Magena-genangan: The Philosophy of the Evangelical Church in Minahasa as a Manifestation of Love

Magena-genangan: The Philosophy of theEvangelical Church in Minahasa as a Manifestation of Love

Linda L. S. Mende

Issue: Vol. 11 No. 12 2025 Issue Article 3 pp. 618 – 626
DOI: https://doi.org/10.38159/erats.202511123 | Published online 29th December, 2025.
© 2025 The Author(s). This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

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ABSTRACT

This paper explains the Minahasan concept of Magena-genangan, one of the manifestations of love within the church context of the Evangelical Church of Minahasa, as a church that was born as a result of the preaching of the gospel. Magena-genangan means baku-baku inga or remembering each other. The concept of remembering each other creates a space for reflection from which the Evangelical Church in Minahasa was born, rooted in God’s love for the people of Minahasa, North Sulawesi. This study employed a literature-based research approach to examine the history of the Evangelical Church in Minahasa by analyzing books, journal articles, historical manuscripts, and academic publications. The findings indicate that the rituals and rites practised by the members of the Evangelical Church in Minahasa reflect a pattern of love toward fellow human beings, understood as an expression of divine love. Consequently, the study concludes that the concept of magena-genangan serves as a life philosophy for the Minahasa Evangelical Church community, embodying God’s love within the context of digital society. This research deepens the understanding of the doctrine of love in the local Church through a contextual approach rooted in the history, traditions, and culture of the Minahasa community. The Magena-genangan tradition is understood as a concrete form of love that is alive in everyday practice. This approach is expected to make a real contribution to teaching and education patterns, both in terms of knowledge and in shaping attitudes and behavior. The integration of theological and biblical studies with psychological and moral values allows love to be understood as a universal value that is relevant in a diverse society.

Keywords: Church (GMIM), Christian Religious Education, Love, Magena-genangan

BIBLIOGRAPHY

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AUTHOR(S)

Linda L. S. Mende holds a Master of Christian Education in University of Chirstian Indonesia. Her research focuses on Theology, Education, Christianity, Culture, Mission.

TO CITE ARTICLE

Mende, Linda L. S. “Magena-genangan: The Philosophy of the Evangelical Church in Minahasa as a Manifestation of Love.” E-Journal of Religious and Theological Studies 11, no.12 (2025): 618 – 626. https://doi.org/10.38159/erats.202511123.