Sejarah Kami, Ziarah Iman
Gereja Kristen Indonesia New York (GKINY) lahir dari kerinduan sederhana akan persekutuan, doa, dan ibadah di tengah komunitas diaspora Indonesia di New York. Didirikan secara resmi pada tanggal 15 Mei 1992 dan terdaftar di negara bagian New York, GKINY merupakan gereja inter-denominasi yang berakar pada tradisi iman Reformed, namun terbuka untuk semua orang percaya yang rindu bertumbuh dalam Kristus. Sejak awal berdirinya, GKINY hadir sebagai gereja independen yang tidak berafiliasi secara struktural dengan gereja di Indonesia maupun di Amerika, sehingga memiliki kebebasan untuk membentuk kehidupan gerejawi yang kontekstual bagi jemaatnya.
Sejarah GKINY berawal dari sebuah persekutuan doa kecil yang diprakarsai oleh almarhum Pdt. Santosa Iman, bersama beberapa keluarga jemaat pertama, termasuk keluarga Suwidji, keluarga Jan Tuwaidan–Unsulangi, keluarga Robert Mewengkang, dan keluarga The Hok Thay. Dari ruang-ruang pertemuan sederhana, persekutuan ini bertumbuh menjadi komunitas iman yang semakin kuat dan terarah. Dengan keyakinan bahwa Allah memanggil mereka untuk membangun gereja yang hidup, para pendiri secara resmi mendaftarkan GKINY di negara bagian New York. Dokumen pendirian tersebut ditandatangani oleh Pdt. Santosa Iman (alm.), Ibu Pantiningsih Atmodimedjo (almh.), Bapak Jan Tuwaidan (alm,), Bapak Sukyanto Jusup, dan Bapak The Hok Thay—sebuah kesaksian iman yang menjadi fondasi perjalanan gereja hingga hari ini.
Ibadah pertama GKINY diselenggarakan di Reformed Church, yang beralamat di 41-15 Broadway, Elmhurst, Queens. Tempat ini menjadi ruang awal di mana doa-doa dipanjatkan, firman diberitakan, dan komunitas dibentuk. Seiring pertumbuhan jemaat, sejak tahun 1998 GKINY mulai beribadah secara tetap di Baptist Community Church of Woodside, yang berlokasi di 41-01 58th Street, Woodside, New York. Hingga saat ini, tempat tersebut menjadi rumah rohani bagi banyak jemaat, sebuah ruang di mana iman dipelihara, harapan diperbarui, dan kasih Kristus dihidupi bersama. Pastori gereja berlokasi di Elmhurst, Queens, yang menjadi pusat pelayanan dan penggembalaan jemaat.
Panggilan GKINY kemudian meluas melampaui New York. Pada tahun 2009, pelayanan GKINY berkembang ke New Jersey, dimulai dari ibadah oikumenis yang kemudian menetap di First Presbyterian Church of Avenel.
Sepanjang sejarahnya, GKINY telah dilayani oleh para pendeta yang setia dan berdedikasi. Pelayanan pastoral dimulai oleh almarhum Pdt. Santosa Iman, yang kemudian dilanjutkan oleh almarhum Pdt. John Young. Dalam masa transisi, gereja dilayani oleh para pendeta konsulen, termasuk Pdt. Bastian (Buby) Ticoalu dan Pdt. Yohanes A. Hartopo, yang mendampingi jemaat sambil menyelesaikan pendidikan teologi mereka di Westminster Theological Seminary, Pennsylvania. Selanjutnya, GKINY dilayani oleh para pendeta tetap seperti Pdt. Winda Tendean, Pdt. John Habel Mandey, dan Pdt. Harry Hutapea. Selain itu, berbagai pendeta tamu dan pelayan firman juga turut ambil bagian dalam membangun kehidupan rohani jemaat.
Untuk beberapa waktu, GKINY dilayani oleh Pdt. Francky Londa, lulusan sekolah teologi di Hartford, Connecticut. Melalui kepemimpinan pastoral dan kehidupan persekutuan jemaat. Saat ini, GKINY dilayani oleh Pdt. Nindyo Sasongko dari Manhattan, NY, Pdt. Kilat Buana Lembong dari Philadelphia, PA, dan Pdt. Rolland Samson dari Pittsburgh, PA. GKINY terus melangkah dalam panggilan Kristus, bukan sekadar sebagai institusi, tetapi sebagai komunitas iman yang hidup.
