The Evangelical Christian Church in Halmahera in North Maluku was founded in 1949 with a total of 150,000 members. The church grew out of the missionary work of the Protestant Church in the Netherlands. In 1999-2000 North Maluku erupted in violence and many people were forced to flee the region. Today, tensions still exist and the women and children have a very basic means of survival. The Church’s membership has decreased by half while it is still attempting to help those from the congregations who are struggling to survive. The church believes the attacks were not religious based but rather, political based. A Muslim-Christian working group has been working with people to restore their communities.

The church has set-up a hospital, several homes for the elderly, and a number of schools from primary to university levels. It also has its own theological college which has been operating since 1968.