Siregar, Immanuel (1882–1946)

By Michael Palar

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Michael Palar

First Published: September 14, 2022

Immanuel Siregar was the first local Indonesian converted to the Seventh-day Adventist Church, and the first local Indonesian pastor. His impact in the spread of the Adventist work in Indonesia is significant.

Early Life

Immanuel Siregar was born in 1882 in Banuarea, Tarutung, to parents Johannes Siregar and Karolina Boru Tampubolon. Siregar’s father was the first Batak convert to Christianity, and the first native preacher.1 Johannes Siregar was one of the first four students at the Ministerial School, Pansurnapitu, and was ordained together with three other ministers in Pearaja, Tarutung, in 1885.2

Education and Marriage

Immanuel Siregar finished his education from Sekolah Raja-Raja Reninicsche Mission at Narumonda, Porsea, Southern Tapanuli. However, Siregar did not join the ministry. “He was educated for the native ministry, but for some reason was not inclined to enter it.”3 Siregar was more interested in journalism.

After becoming an Adventist, Siregar was sent to Singapore in 1908, together with Hezekiel, Gaius, Petroes, Hermenes, and Simion.4 Siregar introduced them to the Adventist faith, and they became the first Indonesians to study in the seminary in Singapore.5 One of the teachers in the training school expressed, “We realize that a great deal depends upon the success of these young men. The foundation of our work in Battakland is now being laid, and we are desirous of having a true work done. We ask an interest in your prayers, that these young men may be speedily prepared to return to their own land to teach the truth to others.”6 Siregar could speak Batak, Malay, Dutch, and English.

Siregar married Boru Tampubolon, with whom he had six children. After Tampubolon’s illness and death, Siregar married Chalidjah Tampubolon, in 1920.7 They had eleven children.

Ministry

In 1904 Siregar went to Padang to start a newspaper in the Batak language, Binsar Sinondang Batak.8 When he heard about Ralph Waldo Munson, an American missionary who observed Saturday as the Sabbath, he visited Munson to convince him that the Sabbath is Sunday.9

Munson had dreamed of reaching the Batak people, and Siregar's work would be significant because the government only gave permission to a specific missionary group to work among the Batak people. Munson wrote, “Immanuel, however, can take the message, and nobody can hinder him.”10

In 1905 Siregar was baptized.11 After Munson went to Australia, Siregar left his newspaper work, and returned to his people in Batak Land. His father strongly forbade him from teaching about the Sabbath., but Siregar continued his ministry. Local leaders became angry and reported him to the police. Siregar was arrested and sent to face justice at Sibolga, but was found not guilty. However, for his safety, he was asked to leave Sibolga. Siregar went to Padang.12

After receiving training in Singapore, in 1910 Munson called Siregar to help him in West Java. They worked in Sukabumi and Batavia (now Jakarta).13 It was reported, “The first of April we began labor here in Batavia, which is seventy-five miles north of Soekaboemi on the railway line. Brother Emmanuel Siregar had spent about three months laboring here late last year, and a lively interest was awakened among the Ambonese and Menadonese Christians, who are here in considerable numbers, and are engaged, most of them, in some department of the government service.”14

Siregar’s ministry was successful.15 It is reported that the first Adventist baptism in Batavia came from his Bible study. He conducted Bible studies with ten men and women, and on December 7, 1911, Munson baptized them. In Sukabumi he taught several families. On March 29, 1911, five souls were baptized, including Samuel Rantung, who later become the first person to bring the Adventist message to the eastern part of Indonesia. Siregar wrote, “they are strong in the faith, grasping the doctrine in nearly every subject. All the brethren who were baptized in Soekaboemi and in Batavia stopped using tobacco, and every other bad habit, and are faithful in paying tithe.”16

In 1912 Siregar's work in Batavia helped establish the first church. It was reported that “Java’s first church was organized in the city of Batavia with twenty-seven members on June 25, by Pastor G F Jones.”17 Soon in that year, suffering poor health, Siregar returned to Batakland with his family. Petra Tunheim said that “it is found that he is in need of a cooler climate, and also to sell literature there, as we have no permission to do other gospel work in that field.”18

