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This research uses the historical method to delve into the religious work of 2 Indo-European women that lived around Banyumas and Purworejo in Central Java during the second half of the 19^th century. Before there was any official evangelistic mission assigned or even allowed, they spread Christianity with their own way and means. Highly regarded because of their positions and Dutch-Javanese background, they used a special method that was adapted to the needs and traditions of the Javanese around them. This allowed them to develop a small Christian community, which gave rise to Sadrach’s Kristen Djawi which emerged after them. They played an essential role in the rise of Christianity and the development of Kristen Djawi. Even though as women from Eurasian backgrounds, they were regarded low by Dutch social standards. Mrs. Van Oostrum and her sister-in-law Mrs. Philips would read from the Bible in Malaysian or Javanese Kromo to their servants. They would hold sacred services on Sunday with them, tell them about their interpretations from the Bible in the aforementioned languages and teach them about the principles of Christian faith. Mrs. Philips would even go from village to village with her Javanese helpers. This lead eventually to the rise of a community with more than 1000 people that had been baptized during a 10-year period. The community would grow even quicker beneath Sadrach’s guidance, a principal helper and student from Mrs. Philips, into the Kristen Djawi community around the end of the 19^th century.

Van Oostrum, Philips, evangelism in Central Java