In Magelang, there is a unique building called House of Prayer Bukit Rhema, which is popularly known as Gereja Ayam because of its iconic shape. However, this term is actually a misnomer, because the original shape of this building more closely resembles a dove, which has a symbolic meaning behind its design.
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The Beginning of Bukit Rhema
Based on information from the official website, the Bukit Rhema Prayer House was built by Daniel Alamsjah in 1992. The inspiration for building this prayer house came in 1988. At that time Daniel felt he had a call to build a place of worship for all religious communities in the location which is now Bukit Rhema.
Daniel’s son, William Wenas, explained that his father had a recurring dream in 1988. In his dream he felt called to build a house of prayer on a hill whose location he did not yet know. The journey of life finally brought Daniel to the Borobudur area, where he met a local young man who took him to the hill in Gombong Hamlet, Kembanglimus Village, Borobudur District, Magelang Regency.
When he arrived at the hill, Daniel recognized the location as the place that had appeared in his dream. After praying there, he felt he had received instructions to build a house of prayer, which he later named Bukit Rhema, which means “living word.”
Characteristics of the Bukit Rhema Architecture
The architecture of Bukit Rhema is unique and is often mistaken for being chicken-shaped because the roof resembles a cockscomb. In fact, this building is designed to resemble a dove, with the part on top that is not a comb but a crown. The crown is a symbol of peace and holy spirit.
This building consists of 7 floors, each of which holds a philosophical meaning related to human spiritual journey, prayer, the majesty of God, miracles, and the diversity of Indonesian culture. The basement floor has 26 small rooms that can be used as private prayer places.
On the crown floor, visitors can see paintings of traditional clothing from various regions and murals containing anti-drug messages. Apart from being a place of worship, Bukit Rhema also functions as a rehabilitation center.
At the tail of the building there is a cafe that serves coffee and fried cassava, where visitors can relax and enjoy the atmosphere.
Bukit Rhema not only attracts local tourists, but is also visited by many tourists from Europe who are amazed by its iconic design. Interestingly, the construction of this building does not have a pillar in the middle, giving the impression of being spacious and open.
Even though it is often called a church, Bukit Rhema is basically a house of prayer for all people. William Wenas emphasized, “Many call this a church because the owner is a Christian, but actually this is a house of prayer that is open to all religions.”