June 2004: This page is being discontinued.
This people group is no longer on our least reached list.
LAMPUNGESE OF INDONESIA
LOCATION : southernmost tip of Sumatra
POPULATION : 2,000,000
LANGUAGE : Lampung
PEOPLE CLUSTER : Lampung
RELIGION : Orthodox Muslims
% OF CHRISTIANITY : <1% (50 known believers)
SCRIPTURE : None
RADIO BROADCAST : None
JESUS FILM : available
GOSPEL AUDIO RECORDING : available
MISSION AGENCY / CHURCH PLANTING WORKING AMONG THEM: 3
The Lampungese live on the southernmost tip of Sumatra. At one time they were the largest ethnic group living on the island. Today, however, they are outnumbered by the three million Javanese who have been forced by the Indonesian government to relocate in Sumatra over the past twenty years. As a result of these changes, the Lampungese are a people experiencing much bitterness and unrest. The Lampungese are made up of three groups, the Abung who are mountain people who have a history of headhunting and raiding, and the Pubian and Paminggir are lowlanders whose livelihood includes fishing and shipping agricultural goods.
A typical Lampung village consists of houses that are built on poles or stilts. These houses center around one municipal building called a sesat, which is generally a one-room house that has been divided into small rooms where people of different classes sit, also used by the village government to holds its meetings. Lampungese territory is divided into five regions. Each region is then divided into smaller districts, or megas, that are run by male chiefs. Each mega is named for the family living there. Women are not without their places in the Lampungese culture. Those who are of noble rank can be easily recognized by the beautifully elegant clothing they wear while dancing. Many of the Lampungese earn a living as fishermen, while some ship agricultural products to prospective markets, and others are farmers. The recent Javanese migration, however, has forced many of the farmers to move farther north. Others have simply given up farming and turned towards urban centers to find work. One fascinating Lampungese custom is the making of cloth banners that display family ties. Ships, shrines, human and animal figures are some examples of what might be painted onto such banners. These magnificent works of art are displayed during weddings, rituals, and times of crisis.
Islamic influence slowly weakened the Lampungese culture, and local chiefs eventually lost their titles and power. By the 19th century, the Lampungese were directly controlled by the Dutch colonial government. Presently, the Lampungese are devout orthodox Muslims.
Because of the Indonesian government?s unfavorable migration policy, many of the Lampungese feel mistreated and have become very resentful. This bitterness has led to periods of civil unrest and conflicts with the Javanese newcomers. Tragically, the main source of an evangelical witness to the Lampungese is the Javanese Christians. The Lampungese are not generally open to new ideas, so outsiders attempting to work among them would probably meet with much resistance. one element fueling this resistance is their devotion to Islam. There are a reasonable number of Christians from elsewhere (mainly Javanese) now living among the Lampungese. Unfortunately, the Javanese are looked upon unfavorably. There are only about 50 known Lampungese Christians. Although translation of the Scripture into Lampungese language has begun, it is not yet ready for distribution.
PRAYER POINTS
- Pray that the spirit of Islam will be broken over the Lampungese and that their hearts will be opened to the Truth.
- Ask God to create a hunger in the hearts of the Lampungese and an openness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
- Ask the Lord to call loving Javanese Christians who are willing to share the Gospel with the Lampungese.
- Pray that God will raise up other laborers who understand the Muslim culture and who can effectively take the Gospel to the Lampungese.
- Pray that God will encourage the 50 known Lampungese believers. Pray for His protection over them from physical harm.
- Ask God to send qualified linguists to translate the Bible into the Lampungese language. Pray that the translation will be completed quickly.
- Pray that a strong Christian work will be established among the Lampungese.
links to related information: www.joshuaproject.net , http://www.bethanynorth.com/profiles/profile1.html
