Empowering Youth of the HKBP Rawamangun Church through Financial Planning Education, Control of Consumer Behavior, and Mitigation of Illegal Fintech Risk

Figure Ilustration AI

FORMOSA NEWS - Jakarta - Religious Community Empowers Church Youth in Jakarta to Combat Illegal Fintech and Uncontrolled Spending. Effective Financial Education for Churches Empowers Young People to Protect Themselves from the Pitfalls of Illegal Online Loans and Consumerist Behavior. This initiative was presented in a study by Fery Tobing, Riwandari Juniasti, Feliks Setia Wau, Selvia De Wana, and Roma Ulina Sinaga from the Indonesian Christian University (UKI) in a service article published in the Asian Journal of Community Services (AJCS), Vol. 5, No. 7, 2026, highlighting that the religious community-based empowerment program at the HKBP Rawamangun Church successfully improved digital financial literacy and strengthened young people’s awareness of financial risks in the digital age.

Background and Social Context
In Indonesia, rapid digital financial innovation specifically the rise of financial technology (fintech) platforms has altered how young people spend, borrow, and save. While digital wallets and online services offer unprecedented convenience, they also expose teenagers and young adults to severe financial risks. High Internet penetration coupled with aggressive social media marketing often promotes a consumerist lifestyle among youth. This leaves young individuals vulnerable to predatory, unlicensed online lenders and fraudulent investment schemes. According to the Financial Services Authority of Indonesia (OJK), public financial literacy remains moderate and unevenly distributed, making adolescents a prime target for illegal fintech operations. These unauthorized platforms frequently charge exorbitant interest rates, steal personal data, and resort to unethical debt collection practices. To counter these growing threats, community-based solutions are increasingly essential. Religious institutions like churches possess significant potential to act as social change agents, bridging the gap between moral instruction and practical life skills. By integrating personal finance education into youth ministry programs, local institutions can shield young members from digital financial exploitation while instilling long-term economic discipline.

Research Methodology
To evaluate the impact of community-led financial instruction, researchers designed an intervention program for adolescents at the HKBP Rawamangun Church in Jakarta. The study utilized a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative descriptive analysis with a quantitative pre-test and post-test experimental design. A group of church youth participated in structured financial literacy workshops, interactive group discussions, budgeting simulations, and case-study analyses. Participants completed questionnaires using a five-point Likert scale before and after the training to measure shifts in their financial knowledge, spending habits, and risk perception regarding illegal fintech. Qualitative data were gathered through direct observation, interviews, and documentation, and then analyzed using data reduction and triangulation techniques to verify accuracy.

Key Findings
The educational intervention produced measurable improvements across several core indicators of financial literacy and risk awareness:

• Differentiating Legal vs. Illegal Fintech: The largest improvement was observed in participants' ability to recognize unauthorized financial services. The average survey score for understanding the difference between legal and illegal fintech jumped from 3.23 in the pre-test to 3.96 in the post-test.
  
• Personal Data Protection: Youth awareness regarding the risk of illegal fintech misusing personal data surged significantly, with average scores rising from 3.57 to 4.12.
  
• Financial Tracking and Budgeting: Participants demonstrated stronger financial tracking habits. The belief that recording income and expenses leads to wiser financial habits increased from an average score of 3.83 to 4.12. Regular saving habits also showed positive gains, moving from 3.71 to 3.80.
  
• Smarter Consumption Choices: Intentional budgeting led to greater restraint in spending. Scores reflecting spontaneous spending without prior planning dropped from 2.89 to 2.68, while temptation caused by online discounts dropped from 3.57 to 3.28.
  
• Identifying Scam Investments: The ability to spot characteristics of fraudulent investments improved from a pre-test score of 3.51 to 3.88 following the workshops.
  

Despite these positive gains, researchers noted that social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram continue to exert strong commercial pressure on young consumers, highlighting the need for ongoing digital literacy initiatives.

Real-World Impact and Policy Implications
This church-based financial education initiative offers a practical, scalable framework for improving youth financial literacy across Indonesia. By combining practical financial tools with moral guidance—such as discipline, self-control, and responsibility religious communities can effectively bolster the economic resilience of the next generation. For policymakers and regulatory bodies like the OJK, these results demonstrate that partnering with grass-roots religious and social organizations can dramatically expand the reach of financial protection campaigns. Localized, community-driven education bridges the gap between high-level regulatory enforcement and everyday consumer decisions. Protecting youth from illegal financial traps not only prevents personal debt crises and psychological distress but also supports broader economic stability.

Author Profiles
Fery Tobing, M.Si. – Lecturer and researcher at Universitas Kristen Indonesia, specializing in financial analysis and community empowerment.
Riwandari Juniasti, M.E. – Academic staff member at Universitas Kristen Indonesia, focusing on personal finance education and economic development.
Feliks Setia Wau, M.Pd. – Faculty member at Universitas Kristen Indonesia with expertise in educational strategies and youth social empowerment.|
Selvia De Wana, M.Si. – Researcher at Universitas Kristen Indonesia specializing in financial management and consumer behavior analysis.
Roma Ulina Sinaga, M.Ak. – Accounting specialist and lecturer at Universitas Kristen Indonesia, focusing on financial literacy and public financial health.

Source
Fery Tobing, Riwandari Juniasti, Feliks Setia Wau, Selvia De Wana, Roma Ulina Sinaga. Empowering Youth of the HKBP Rawamangun Church through Financial Planning Education, Control of Consumer Behavior, and Mitigation of Illegal Fintech Risk. Asian Journal of Community Services (AJCS), Vol. 5, No. 6, Tahun 2026, Halaman 387–404
DOI: https://doi.org/10.55927/ajcs.v5i7.39
URL: https://journalajcs.my.id/index.php/ajcs