In Memoriam: Rev. H. Michael Lapian

With a zeal and love for God, Michael Lapian’s passion was to share the good news of Jesus. “My dad was a man that loved God with all his heart,” said a son at his memorial service. “His life was full of adventure and dreams, vision and determination,” he added. Michael died June 25 after suffering a massive brain hemorrhage while he and his wife were enjoying the mountains in Laconia, N.H. He was 61.

Born in Indonesia, Michael graduated from seminary in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, where he met his future wife, Deibi. From there he planted and pastored several churches with the Presbyterian Church in Indonesia. He was also one of the founders of the Evangelical Theological Seminary of Indonesia in Central Sulawesi, established in 1991. Graduates from that school have gone on to plant more than 120 churches to date.

In 2003, the Lapians left Indonesia to serve the Indonesian Christian Reformed Fellowship in Dover, N.H., which has many members from Sulawesi. Michael was still ministering in Dover at the time of his death. He had great love for the people of this congregation. Michael was also a leader with South East Asian Pacific Islander East Coast, a Christian Reformed ministry that supports congregations with believers from various regions in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands. 

Athletic and competitive, Michael excelled at soccer and volleyball and enjoyed playing ping pong and chess. He also loved music, using his gift of playing guitar and singing to lead in worship. At family gatherings, he took every opportunity to engage everyone in song.

Michael is survived by Deibi, four children, a son-in-law and daughter-in-law, and two grandchildren.