In early 1979, Pdt. Dr. Jacob Nahuway, M.A., started the congregation of the Bethel Indonesia Church (GBI) Mawar Saron by using the house of one of the doctors of Chinese descent on Jalan Kwitang No. 2, Central Jakarta, as a place of worship. Along with the rapid growth of the congregation, the worship room on the second floor of the house which accommodates about 300 people is no longer adequate.
The congregation then moved from place to place of worship by renting various public buildings and party buildings, including:
- Public Meeting Centre Building (Balperum), Jl. Raden Saleh No. 28, Central Jakarta
- Social Department Party Building, Jl. Matraman Raya, East Jakarta
- Mangaraja Party Building, Jl. Pioneer of Independence, North Jakarta
- Sports Arena in Lokasari
- Party Building in Asemka, West Jakarta
Because of moving places of worship, many congregations have difficulty coming to worship considering the long distance and limited transportation access. The congregation and church assembly then realised the importance of having a permanent house of worship to accommodate worship activities.
The location that is sought is Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta, because many congregations are domiciled around Sunter, Kelapa Gading, Tanah Merah, Pegangsaan Dua, and Bekasi, so it is easier to reach by public transport.
At the end of 1992, GBI Mawar Saron bought a plot of land with an area of 9,480 m² which was divided into two Certificates of Ownership (SHM), each with an area of 4,740 m², owned by Mr. Haji Zailani Zein (leader of Nusa Kirana Kelapa Gading Real Estate). A few years later, through the gotong royong of the congregation, a plot of land with an area of 4,990 m² owned by Mr. Anton Partono was liberated. The three plots of land belong to the Bethel Indonesia Church of the Mawar Saron Kelapa Gading Church, North Jakarta, with the status of a Certificate of Ownership.
On the land now stands the GBI Mawar Saron Church Building along with a meeting room and secretariat office, located at Jl. East Hybrid III RT 001/RW 024, Pegangsaan Dua Village, Kelapa Gading District, North Jakarta. The construction of this building is based on the Decree of the Provincial Governor of the Special Capital Region of Jakarta Number 01122/IMB/2003, which is registered with Number 02537/PIMB-PB/II/2002 dated September 19, 2002. This church building was inaugurated by the Governor of DKI Jakarta Dr. Ing. H. Fauzi Bowo and former Governor of DKI Jakarta Lieutenant General TNI (Retired) Dr. (H.C.) H. Sutiyoso on Wednesday, November 3, 2010, which was attended by thousands of GBI Mawar Saron worshippers and other guests.
The construction of the GBI Mawar Saron Church Building, Kelapa Gading, did not take place as fast as many parties imagined. The process takes a long time since the land was owned in 1992, because it requires IMB management and fundraising carried out by the congregation collectively without assistance from social or government agencies. The total time needed is 18 years, until the inauguration of the church building on November 3, 2010.
Bethel Indonesia Church Jemaat Mawar Saron Jakarta is one of 5,200 GBI churches throughout Indonesia and in various countries, with the Synod office located at Jl. A. Yani No. 65, Cempaka Putih, Central Jakarta.
Bethel Indonesia Church is a member of the Association of Churches in Indonesia (PGI) and is registered in the Ministry of Religion of the Republic of Indonesia as a religious institution Number 41, on December 9, 1972.
The Bethel Church of Indonesia is also a member of two national church organisations recognised by the Government of the Republic of Indonesia, namely the Indonesian Pentecostal Church Fellowship (PGPI) and the Indonesian Evangelical Church and Association (PGLII).