evangelists submitted an official letter to the President of GIDI (Evangelical Church of Indonesia) in Sentani, requesting that the church leadership take action regarding this matter.
They appealed for Rev. Trevor Johnson to be reinstated as the coordinator overseeing sponsorship and dormitory support — as he was the one who initially built the facilities and pioneered the educational mission in Korowai.
They also requested that Rev. Paul Snider and his team no longer intervene in the GIDI ministry area of Korowai Batu.
The letter was accompanied by a detailed report of Samuel Dormitory’s ministry outcomes from 2019 to 2024, documenting its significant positive impact on the lives of Korowai children before the conflict arose.
Reflection: Returning to the Heart of Ministry
The Samuel Dormitory case is more than an organizational dispute — it is a deep ministry struggle involving relationship, trust, and calling.
Cross-cultural collaboration in remote mission fields often faces complex challenges of communication, authority, and stewardship. Yet, the ultimate goal remains unchanged: to see the children of Korowai grow in faith, character, and knowledge — becoming a generation that glorifies God.
We pray that the GIDI Church, missionaries, and local evangelists will find reconciliation and unity once again — working together with love, humility, and shared vision for the glory of Christ in the land of Papua.