How we came to be

It began with a married couple, Ps. Alexander Djuang Papay Sarnieum and his wife, Ps. Asnat Esterlina Meroekh, who were sent to the Netherlands on December 26, 1998, one month after their wedding, to pioneer ministry in The Hague – Netherlands. They were missionaries sent from GBI Gatot Soebroto Jakarta – Indonesia, under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Ir. Niko Njotorahardjo.

After serving several times in the Netherlands, in October 2005 they officially became pastors of Bethel International Church, The Hague.

As founders and pioneers, they have experienced many things in ministry: opening new ministries in several places, including Brussels (Belgium) and Turkey, serving prayer fellowships and churches in Germany, France, Switzerland, and Italy; becoming education consultants with an online Bible school in collaboration with several Bible schools in Indonesia; and working with Power Character to organize character management seminars at the Indonesian embassies in The Hague, Berlin, Brussels, and other European cities.

As a church, we also carry out missions by supporting God’s servants in various regions of Indonesia to attend Bible school (bachelor’s and master’s programs in theology) so that they are equipped. We provide financial and resource support to prepare quality servants of God.

BIC The Hague also partners with Aquila Center in mission work and in organizing pilgrimages and public trips.

On December 11, 2009, Pastor Alex was ordained as Bishop and Ps. Asnat as Pastor of the Church of God, headquartered in Tennessee, USA, by the chairman of COG Netherlands, Bishop John Lataster.

On March 18, 2022, BIC The Hague officially became independent from GBI Gatot Soebroto, Jakarta, and joined Church of God Netherlands as our mother church.

Bishop Alex and Ps. Asnat were blessed with one child: Samuel Akwila Alexander.

 

Core values

Our vision is to be a church that is firmly rooted in the truth of God’s Word, continuously growing in faith, and bearing fruit that glorifies Him in every aspect of life. These are not only our guiding principles but also our core values: to live a life that is deeply anchored in Christ, to mature in character and spiritual understanding, and to bring forth good fruit through acts of love, service, and witness. We believe that a church must be more than a place of gathering — it must be a living testimony of God’s transforming power. By staying rooted, we remain steadfast; by growing, we become stronger; and by bearing fruit, we extend God’s love to the world around us.