Dari persekutuan doa kecil hingga menjadi gereja yang melayani lintas wilayah, sejarah GKINY adalah kisah tentang kesetiaan Allah. Gereja ini berdiri bukan karena kekuatan manusia, melainkan karena anugerah Tuhan yang memanggil, memelihara, dan mengutus umat-Nya. Hingga hari ini, GKINY tetap berkomitmen untuk menjadi rumah rohani bagi semua yang rindu bertumbuh dalam iman, hidup dalam kasih, dan diutus untuk menjadi saksi Kristus di dunia.
Our History, Our Pilgrimage of Faith
Gereja Kristen Indonesia New York (GKINY) was born from a simple fellowship, prayer, and worship among the Indonesian diaspora community in New York. Officially established on May 15, 1992, and registered in the State of New York, GKINY is an interdenominational church rooted in the Reformed tradition, yet open to all believers who desire to grow in Christ. From its beginning, GKINY has existed as an independent church, not structurally affiliated with churches in Indonesia or the United States. This allows the freedom to shape a church life that is contextual and responsive to the needs of its congregation.
GKINY’s story began with a small prayer fellowship initiated by the late Rev. Santosa Iman, together with several founding families, including the Suwidji family, the Jan Tuwaidan–Unsulangi family, the Robert Mewengkang family, and the The Hok Thay family. From these humble gatherings, the fellowship gradually grew into a more established and purposeful community of faith. With the conviction that God was calling them to build a living church, the founders formally registered GKINY in the State of New York. The founding document was signed by Rev. Santosa Iman (†), Mrs. Pantiningsih Atmodimedjo (†), Mr. Jan Tuwaidan (†), Mr. Sukyanto Jusup, and Mr. The Hok Thay—a testimony of faith that continues to serve as the foundation of the church’s journey today.
The first worship services of GKINY were held at the Reformed Church, located at 41-15 Broadway, Elmhurst, Queens. This space became the place where prayers were lifted, the Word was proclaimed, and a community was formed. As the congregation grew, GKINY began holding regular worship services in 1998 at the Baptist Community Church of Woodside, located at 41-01 58th Street, Woodside, New York. To this day, this location remains a spiritual home for many—a place where our faith is nurtured, our hope is renewed, and our love of Christ is lived out together. The church parsonage is located in Elmhurst, Queens, serving as a center for pastoral care and ministry.
The calling of GKINY soon extended beyond New York. In 2009, GKINY’s ministry expanded to New Jersey, beginning with ecumenical worship services that eventually found a permanent home at the First Presbyterian Church of Avenel.
Throughout its history, GKINY has been served by faithful and dedicated pastors. Pastoral leadership began with the late Rev. Santosa Iman and was later continued by the late Rev. John Young. During a transitional period, the church was guided by consulting pastors, including Rev. Bastian (Buby) Ticoalu and Rev. Yohanes A. Hartopo, who served the congregation while completing their theological studies at Westminster Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania. GKINY was subsequently served by several senior pastors, including Rev. Winda Tendean, Rev. John Habel Mandey, and Rev. Harry Hutapea. In addition, guest pastors and ministers in theological training in the United States have also contributed to the spiritual life and growth of the congregation.
For a season, GKINY was served by Rev. Francky Londa, a graduate of a theological school in Hartford, Connecticut. Through pastoral leadership and the shared life of the congregation, GKINY continued to grow in its calling. Currently, GKINY is served by Rev. Nindyo Sasongko from Manhattan, Rev. Kilat Buana Lembong from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Rev. Rolland Samson from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Together with the congregation, GKINY continues to walk faithfully in the calling of Christ—not merely as an institution, but as a living community of faith.
From a small prayer fellowship to a church serving across regions, the history of GKINY is ultimately a story of God’s faithfulness. We believe that this church does not stand by human strength, but by the grace of God who calls, sustains, and sends God's people. To this day, GKINY is committed to being a spiritual home for all who seek to grow in faith, live in love, and be sent as witnesses of Christ in the world.