The Surya Family
Paul, Dini, and their children, Amelia, Shalom, and Lila
Location: Indonesia
Local Time:
Missionary Agency: Global Outreach International, Indonesia Baptist Theological Seminary
Paul and Dini serve at Indonesia Baptist Theological Seminary (STBI) in Indonesia, the largest Muslim country in the world. They are blessed with three lovely daughters: Amelia, Shalom, and Lila. Since 2008, Paul and Dini have dedicated themselves to training and equipping students at STBI with a solid biblical foundation, discipling them to become God-fearing servants with strong Christ-like character.
Their commitment to discipleship extends beyond the classroom. Paul and Dini reside within the STBI complex, living alongside their students. This close-knit community fosters an environment where spiritual growth is nurtured continuously. STBI requires students to live in the campus dormitories for at least the first two years of their study. This arrangement allows Paul, Dini, and other faculty members to provide consistent mentorship, ensuring that students develop not only academically but also spiritually.
To instill the importance of witnessing, Paul and Dini regularly accompany students on outreach activities. These excursions are designed to make sharing the message of Jesus a natural part of the students’ lives. By engaging in these activities, students learn to articulate their faith and reach out to others with compassion and conviction.
STBI’s mission is to recruit, train, and equip students from all over Indonesia, sending them back to their communities to reach people for Christ in their own languages. With its vast Muslim population, Indonesia presents a significant harvest field for the seminary’s efforts. The work Paul and Dini do at STBI is crucial in preparing students to navigate and minister effectively in this challenging context.
Many pastors and church planters in Indonesia lack the opportunity to receive formal training in seminary, often due to financial constraints. However, theological training is not optional for pastors and church planters—it is essential. That is why, in partnership with local churches, Paul and Dini also train and equip these pastors and church planters to become more effective in their ministries, both within their congregations and in their efforts to reach their communities with the Gospel and plant new churches.
Hobbies & Interests: In their personal time, Paul enjoys outdoor activities and sports, finding refreshment in nature and physical exercise. Dini has a passion for gardening, nurturing plants, and creating beautiful, peaceful spaces. Their daughters also have diverse interests: Amelia loves photography and listening to music, capturing moments and expressing herself through visual and auditory art; Shalom is an avid reader and also enjoys listening to music, finding joy in stories and melodies; and Lila spends her free time drawing and painting, exploring her creativity through art.