In Memoriam: Rev. Paul Paksoal, Visionary Missionary Leader

Rev. Paul Paksoal’s life was characterized by dedication to a holy calling. Heir to a legacy of faith and service, he gave himself to the ministry.

Rev. Paul Paksoal was born on May 22, 1951 in Enarotali-Papua, Indonesia to the family of Rev. Christian D. Paksoal who is one of the pioneers of ministry in Papua. Rev. Christian was a student of Rev. Robert Alexander Jaffray who started the ministry of the Christian and Missionary Alliance (C&MA) of Indonesia.

After completing his high school education in Jayapura, Paul Paksoal felt God’s call to become a full-time minister. He decided to follow in his father’s footsteps and enrolled at Jaffray Bible College, now Jaffray Theological Seminary in Makassar.

Upon completion of his studies at the seminary, Rev. Paul Paksoal spent a decade with Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF), a missionary aviation ministry in the interior of the country, where the seeds of his missionary passion were sown.

In a twist of divine orchestration, after a decade in aviation ministry, Paul felt a renewed calling, transitioning to the world of publishing. He served as both staff and marketing director at Kalam Hidup Publishers, owned by the Indonesian Gospel Tabernacle Church (C&MA of Indonesia) for 13 years. In the midst of his responsibilities, however, God called him and his wife Priskila to plant the Rehobot church in Bekasi in 1988, transforming it into a dynamic and rapidly growing urban church that gave birth to numerous others.

As Rehobot church flourished, so did Paul’s impact. He was summoned by the national church leaders to lead the Missions Department (2001-2006), igniting a nationwide movement to establish ministries among unreached people groups. Under his guidance, new churches emerged in Central and South Kalimantan, reaching even the majority Muslim population. His leadership culminated in the historic sending of the first Alliance missionary to Suriname.

In 2006, Rev. Paksoal was elected as national church president for an initial five-year term during a challenging period marked by conflicts in Papua. Despite the trials, he fervently championed the church’s mission focus, steering it toward growth and unity. His tenure witnessed the inception of national pastor retreats and sustained emphasis on church planting. Re-elected in 2011, his leadership continued until 2016, marred only by a brief setback due to a stroke in 2012.

Rev. Paksoal’s health had been declining for the past three months, and he ultimately succumbed to the effects of the stroke on December 13, 2023. He leaves behind a legacy of vision, warmth, and unwavering commitment to family and ministry. His wife Priskila, their two married children David and Charissa, and two grandchildren, Jason and Cherryll, are a testament to his impact.

The news of Rev. Paul Paksoal’s passing resonates beyond the Alliance family, echoing throughout the leadership of the diverse Indonesian church. His enduring vision of every local church as a missionary church, coupled with his personal example, has inspired the national church to persist in its mission endeavors.

Rev. Paul Paksoal’s life story also stands as a guide, urging churches across Indonesia to reach the unreached, both at home and abroad. He will be laid to rest in Jakarta on December 16, leaving an indelible mark on the hearts of those he led and the mission he championed.