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Manurung, Cyrus Gillas (1938–1999)

By Yohanes Verdianto Doloksaribu

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Yohanes Verdianto Doloksaribu is a pastor in the Jakarta Local Conference, Indonesia. He has a B.A. in Theology from Surya Nusantara Adventist College, North Sumatera. He finished his M.A. in Religion from Adventist University of Indonesia; and completed his Doctor of Theology with an Emphasis on Church History from the Cipanas Theological Seminary. He has written several articles that have been published in Indonesia and an international journal. He is married to Kristina Simanjuntak. They have two children.

First Published: October 4, 2022

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Cyrus Gillas Manurung was a pastor and administrator in Indonesia.

Early Life, Education and Marriage

Cyrus Gillas Manurung was born in Porsea, North Sumatra, Indonesia, on October 5, 1938, to parents Calvin Manurung and Emelia Simangunsong. Manurung was the second child of three siblings, the other two are his sisters.1 He spent his early life in his birthplace.

Manurung went to public elementary school from 1948 to 1953. After finished elementary school, Manurung then continued his studies in the North Sumatera Training School, Pematangsiantar, North Sumatera, for junior and senior high school from 1954 to 1959. When he was in North Sumatera Training School, he was baptized on May 21, 1955, by Pastor Niemand. In July 1959, he went to college, studying Theology at Adventist University of Indonesia, Bandung, West Java, Indonesia, formerly known as Indonesia Union College. He graduated in 1963.2

On June 27, 1963, Manurung married Flora Panjaitan in Porsea, right after graduation day. Then they were blessed with one son and four daughters.3

Ministry

Right after their marriage, Manurung was assigned to serve as church pastor of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Jalan Ratna, Palembang, South Sumatera, Indonesia, from 1963 to 1964 (January).4 After serving six months in that church, he was assigned to the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Jambi Province, Indonesia.5

In 1968, Manurung was promoted to serve the Lay Activities, Ministerial, and Sabbath School Department in South Sumatra Mission, Indonesia.6 7 After he was ordained in 1969,8 he was then elected in 19709 to be the president of the South Sumatra Mission until 1972.10 11

Because there was a need for leadership in West Java, he was then assigned as the president of the West Java Mission from 1973-1977.12 After this time, he then studied at the Adventist University of the Philippines (formerly known as Philippine Union College) where he graduated with a Masters of Health Science in 1978. After this, he also sought a Masters in Business Administration at the University of the East, Manila, Philippines, and he graduated in 1981. After completing his education in the Philippines in 1981, he returned to Indonesia and worked in a private company.13

Later Life

In 1996, Manurung, with L. Gultom, M. A. Rajagukguk, O. Hasibuan, J. Hutapea, and the Jakasampurna Church, set up a new church school–Dharma Putera Advent School (formerly known as the Jakasampurna Church School) in Bekasi, West Java. As of this writing, they have more than 500 students from elementary to senior high school and employ more than 30 teachers and staff.14

Manurung passed away on February 16, 1999, in Imanuel Hospital, Bandung, West Java. At that time, Manurung left 18 descendants.15

Contribution

Although Manurung only served the Adventist Church for 14 years, his contribution to the organization was very meaningful. He was one of the youngest mission presidents because he was only 32 years old when he was elected to serve as the president of the South Sumatera Mission.16 Also, Manurung co-founded the famous private school in Bekasi, West Java, Indonesia, named the Dharma Putera Advent School. Currently, the school has received accreditation from the Indonesia government with an “A” score.

Sources

Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook. Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association. Various years. https://www.adventistyearbook.org/. 

Warta Geredja Advent, January 1970.

Notes

  1. Evelyn Manurung and Anwar Hutabarat, daughter and son-in-law of Cyrus Gillas Manurung, interview by author, April 29, 2018, Galaxy, Bekasi, West Java, Indonesia.↩

  2. Ibid.↩

  3. Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (1964), 135.↩

  4. Ibid.↩

  5. Ibid.↩

  6. Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (1968), 143.↩

  7. Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (1969), 150.↩

  8. Ibid.↩

  9. Warta Geredja Advent, January 1970, 7.↩

  10. Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (1971), 169.↩

  11. Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (1972), 177.↩

  12. Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook Yearbook (1973-1974), 178. See also Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (1975), 181; (1976), 195; (1977), 197.↩

  13. Evelyn Manurung and Anwar Hutabarat, daughter and son-in-law of Cyrus Gillas Manurung, interview by author, April 29, 2018, Galaxy, Bekasi, West Java, Indonesia.↩

  14. Ibid.↩

  15. Ibid.↩

  16. Warta Geredja Advent, January 1970, 7.↩

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Doloksaribu, Yohanes Verdianto. "Manurung, Cyrus Gillas (1938–1999)." Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists. October 04, 2022. Accessed October 15, 2026. https://encyclopedia.adventist.org/article?id=BCKJ.

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Doloksaribu, Yohanes Verdianto. "Manurung, Cyrus Gillas (1938–1999)." Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists. October 04, 2022. Date of access October 15, 2026, https://encyclopedia.adventist.org/article?id=BCKJ.

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Doloksaribu, Yohanes Verdianto (2022, October 04). Manurung, Cyrus Gillas (1938–1999). Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists. Retrieved October 15, 2026, https://encyclopedia.adventist.org/article?id=BCKJ.

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