Rhymes and a local-language welcome
In his first rhyme, Gibran linked peace in Kalumpang with hopes for a safe and prosperous Indonesia: "Wearing a sash in the beautiful fields / Going on a trip aboard a boat / From Kalumpang radiates peace / For a safe and prosperous Indonesia"
His second praised the community's tolerance: "Mustard seeds and candlenut beans / Watered and nourished by the evening / 100 years of the Gospel in Kalumpang / Its faith grows, its tolerance matures"
Attendees cheered enthusiastically when Gibran greeted them in the local dialect. He asked whether he had pronounced the greeting correctly and apologized for any mistakes.
The Gereja Kristen Sulawesi Barat (GKSB) organized the centenary, which commemorated the Gospel's arrival in 1926. The main gathering took place at Tamalea in Bonehau Village. According to the organizing church, the wider program ran from October 27 through November 2 and featured vocal competitions, sports, cultural performances and cultural exhibitions.
Preserving language and traditions
Gibran also called on young people to make the traditional Sekomandi woven cloth and the Kalumpang language part of everyday life, TVRI News reported. He urged them to wear the cloth rather than know it only through photographs, and to speak the language rather than encounter it only in written records.
He warned against letting a single hoax or instance of hate speech break the bonds of brotherhood established by their ancestors.
As part of the celebration, Gibran signed the inauguration plaque for the 100th Anniversary Monument of the Gospel's Entry into Tanah Kalumpang (IMTK). The program then moved to the planting of mango seedlings, symbolizing care for the environment, according to TVRI News.
Pledge to address gaps in public services
At the gathering, Gibran pledged closer coordination with the West Sulawesi governor and the regent to address problems in Indonesia's 3T regions, a designation for frontier, outermost and underdeveloped areas, ANTARA News reported.
He said the pledge followed an October 20, 2026, meeting with the GKSB synod board at the Vice Presidential Palace in Jakarta. The board had raised concerns about teacher shortages, damaged roads, health services and internet coverage that did not reach the area.
