New Strategy: Papuan Churches Shift Street Children Empowerment in Sentani Through Work Theology and Vocational Independence

Multitech Publisher Selasa, Juni 30, 2026
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FORMOSA NEWS - Sentani - The phenomenon of street children in Sentani, Jayapura Regency, Papua, requires concrete intervention that moves beyond mere charitable donations. A recent study conducted by Kresbinol Labobar, a researcher and academic at the State Christian Protestant College (STAKPN) of Sentani, shows that local churches hold a strategic opportunity to break the cycle of structural poverty among street children by integrating the theology of work with empowerment programs rooted in indigenous Papuan community values.

The study, published in the Indonesian Journal of Advanced Research (IJAR) in June 2026, emphasizes the urgent need for a paradigm shift in church ministries. According to Labobar, church social ministries in Sentani largely remain charity-oriented, providing temporary relief such as food or clothing. This traditional approach has not fully addressed the root causes of poverty, family disintegration, and the social marginalization experienced by children on the streets.

The Root Causes of Street Children in Sentani

The presence of street children in Sentani is not an isolated issue but rather the cumulative result of structural poverty, family breakdown, parental neglect, and limited access to proper education. On the streets of Sentani, vulnerable children are highly exposed to risky behaviors, including smoking, alcohol consumption, school dropout, and inhalant abuse such as inhaling glue (aibon).

From a sociological perspective, separating children from their families and tribal communities in Papua carries profound psychological consequences. These children do not only lose economic support; they lose their social identity and sense of belonging. Consequently, rehabilitation efforts can no longer rely solely on individual child interventions, but must actively involve restoring the family ecosystem and engaging religious institutions like the church.

Research Methodology

This study employed a qualitative case study design utilizing a contextual theological approach. Data were collected extensively during the first half of 2026 through in-depth face-to-face interviews, participant observation within local environments, and analysis of relevant documents.

Key informants were selected using purposive sampling, consisting of local church leaders, community social workers, parents of street children, and vulnerable children within faith communities in Sentani. The data were analyzed using Thematic Analysis to map current ministry practices and formulate an integrative model relevant to the Papuan context. Data trustworthiness was ensured through source and methodological triangulation.

Main Findings: A Transformative Diaconal Model Based on Work Theology

Kresbinol Labobar’s research presents a new roadmap connecting spiritual dogma with tangible social action, known as transformative diaconia. In Christian anthropology, every human being is created in the Imago Dei (image of God), possessing an inherent dignity and a divine calling to steward the earth through productive work.

Labobar outlines five primary pillars within this integrative model for street children empowerment based on the theology of work:

  1. Soft Skills Development: Focuses on communication, empathy, discipline, and teamwork to enhance children's capacity for social reintegration and reduce the social stigma attached to them.
  2. Hard Skills Training: Equips children with practical, vocational competencies tailored to the local Papuan market, such as entrepreneurship, arts, agriculture, and appropriate technology, to foster future economic independence.
  3. Life Skills Education: Teaches essential daily management abilities, including time management, decision-making, and personal responsibility, helping children exit unstructured street lifestyle patterns.
  4. Vocational Pathway: Offers structured, long-term mentoring to help children identify their unique interests and talents, effectively bridging them back into formal education or safe employment opportunities.
  5. Digital Literacy: Provides training on using information and communication technologies safely, critically, and productively, preparing Papuan youth to overcome informational barriers in a digital era.

In addition to vocational training, churches are encouraged to implement a psychospiritual restoration program covering three core areas:

  • Spiritual Formation Training: Instills the belief that they are precious creations of God, helping to restore their inner identity and heal the wounds of family rejection.
  • Trauma Healing: Utilizes community-based pastoral counseling to gradually heal the emotional trauma caused by street violence and neglect.
  • Character Building: Internalizes core moral values such as honesty, integrity, and social responsibility as foundations for a structured life.

Implications and Policy Impact

Practically, the results of this study offer strategic impacts for three major sectors:

  • For Society and Indigenous Leaders: Revitalizes the communal, relational values of Papuan culture to welcome street children back into stable family environments without stigma.
  • For Religious Institutions (The Church): Shifts church ministries from consumption-based charity to sustainable economic and literacy empowerment hubs, enabling the church to act as a prophetic agent breaking structural poverty.
  • For Public Policy: Serves as a vital recommendation for the Social Services Department and the Local Government of Jayapura Regency to design child protection policies based on faith-community partnerships, addressing the implementation barriers faced by state-run programs.

"The church cannot distance itself from fragile social realities. Empowering street children by equipping them with vocational life skills is the tangible manifestation of a living, transformative Christian faith," states Kresbinol Labobar in his academic paraphrase.

Author Profile

  • Full Name: Kresbinol Labobar, S.Th., M.Pd.
  • Affiliation: State Christian Protestant College (STAKPN) of Sentani, Papua, Indonesia.
  • Area of Expertise: Practical Theology, Social Diaconia, Contextual Papuan Theology, and Child Character Education.
  • Corresponding Email: pdtchreslabobar@gmail.com

Research Publication Source:

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