The auditorium, filled with thouands of worshippers, tuned in intently as Debora Prabu broke the silence with an a cappella solo of Oh, Prince of Peace, a pentatonic hymn in the Javanese language written by Saptojoadi of Gereja Injili di Tanah Jawa (GITJ) conference, Indonesia.

Debora Prabu, then part of the international choir for the MWC Assembly in Pennsylvania 2015, will be the worship leader for Indonesia 2022. “Leading worship does not come naturally to me, so the fact that I lead worship is by God’s grace and provision alone,” she says. “Through the mistakes that I’ve made, God has shown his grace and power in a way that I could not imagine, and also showed me a path to continue learning and serve him better.”

“I love learning worship songs from different countries, and seeing how language and culture affect the presentation of these songs: the emotion, the storytelling through the lyrics, the accompanying music,” she says.

Participating in the international choir at Assembly in 2015 was a blessing: “to be able to serve and worship together with new friends from around the world.”

Debora Prabu is a classically trained singer who grew up in Semarang, Indonesia. Her passion for singing and music ministry has taken her to study church music at Abdiel Theological Seminary in Ungaran, Indonesia, and vocal classes including at the Hochschule für Kirchenmusik in Heidelberg, Germany.

She also took part in MCC’s IVEP program (1999–2000) in Canada, serving at the Ten Thousand Villages store in Abbotsford, B.C., in her first semester and at the Rosthern Mennonite Nursing Home, Saskatchewan, in the second.

Following Debora Prabu’s appointment, the worship team for Indonesia 2022 is now recruiting gifted vocalists to join the international choir. Consisting of 10 singers representing all continents, the international choir will lead congregational singing during the Assembly. Similar to Deborah Prabu’s experience in Pennsylvania 2015, the singing and worship services will reflect the global fellowship of Mennonite World Conference and be rich in music and worship diversity.

To apply to participate in the Assembly international choir, please provide

• a brief resume
• videos or MP3 of vocal performance, and
• a reference from pastor or a church leader.

Please send the files or links to BenjaminBergey@mwc-cmm.org. All applications should be sent prior to 30 September 2021. 

With the Assembly being offered in person and virtually, anyone from around the world can be part of Indonesia 2022’s worship services regardless of their ability to travel.

“Together we shall see that God’s power and presence cannot be contained to a physical room. This is something to look forward to,” says Debora Prabu.

Watch the worship song highlights from Pennsylvania 2015 here.