Northern Sinama - Un-Reached People Group Of Malaysia

Population : 30,000
Location : island of Sabah
Language : Balangingi Sama
Religion : Sunni Muslims
% Christians in this country : unknown
Scripture : Portions (1981)
Jesus film : none
Christian Radio Broadcast : none
Gospel audio recording : none
Mission Agency / church planting working among them : 0

The Northern Sinama belong to a larger people group known as the Sama. Today, the majority of the Northern Sinama live in the Philippines. The Northern Sinama of Malaysia live on the island of Sabah. They speak the Balangingi dialect of the Sama-Bajau language group.

The lives of the Northern Sinama revolve around fishing, seafaring, and trade, with some farming along the coastal strips. Throughout much of Sulu and eastern Sabah, copra (the meat of the coconut from which coconut oil is derived) is the major cash crop. Copra holdings are small, and few families own enough palms to support themselves entirely from copra sales. Trade has also long occupied a central place in Northern Sinama society. Since long ago, seafarers were valued as suppliers of trepang (sea cucumbers), dried fish, pearls, pearl shells, and other marine commodities. Settlements, particularly those near the coastlines, are dense clusters of houses situated along well-protected stretches of shoreline. Houses, which are raised one to three meters above the ground or highest water mark, usually consist of a single rectangular room with an attached kitchen. Houses built over the water are connected by small bridges or planks. Households are grouped in clusters and selects a cluster head to act as cluster spokesman. The Northern Sinama live near their families and maintain close ties with their relatives. Sometimes, clusters and parishes are one and the same. Among the Northern Sinama, both men and women share in agricultural labor and engage in trade.

All Northern Sinama are Shafiite Sunni Muslims although some are animist.

Since the early 1970's, the fight for independence has resulted in massive relocation of the islanders to other parts of the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia. Muslim extremists are still very active and there have been numerous murders, kidnappings, and battles with the Philippine military forces. These fiercely independent people need to find their identity and future in Jesus in order to know peace.

Ask the Lord to send forth laborers into Malaysia to work among the Northern Sinama.
Pray that the Jesus film and other Christian resources will soon be made available to the Malaysian Northern Sinama.
Ask God to provide a Gospel witness to go forth via radio in their area.
Pray that God will reveal Himself to the Northern Sinama through dreams and visions.
Pray that God will give the Northern Sinama believers boldness to share Christ with their own people.
Take authority over the spiritual principalities and powers that are keeping the Northern Sinama bound.
Ask God to raise up prayer teams who will begin breaking up the spiritual soil of Malaysia through worship and intercession.
Ask the Lord to bring forth a triumphant Northern Sinama church for the glory of His name!