400 Christians saved from tsunami death in Indonesia?-Unproven!

Four Hundred Christians Were Celebrating Chrismas on a Hill Outside an Indonesian City when the Tsunami Hit...And Their Lives Were Saved as a Result-Unproven!

Summary of the eRumor
The email says that 80% of the town of Meulaboh in Ache, Indonesia, was destroyed by the tsunami in December, 2005.
But the lives of 400 Christians were saved because they had been prohibited from celebrating Christmas in the Moslem city and were on a hill outside the city for Christmas when the waves came.

The Truth
Getting to the bottom of this story has been difficult, probably because the person who is alleged to have originated it, Bill Hekman, is ministering in an area that was hard-hit by the tsunami and where communication has been affected.

We have not found any independent substantiation of this story apart from the originators of the eRumor.
If there was a large group of Christians who escaped the tsunami because of having hiked up a hill to celebrate Christmas, there has not been any other word of it.
That doesn't mean it didn't happen but in a disaster of this magnitude and where everyone from the media to the military were delighted to find stories of survival and courage, it would be a significant story.

Bill Hekman is the pastor of Calvary Life Fellowship in Indonesia.
According to the church's website, he has been reached by telephone in Meulaboh and has confirmed the story.
The website says that the church has also substantiated the story through an Indonesian pastor and "...several persons with firsthand knowledge."

There may be some truth to the story, but we're classing it as "unproven" until we can further information and from additional sources.

Updated 2/18/05

A real example of the eRumor as it has appeared on the Internet:

We know that 80% of the town of Meulaboh in Aceh, Indonesia was
destroyed by the Tsunami waves and 80% of the people also died. This is
one of the towns that was hit the hardest.

But there is a fantastic testimony from Meulaboh. In that town are
about 400 Christians.

They wanted to celebrate Christmas on December 25th but were not
allowed to do so by the Muslims of Meulaboh. They were told if they
wanted to celebrate Christmas they needed to go outside the city of
Meulaboh on a high hill and there celebrate Christmas.

Because the Christians desired to celebrate Christmas the 400 believers
left the city on December 25th and after they celebrated Christmas they
stayed overnight on the hill.

As we all know the morning of December 26 there was the earthquake
followed by the Tsunami waves destroying most of the city of Meulaboh
and thousands were killed.

The 400 believers were on the mountain and were all saved from
destruction.

Now the Muslims of Meulaboh are saying that the God of the Christians
punished them for forbidding the Christians from celebrating Christmas
in the city. Others are questioning why so many Muslims died while not
even one of the Christians died there.

Had the Christians insisted on their rights to celebrate Christmas in
the city, they would have all died. But because they humbled themselves
and followed the advice of the Muslims they all were spared destruction
and can now testify of God's marvelous protection.

This is a testimony of the grace of God and the fact that as believers
we have no rights in the world. Our right is come before God and commit
our lives to Him. Our right is kneeling down before the Lord almighty
and commit our ways to Him.

He is our Father and is very capable to care for His children. Praise
the Name of the Lord.

Bill Hekman
Pastor, Calvary Life Fellowship in Indonesia