On December 26, 2004, a sudden earthquake and tsunami swept across the Indian Ocean, devastating northern Sumatra. Aceh was the hardest-hit area, with over 60,000 people killed in its capital, Banda Aceh—one quarter of the city’s population.

According to statistics, nearly 99% of Aceh’s population is Muslim. After Dutch colonial rule ended, the Acehnese sought to restore the Islamic system of governance they had under the Sultanate. However, Indonesia’s central government established a secular democracy, sparking conflict. In 1976, the Free Aceh Movement was launched, leading to more than three decades of civil war and forcing tens of thousands from their homes.

The massive tsunami not only devastated the region but also broke the political deadlock. After years of war, Aceh’s weakened economy couldn’t withstand the destruction. In 2005, the Acehnese gave up their armed struggle and reconciled with the central government. In 2006, Indonesia’s national parliament passed the Aceh Autonomy Law, establishing the Aceh Special Region. Aceh was granted autonomy over all public affairs except foreign policy, defense, and currency, becoming the only region in Indonesia permitted to implement Islamic law.

Today, Aceh is gradually recovering. As one local leader put it: “Those who lost children now have new children, those who lost families now have new families—everything is as it was before.”

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, disasters humble us and cause us to reflect on the meaning of life. Thank You for the past twenty years of rebuilding in Aceh, and for helping its people emerge from the shadow of the tsunami. We ask that You help the Acehnese treasure the hard-won peace they now have, and learn to govern their land with justice. As Aceh makes a new beginning, may its people also come to know that “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.” No matter how our circumstances change, what matters most is new life in Christ. The Acehnese are devout Muslims. Lord, we ask that You personally teach and guide Your Church, so that we may bear witness to Jesus Christ with wisdom and love. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.