Manokwari is the capital city of West Papua. This city has more than 192.663 population. It is 10,84% of the West Papua’s population.
Manokwari is also known as The City of The Gospel. It is because the Gospel started spread from Manokwari. From this city, Christianity starts to enter Papua island. It happened when Papua was still named Irian Jaya. Manokwari had a big impact on Christianity history in Papua.
In this article, you will learn about the history of Manokwari, the city of the Gospel.
Manokwari The City of Gospel
As we know, the Gospel in Papua starts from Manokwari. Gospel is also known as Bible. That’s why, Manokwari is also known as the city of the Gospel. Many Papuans are Christian. More than half of the Papuans population. The others are Moslem, Hindustan, and Buddhist.
The Manokwari government want to make Manokwari officially become the city of the Gospel. They will add some rules about religious activity in Papua, especially for Christian. But, other religion still can do their praying activity.
They make this rule based on some region that has a special religious rule. For example, Moslem in Aceh and Hindustan in Bali. The Manokwari government want to make it a local regulation. This local regulation is still discussed with other religious leaders in Papua.
History of The Gospel in Manokwari
Now, we will tell you the history of Manokwari, the city of the Gospel. History starts from the era of the empire.
1. The Era of The Empire
In the era of empire, Irian Jaya was controlled by The Empire of Tidore, The Empire of Ternate, And The Empire of Bacan. Because of that, many people pray and believe in sculpture, things that have magic, and supernatural spirit.
At that time, Irian Jaya called ‘The Devil Area’. It is because the Gospel hasn’t touched Papua. Then, Groessner and Heildring want to spread Christianity in Irian Jaya. They are a pastor in Germany. Groessner and Heildring have a Gospel mission.
In this mission, they will spread Christianity through the place that needs it. Then, they send 2 evangelists to Irian Jaya. They are C.W. Ottow and J.G. Geissler from Germany. They start the Gospel mission from Hemmen city in the Netherlands.
2. The Gospel Come to Papua
Ottow and Geissler start their mission in Ternate. They go to Ternate by ship for 21 days. On June 1st, 1854, they arrive in Ternate. Then at January 12th 1855, Ottow and Geissler go to Irian Jaya by Ternata ship.
The governor of Maluku asked them to go to Doreri as their first destination. On February 5th, 1855, Ottow and Geissler arrive at Mansinam island, Doreri bay. This is the first time the Gospel entered Irian Jaya.
After that, the news about the Gospel has entered Mansinam island strarted to spread out.
3. The City of Gospel
After the Gospel entered Mansinam island, Manokwari became the first city of the Gospel. Many church and Christian sign have been built in Manokwari. The house, stores, roads, almost all sides of the city.
It also means, Manokwari becomes the center of Christianity in Irian Jaya (now known as Papua).
Even though Manokwari became the city of the Gospel, they still keep the tolerance. There are many churches. But the other religion can do their praying activity. For moslem, they can go to the mosque. Hindustan, they can go to the temple. And Buddhist, can go to the monastery.
They never stop the praying activity of other religions. It also becomes a big factor in regulation. The government said that it is just like Aceh and Bali. They have local regulations of religion. And it will never break the tolerance in Manokwari.
