Retreat 2025: Si Tou Timou Tumou Tou

Blue Mountain, Pennsylvania – With hearts full of joy and purpose, GMIM Alpha Omega Church of New Jersey–New York held its 2025 Congregational Retreat on July 4–6 at the Blue Mountain Christian Retreat Center. The event carried the theme “Si Tou Timou Tumou Tou”, a revered Minahasan philosophy meaning “a person lives to humanize others”, highlighting the Christian calling to serve and uplift one another in love.

More than just an annual tradition, the retreat served as a sacred pause from daily routines—an opportunity to refresh faith, rekindle fellowship, and renew the church’s mission as God’s people in diaspora. Rooted in Galatians 6:2, “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ”, the entire retreat program centered around mutual support, community healing, and spiritual growth.

The retreat opened with a joyful worship service led by the Church Council and the 2025 Church Festival Committee. In his welcome message, Elder Audy Lumangkun, Chair of the Congregational Board, emphasized the unifying message behind the theme: “This is a call to not just live—but to give life to others,” he shared.

Over the course of three days, participants engaged in rich spiritual sessions, group discussions, games, morning devotions, and heartfelt evening reflections. Guest speakers included Rev. Christian Luwuk, M.Th (GMIM Synod), Rev. Astred Suwuh-Oley, and Rev. Joshua Umboh of GMIM Alpha Omega NJ-NY.

“Si Tou Timou Tumou Tou”, first made known by Minahasan, Dr. Sam Ratulangi, speaks of a life that only finds meaning in giving life to others. For the Minahasan people, this is a way of being. At this retreat, that truth was not only preached—it was practiced.

Through sessions led by respected Rev. Christian Luwuk, participants explored what it means to live relationally: not isolating oneself in individual struggles, but embracing vulnerability, mutual support, and the call to be Christ’s presence in one another’s lives.

The Rev. Christian Luwuk

Each element of the program—morning devotions, discussion groups, communal meals, games, and reflective worship—was shaped around the goal of embodying this vision: to become people who “bring others to life.”

A profound moment came during the Campfire Night, where families and individuals gathered in a symbolic circle. After writing down personal disappointments and hopes, each person burned their note in the fire as a sign of surrender and renewal. “Just like the coals that keep burning when they stay together, so too our church remains strong when we stay united in Christ’s love,” said Committee Chair Zoony Mapaliey.

The retreat concluded with a joyful Sunday worship, celebrating new strength and unity as the congregation heads back into their daily lives—empowered to serve with humility and to build others up in a world that often pushes people apart.

The GMIM Alpha Omega Retreat 2025 served as a sacred reminder: even in a foreign land, the love of Christ continues to live—through people who choose to carry each other’s burdens and live to bless others.