In Batakland, Sipirok, Sirevar continued his main interest, giving Bible studies. He worked hard in “spreading the message, . . entirely self-supporting.”19 Yet, he was “of good courage and doing a great work for his fellow countrymen.”20 Siregar faced strong opposition. He was called a number of times before government officials, but he always had the courage to defend his faith. When asked about the threat of being persecuted, he said, “We do not fear what man can do to us.”21

In 1913, Siregar opened an independent boarding school in Sibolga, with about 100 students. School industries—carpentry, tailoring, and a barbershop— helped students pay their way. The school taught English, Malay, and Dutch.22

K. M. Adams said,

Through the efforts of Brother Imanuel Siregar, the northern part of Sumatra, which is called Battakland, has been greatly stirred by the third angel's message. Here also we are forbidden to teach the Bible, so in order to reach the field it was thought best to open a school, and later on to apply for permission to teach the Bible openly.23

In 1914, John S. Yates visited Siregar in Sumatera. Yates discovered that “[s]ixteen of the Battak people are keeping the Sabbath, but are not yet ready for baptism. Brother Siregar has shown wisdom in being able to carry on the work although the government forbids him to do so.”24

In 1915, Yates returned to Sumatera. This time Siregar introduced him to 20 candidates for baptism, the majority already keeping the Sabbath. After a close examination of the candidates, four were baptized. Yates understood that these were “the first Battak believers to be baptized in Sumatera.”25 However, it was testified that earlier there were 12 people baptized at Bungabondar. Because of the government restrictions, the baptism was done at night.26

In 1923, Siregar was called to work at the Malaysian Union Seminary. V.E. Hendershot reported, “At the close of 1923, Brother Immanuel Siregar, an old pioneer in this message, was released to enter active missionary work among the Peninsular Malays. We are glad to hear his good report of interested ones there.”27 From 1925 to 1928, Siregar was a member of the executive committee of the Malay States Mission.28

Later Life

At the end of 1928, Siregar returned to Tarutung.29 In 1931 he moved to Bandung, where he served at the Naripan Church, and also opened an English-Chinese school.30

In 1946, when a great war broke out in Bandung, known as called Bandung Lautan Api (the Bandung Sea of Fire), Immanuel Siregar and his family were forced to move to Garut, a small town about 60 kilometers from Bandung. Not long after, Siregar died, on May 17, 1946. He was buried by Pastor S.H. Panjaitan, who came all the way from Yogyakarta. Later his remains were transferred to ke Tanah Kusir, Jakarta, to be side by side with the burial place of his wife Chalijah Tampubolon, who died in 1975.

Contribution

Immanuel Siregar is known as the first Indonesian who converted to Seventh-day Adventism. He is also the first Indonesian pastor. In the words of Samuel Rantung, the pioneer of Adventist work in the eastern part of Indonesia, “Now we can be sure that the late R.W. Munson was the first person entering Indonesia with the three angels message, and brother Immanuel Siregar is the first (Indonesian) member, while Padang City was the place of the dawn of the three angels message in Indonesia.”31

Siregar’s work led to the first Adventist converts in Jakarta and in Sukabumi, West Java. His work also brought the first converts in Batakland. His legacy is crucial to the work of Seventh-day Adventist Church in Indonesia.

Sources

Adams, K.M. “Our Schools in the Malaysian Union Conference.” Asiatic Division Outlook, July 15, 1517.

Detamore, F.A. “Straits Settlements.” Australasian Record, March 22, 1915.

“The East Indies.” Newsletter for the Asiatic Division, July 1, 1912.

“The East Indies.” Newsletter for the Asiatic Division, October 1, 1912.

Hendershot, V. E. “The Educational Work in Malaysia.” Far Eastern Division Outlook, April 1925.

Howell, W. E. “Malaysian Union Seminary.” ARH, June 14, 1923.

Munson, R. W. “Brother Immanuel, the Battak.” Union Conference Record, September 15, 1905.

Munson, R. W. “Good News from Batak Land, Sumatra.” Union Conference Record, June 24, 1907.

Munson, R. W. “Java,” ARH, October 19, 1911.

Munson, R. W. “Our Work in Java – Part 2.” Union Conference Record, May 22, 1911.

Munson, Samuel. “Brother Immanuel, the Battak.” Union Conference Record, September 15, 1905.

Universitas Kristen Satyawacana: Institutional Repository, https://repository.uksw.edu/bitstream/123456789/2857/4/T1_712005032_BAB%20III.pdf.

