THE TESTIMONY OF Ps. SYAIFUL HAMZAH
After listening to his preaching,we could conclude that he preached loudly and energetically. There were only a few times that he spoke slowly and quietly. Looking back at his life as a non believer then turning into a devout believer, he decided to surrender all his life to serve God wholeheartedly and become a servant of God. Only the name of Jesus that should be exalted. Ps. Syaiful Hamzah, born in jakarta, April 12,1974 in Tanjung Priok,North Jakarta. He was the only son from: Haji Andi Thohir(Mandar tribe in West Sulawesi) and Hajjah Ramlah Sari Harahap (Batak Mandailing Tribe north sumatera) Both parents were muslims. Young Syaiful had always gone to mosque joining his parents. He studied elementary school at SDN 17,high school at Madrasah Tsanawiyah Ar Arasyidiyah Walang North Jakarta and STM Perguruan Cikini. He continued his university at Universitas Islam(islamic university) in Medan till 1996. REPENTANCE In 1997,Syaiful moved to Galela,North Maluku to find a better living condition until 1999. To support his life,he worked in a private company. But not too long,January 19,1999, a religious conflict took place in Ambon and reached North Maluku. This conflict however changed his entire life. This was the turning point when he became a believer. It all started when he began to ponder about his current faith that teaches the blood of non muslim is halal(legitimate). In the mid 1999, he chose Christ’s love and forgiveness. From then on, he has had his calling to serve God and learn more about Jesus. In December 1999, he went with one family named The Sengs to church for the first time in North Maluku. Since the conflict had reached Galela, on December 26,1999, Syaiful and The Sengs were besieged by the muslims since Galela was the Muslim base. By the hel of Jesus Christ, They could escape and save their lives by leaving Galela by ship to Bitung, North Sulawesi. As a refugee, he had to start all over again. To make ends meet, Syaiful had to sell newspaper. Not long afterwards, by God’s grae, he could work at PT Max Dirgantara and Tomas Express. In this town,he was baptized at Gereja Masehi Injil Minahasa yet there were some theological differences that made him move to Gereja Pantekosta di indonesia Tombatu by Ps. Rumokoy In 2002, Syaiful returned to Jakarta and lived in his parents’ house in Plumpang. Since his half brother intended to own the house and he wasn’t ready to tell his new faith to others, he moved to Ps. Yoni Panggey’s house.
In Panggey’s house,he was moulded and trained as God’s servant. Under Panggey’s teaching, syaiful learned a lot about giving his life more and more to Jesus and being a discipline servant. He did some chores including mopping the church and setting the chairs until 2004. In 2004, as one of GPdI Bungur workers,he also helped GBI Mawar Saron with Dr Yakob Nahuway as the pastor. Syaiful helped them as a music player and a preacher in the morning and evening prayer. Serving at GBI Mawar Saron started when he took a serving-oriented school in 2003,the 37th generation. There he met the late Ps.Simamora,Yance Sipahelut ,Masudara, from whom he was again trained and formed to be a servant that has been processed till n MEETING HIS SOULMATE In 2003, while helping actively at GBI Mawar Saron, he met this beautiful woman from Batak named Tiolida Sihotang. She was a worship leader and a choir Hossana. In 2004 he married this woman at GPdI Bungur , central jakarta and Praise God their son is named Melki Kurniawan Hamzah. EDUCATION AND PASTORING His passion to be a servant of God made him continue his study theology where he took: Bachelor of Theology at STT REM and Master of Theology at STT Jaffray. Currently he is pastoring the congregation at GBI jl. Melati North Jakarta. This church began with only one mentally-ill person and now members becoming more and more under his care. This church initially started at his parents’ house that once was used for many islamic activities and finally he managed to hold christian services. There were some times when this church was forcefully forbidden and Syaiful almost became the crowd’s source of anger but God has never forsaken his servant and kept blessing him and the increasing church,Halleluyah. Besides tending his own flock, Ps.Syaiful is also a lecturer in some Theology Schools and Universities such as:
School of Theology Jafray
School of Theology Lintas Budaya
School of Theology Bethesda
School of Theology Kenos
School of Theology Global
School of Theology Global Madiun (in Jakarta)
School of Theology Andatu
School of Theology Harapan Indah
School of Theology Agape ( part of GPdI Bandar Lampung)
School of Theology Katharos
And other theology schools
Universitas Satya Negara Indonesia
One principle that he always believes is “Everything that has been achieved is all God’s grace and has to be offered as a glory to God”
other than those names that have been mentioned, Ps. Syaiful has also been taught theology more by Ps. DR. Jerry Rumahlatu M.Th who is also the head of STT Jaffray where he took his Master of Theology, but that’s all because of God’s mercy. To him, his family may have left him for his new faith but Lord has replaced them with the new family in Christ.
