June 2004: This page is being reconstructed with new information.
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CAMPALAGIAN OF INDONESIA
LOCATION : city of Polmas and the district of Majene in the province of South Sulawesi
POPULATION : 30,000
LANGUAGE : Campalagian
PEOPLE CLUSTER : Bugis
RELIGION : Islam
% OF CHRISTIANITY : 1%
SCRIPTURE : None
RADIO BROADCAST : None
JESUS FILM : None
GOSPEL AUDIO RECORDING : None
The Campalagian people live in the city of Polmas and the district of Majene in the province of South Sulawesi. They live in lowland areas, which are fertile for agriculture. Other names for these people are Tulumpanuae or Tasing. They speak the Campalagian language. The culture of the Campalagian has been influenced by its larger neighbors, namely the Toraja and Bugis people. The languages of Toraja and Bugis have influenced the Campalagian language and consequently there are many similarities.
The Campalagian live as farmers, fishermen, and traders. They also raise water buffalo, goats, cattle, and chickens. The farming community is known as pallaung-ruma, consisting of two groups: pa?galung (farmers of irrigated fields) and pa?dare (farmers of unirrigated fields). The fishermen are known as pakkaja. The tools used distinguish them: pameng use hook and line; pa?bagang use a fishing platform; pajala use nets; pa?belle who use special traps made of long nets. Traders are usually known as padagang or saudagara. Trading is usually done in the city of Campalagian, which is located on the coast.
Marriage among the Campalagian people is still under the direction of the parents, including the selection of a spouse. Unlike some areas, there is already a high school in the city. Health-care seems to be adequate for their needs.
Almost every Campalagian person follows the religion of Islam. This affects societal behavioral patterns in every sector of life. In fact, various elements of Islamic culture are already well integrated into traditional local culture, so that it is difficult to separate them from one another. They also combine traditional animistic beliefs with Islam. This can be seen from their awe in facing invisible spiritual powers. They also use a dukun (shaman/healer/occultist) to heal sicknesses and cast out the evil spirits.
The Campalagian people need help to improve the selling of produce from farming and fishery. Developing infrastructure such as good land and sea transportation could support this. In addition, development of human resources through education is needed. The Campalagian region needs more teachers as well as construction of good schools and repair of existing schools.
PRAYER POINTS
- Pray that God will open the eyes of the Campalagian people who has been blinded and deceive by the enemy by mixing their religion and tradition and has kept them bound for many generations.
- Ask the Lord to call people who are willing to go to the island of Sulawesi and share Christ with the.
- Pray that God will raise up loving Indonesian Christians to reach out to their Muslim neighbors and ask the Holy Spirit to soften the hearts of the Campalagian Muslims towards Christians so that they will be receptive to the Gospel.
- Ask God to strengthen, encourage, and protect the small number of Campalagian Christians.
- Pray that God will raise up qualified linguists to translate the Bible into the Campalagian language and that God will supply Christian resources such as radio, television, and literature to help evangelize the Campalagian.
- Ask the Lord to raise up a strong local church among the Campalagian.
links to related information: www.1040window.org , www.joshuaproject.net
