Kalangi, Robert Albert (1929–1999)

By Robert Siby

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Robert Siby, M.Div. (Andrews University, Berrien Springs, Michigan, USA), currently (2020) serves as Campus Ministry director and chaplain at Universitas Klabat. Prior to his current engagement, Siby served as church pastor for seven years. He worked in the area of Human Resources in a mining industry (1992-2008) before joining church ministry. He is married to Lovimaci (Kawuwung) Siby who currently serves as secretary to the dean of Student Services Universitas Klabat. They have three children.

First Published: January 29, 2020

Robert Albert Kalangi was a leading Adventist figure in Indonesia as an ordained pastor, teacher, educator, and educational administrator.

Early Life, Education, and Marriage

Robert Albert Kalangi was born in Langowan, North Sulawesi, Indonesia, on April 9, 1929, to parents Nicolas Kalangi and Josephine Nayoan. He was the youngest of eight siblings, and also had seven step-siblings. He spent his childhood in the village of Langowan, North Sulawesi.

Kalangi attended Indonesian Union Seminary at Gadobangkong, Bandung, and graduated in 1952. Even though he was trained to be a Bible Instructor, when he continued his study at Philippine Union College (PUC), he majored in History, and received his B.A. in March 1958 and B.S. degree in 1959.1 After six years serving as a teacher, he returned to PUC to pursue his Master’s in Education (1963-1965).2 There he wrote a thesis titled, “A Study of the Existing and Desired Supervisory Services of the Principals of Seventh-day Adventist Academies in the Philippines.” In January 1973, supported by Mount Klabat College, Kalangi went to the United States to continue his doctoral work in Philosophy at the University of Nebraska. Graduating in May 1975, he earned his Ph.D. with a dissertation titled, “A Comparative Study of the Perception of the Principal’s Role as Held by Teachers and Principals in the Seventh-day Adventist Academies in the United States.”3

Kalangi began his denominational service as a teacher at North Celebes Academy, Kawangkoan, North Sulawesi, for three years (1952–1955). While teaching at North Celebes Academy, he met Anna Walean, his student. They married in Java on August 23, 1952. Anna was a daughter of a Seventh-day Adventist minister. They had three children, Evangeline, Ronald, and Fredrik.4

Career and Ministry

From North Sulawesi, Kalangi moved to Bandung Adventist Academy and taught there until April 1956, when he was sent to PUC, Manila, to study (1956-1969)5. Upon finishing his study at PUC, Manila, Kalangi served as a principal at several academies within Indonesia Union Mission. First, at North Sumatra Adventist Academy (1959-1961)6, then Bandung Adventist Academy (1961-1962), then North Celebes Academy (1962-1963). He then earned his Master’s degree at PUC.7 Around the time he was finishing his study, a new school established in Airmadidi, North Sulawesi, required Kalangi’s qualifications and expertise. Upon their return to Indonesia, the Kalangis accepted the call to become teachers and residence deans8 9at Mount Klabat College (now Universitas Klabat).10 After serving about one year as a teacher, Kalangi was promoted to Academic Dean in January 1967.1112 On 27 January 1968 he was ordained to the Gospel ministry. While carrying his academic responsibility, Kalangi was actively involved in evangelism, as he desired to taste evangelism at its best—on the front line!”13

In January 1973, supported by Mount Klabat College, Kalangi was sent to the United States to continue his doctoral study. Afterward he returned to Mount Klabat College and became the second president of the school. Kalangi was the first Indonesian president, succeeding Edward W. Higgins, an American. Kalangi served as the president of the school for four years (1975-1979). After that, in 1980, Kalangi was called to teach in the Southeast Asia Union College in Singapore, while Anna Kalangi served as the head of the registration office. In 1983, the Kalangi family moved back to the United States and lived in Michigan. At this time, Anna Kalangi was sent by Universitas Klabat to pursue her Master of Arts in Teaching at Andrews University (1983-1984).14

When they returned to Indonesia, Kalangi taught at Universitas Klabat until his retirement in 1993. In 1990, Kalangi was appointed as a delegate to the 55th session of the General Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana. During his service in Universitas Klabat, Kalangi was known as a disciplined person and was actively involved in evangelism.15

Later Life

In his retirement, besides part-timing as the leader of the UNKLAB Research Center, Kalangi was active in speaking in seminars wherever he was invited. He liked to talk about family, youth problems, and Daniel and Revelation.16 On March 25, 1999, as Robert and Anna Kalangi were on the way home from a funeral service, they were involved in a car accident that took Robert’s life.

Sources

“Books Given to Far East's Newest School.” Far Eastern Division Outlook, February 1968.

Employee Service Record of Anna Kalangi Walean. Universitas Klabat, Airmadidi, North Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Higgins, Jr., E. W. "White Envelope from Heaven", Far Eastern Division Outlook, November 1966.

“News from Here and There.” Far Eastern Division Outlook, May 1959.

“Our Students Abroad.” Far Eastern Division Outlook, January 1957.

Sitompul, Gladys. “Overseas Students Graduate.” Far Eastern Division Outlook, April 1955.

Notes

  1. Gladys Sitompul, “Overseas Students Graduate,” Far Eastern Division Outlook, April 1955, 15.

  2. “Our Students Abroad,” Far Eastern Division Outlook, January 1957, 8.

  3. Digital Commons, University of Nebraska, 1975.

  4. "Our Students Abroad,” 5.

  5. Gladys Sitompul, 15.

  6. “News from Here and There,” Far Eastern Division Outlook, May 1959, 12.

  7. See “News from Here and There,” Far Eastern Division Outlook, November 1965, 20, 24.

  8. Ibid.

  9. E. W. Higgins, Jr., "White Envelope from Heaven", Far Eastern Division Outlook, November 1966, 1, 18.

  10. Seventh-day Adventist Encyclopedia, Revised Edition, mmmmcxlv.

  11. ARH, April 17, 1969, 19; Far Eastern Division Outlook, February 1968, 16; Far Eastern Division Outlook, July 1971, 23.

  12. “Books Given to Far East's Newest School,” Far Eastern Division Outlook, February 1968, 16; Far Eastern Division Outlook, July 1971, 23.

  13. Far Eastern Division Outlook, March 1969, June 1969.

  14. Employee Service Record of Anna Kalangi Walean, Universitas Klabat.

  15. Interview record with S. Laoh, fourth president of Universitas Klabat.

  16. Ibid.

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Siby, Robert. "Kalangi, Robert Albert (1929–1999)." Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists. January 29, 2020. Accessed February 13, 2025. https://encyclopedia.adventist.org/article?id=6AQH.

Siby, Robert. "Kalangi, Robert Albert (1929–1999)." Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists. January 29, 2020. Date of access February 13, 2025, https://encyclopedia.adventist.org/article?id=6AQH.

Siby, Robert (2020, January 29). Kalangi, Robert Albert (1929–1999). Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists. Retrieved February 13, 2025, https://encyclopedia.adventist.org/article?id=6AQH.