Hutabarat , Agustinus
Agustinus Hutabarat is a Global Mission Fellow (International) with the United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries, engaged in a two-year term of service. He is part of the 2021-2023 Global Mission Fellow cohort. Agustinus is serving as Community Activity.
The Global Mission Fellows program takes young adults ages 20-30 out of their home environments and places them in new contexts for mission experience and service. The program has a strong emphasis on faith and justice. Global Mission Fellows become active parts of their new local communities. They connect the church in mission across cultural and geographical boundaries. They grow in personal and social holiness and become strong young leaders working to build just communities in a peaceful world.
Agustinus is a member of Galilea Air Batu City, Palembang, part of the Methodist Church in Indonesia (Gereja Methodist Indonesia). He earned an advanced degree in theology from the Wesley Institute, Jakarta, Indonesia.
“I knew Jesus from a young age,” Agustinus said, “but I understood Jesus’ ministry and commandments when I entered the theological seminary.”
In Matthew 28, Jesus called his followers to “make disciples of all nations.” Agustinus takes those words to heart. “My spiritual journey in doing God’s will is not easy,” he said. “In life, I have experienced many difficulties that sometimes make me not strong enough, but when I realize that Jesus is my strength in serving, I get extra strength to serve him.”
Agustinus shares the love of Jesus with children experiencing difficulty in their lives.
“It’s not easy,” he admitted. “Sometimes, I give up, but when I remember that God helped me, I rise again so that the children know God’s love and they get justice in their lives. The more I have a hard struggle, the more my faith in God grows.”
Although Agustinus faced many obstacles in his first term as a Global Mission Fellow, he believes in God’s timing and in giving the program another chance. “During my struggle,” he said, “I asked God to strengthen me. Finally, with a lot of provisioning, I tried to respond to my delayed calls. Intimate relationship with God made me see and opened my heart to serve God through mission.
“Whatever God wants, I have to do it with God’s power,” he added. “I always ask the Holy Spirit to comfort, strengthen and accompany me in this process. I believe that calling has been ingrained in my heart for a long time, but I look forward to the right time to begin. My spiritual experience with God has convinced me to this day to go on a mission that God has commanded.”