Rantung, Samuel. “Tempat Terbitnja Kabar 3 Malaekat di Indonesia.” Warta Gerja Advent, Tahun ke 27, February 1954.

Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook, various years. https://www.adventistyearbook.org/.

Siregar, Jeane. Sejarah Advent Masuk Di Indonesia: Perintisan dan Penyebaran. Unpublished manuscript, a copy in the author’s private collection.

“The Straight Settlements.” Newsletter for the Asiatic Division, May 1, 1912.

Tunheim, Petra. “The Work in Batavia, Java.” Australasian Record, August 26, 1912.

Yates, John S. “Visit to Battakland, Sumatra.” ARH, October 7, 1915.

Notes

  1. R. W. Munson, “Good News from Batak Land, Sumatra,” Union Conference Record, June 24, 1907, 3.

  2. Universitas Kristen Satyawacana: Institutional Repository, https://repository.uksw.edu/bitstream/123456789/2857/4/T1_712005032_BAB%20III.pdf, 27. Accessed September 20, 2021.

  3. Munson, “Good News…,” 3.

  4. G. A. Wantzlick, “Sumatra,” Union Conference Record, April 20, 1908, 3. f

  5. Samuel Rantung, “Tempat Terbitnja Kabar 3 Malaekat di Indonesia,” Warta Gerja Advent, February 1954, 3.

  6. J. Mills, “Our Singapore School,” Union Conference Record, March 30, 1908, 3.

  7. Jeane Siregar, interview by author, September 20, 2021.

  8. Ibid.

  9. R. W. Munson, “Brother Immanuel, the Battak,” Union Conference Record, September 15, 1905, 6.

  10. Ibid.

  11. Jeane Siregar, Sejarah Advent Masuk Di Indonesia: Perintisan dan Penyebaran, 6 (unpublished manuscript, a copy in the author’s collection).

  12. Ibid.

  13. R. W. Munson, “Our Work in Java – Part 2,” Union Conference Record, May 22, 1911, 4.

  14. R. W. Munson, “Java,” ARH, October 19, 1911, 13.

  15. “The East Indies,” Newsletter for the Asiatic Division, July 1, 1912, 4.

  16. “The Straight Settlements,” Newsletter for the Asiatic Division, May 1, 1912, 6.

  17. “The East Indies,” Newsletter for the Asiatic Division, October 1, 1912, 2.

  18. Petra Tunheim, “The Work in Batavia, Java,” Australasian Record, August 26, 1912, 2.

  19. John S. Yates, “Visit to Battakland, Sumatra,” ARH, October 7, 1915, 13.

  20. F. A. Detamore, “Straits Settlements,” Australasian Record, March 22, 1915,3.

  21. John S. Yates, “Visit to Battakland, Sumatra,” ARH, October 7, 1915, 13.

  22. K. M. Adams, “Our Schools in the Malaysian Union Conference,” Asiatic Division Outlook, July 15, 1917, 6-7.

  23. Ibid.

  24. John S. Yates, “A Visit to Battakland,” Asiatic Division Mission News, December 1, 1914, 2.

  25. Yates, “Visit to Battakland, Sumatra,” ARH, October 7, 1915, 13.

  26. Siregar, 8.

  27. V. E. Hendershot, “The Educational Work in Malaysia,” Far Eastern Division Outlook, April 1925, 5; W.E. Howell, “Malaysian Union Seminary,” ARH, June 14, 1923, 20.

  28. Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1926), 154; Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (1928), 175.

  29. Siregar, 9.

  30. Ibid.

  31. Samuel Rantung, “Tempat Terbitnja Kabar 3 Malaekat di Indonesia,” Warta Gerja Advent, February 1954, 3.

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Palar, Michael. "Siregar, Immanuel (1882–1946)." Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists. September 14, 2022. Accessed February 18, 2025. https://encyclopedia.adventist.org/article?id=CASO.

Palar, Michael. "Siregar, Immanuel (1882–1946)." Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists. September 14, 2022. Date of access February 18, 2025, https://encyclopedia.adventist.org/article?id=CASO.

Palar, Michael (2022, September 14). Siregar, Immanuel (1882–1946). Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists. Retrieved February 18, 2025, https://encyclopedia.adventist.org/article?id=CASO.