June 2004: This page is being reconstructed with new information.
The information on this page may no longer be accurate.
Penghulu (Jambi, Riau) of Indonesia
The people group information (in general) about the PENGHULU (Jambi, Riau) of Indonesia quoted from: www.joshuaproject.net
State / Province / Island:Sumatra
Language Spoken:Melayu, Penghulu
Population of People in this Country:25,000
Population of Language Speakers in the World:25,000
% Christians of this People in this Country:Unknown
# of Evangelicals of this People in this Country:0
% Evangelicals of this People in this Country:0%
Affinity Block Name:Malay Peoples
People Cluster:Jambi
Complete Bible:1733
New Testament:1668
Bible Portions:1629
Jesus Film:Yes
Christian Radio Broadcast:FEBC
Audio Recording of Gospel:Yes
Below are the additional information about the related people of Penghulu, the Riau Malay and the Jambi Malay of Eastern Sumatra, Indonesia.
The Riau Malay live in the eastern side of the island of Sumatra. The Riau Malay are, by far, the largest and most dominant ethnic group in the Riau province. Most of the Riau Malay see themselves as open, friendly, and accepting of newcomers. They feel that these characteristics have been an important part of their history, since for centuries they have lived in cordial proximity to the Buginese-Makassarese, Chinese, and Javanese.
Nearly two-thirds of Riau's citizens work as farmers, harvesting products from the rubber, palm oil, and gambir trees. Large fisheries harvest and export shrimp, fish, and a variety of fish products. Due to intermingling with the Minangkabau, Chinese, Javanese, and Buginese, there are a variety of family structures among the Riau peoples. For many Malay families, the mother is the dominant figure. In these cases, the husband is considered a superficial figure whose only role is to help produce children.
The Riau Malay are nearly 100% Muslim. Besides the teachings of Islam and its heavy influence on the culture, the Riau Malay also have strong beliefs in superstition and spirits. These superstitions affect their lives to varying degrees. Many Riau Malay often write verses of the Koran and hide them in charms that they wear. Dukuns or witchdoctors are often called upon to heal the sick or cast out evil spirits.
The Riau Malay are taught from childhood that Islam alone is the only true religion for their people and that the Gospel of the orang Nasrani (Christian people) has been corrupted. Riau Malay Islam is wedded to their customs and culture. They are taught to despise all other religions and oppose anyone who tries to introduce any "foreign" religious alternative. On the other hand, they are more interested, curious, and willing to listen than many other peoples in Indonesia who share a high level of emotional attachment to Islam and rejection of Christianity.
People name: Riau Malay
Population: (2000) 2,168,200
Largest religion: Muslim mixed w/ traditional beliefs 99.9%
Christian: <1%
Church members: 220
Scriptures in their own language: Bible
Jesus Film in their own language: Available
Christian broadcasts in their own language: Available
Mission agencies working among this people: 5
The Jambi Malay live in Sumatra, Indonesia. Their name originates from the territory in eastern Sumatra that they occupy, which is near the ancient capital of the Malay world, Melayu. The region is specifically located in the area south of the Kuala River, through the mainland Riau and the Jambi province.
Agriculture dominates the lives of the Jambi Malay. Their chief products include rubber, tobacco, palm oil, rice, corn, and resin. Many of these and other crops are exported to other countries including the United States. Today, the forested areas where the Jambi Malay live are being targeted by the Indonesian government for timber. This has forced some of the remaining tribal groups into the more modern world. The Jambi Malay organize their society around the family. Traditional settlements consisted of 20 to 30 people living in houses made of bamboo and leaves. Traditionally, Jambi Malay men are allowed to take as many wives as they desire. There is no special celebration surrounding the wedding ceremony. Instead, a village elder "announces" the couple to the rest of the tribe, and the ceremony is finished.
It is said that to be Malay is to be Muslim, and the Jambi Malay consider themselves to be Malay. Ever since the Islamic religion was introduced in Indonesia years ago, the teachings of Mohammed have flourished there. Today, they are 100% Sunni (orthodox) Muslims. Although the Jambi Malay are devout Muslims, they also ascribe to some of their traditional tribal beliefs. For instance, they believe that every person is made of three parts: material (sipat), spirit or thinking matter (roh), and health producing matter (njawa). They believe that after death, the njawa and the roh leave the body. The head religious man is known as the malim, and he is responsible for holding exorcisms, religious ceremonies, and seances. These beliefs, often called adat (tradition), are frequently at odds with Islamic teachings.
The Jambi Malay are a people that are friendly and courteous. Perhaps this hospitality will open doors for Christian workers to form relationships with them. Government exploration and extraction of timber and oil from the island of Sumatra have brought numerous cultural changes to the tribal groups. They are being forced to leave their traditional lifestyles and enter into a faster paced, modern world. Proper education is needed to help prepare these people to cope with the cultural changes. Christian teachers and social workers are needed to go to Sumatra and work among the Jambi Malay.
- People name: Jambi Malay
- Population: (2000) 941,100
- Largest religion: Muslim (Sunni) 100%
- Christians: 0%
- Church members: 0
- Scriptures in their own language: None
- Jesus Film in their own language: None
- Christian broadcasts in their own language: Available
- Mission agencies working among this people: 1
Prayer Points for Riau Malays and Jambi Malays
- Ask the Lord of the harvest to send forth laborers into Indonesia to work among the Riau Malay and the Jambi Malay.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to grant wisdom and favor to the missions agencies, missionary groups or church planters that are targeting the Riau Malay and Jambi Malay.
- Pray that God will give the Riau Malay believers boldness to share Christ with their own people.
- Take authority over the spiritual principalities and powers that are keeping the Riau Malay and Jambi Malay bound for a long time.
- Ask God to raise up prayer teams who will begin breaking up the soil through intercession.
- Ask the Lord to bring forth a triumphant Riau Malay and Jambi Malay church for the glory of His name!
- Ask the Lord to save key leaders among the Riau Malay and Jambi Malay who will boldly declare the Gospel.
- Ask God to anoint the Gospel as it goes forth via radio in their area.
links to related information: http://www.bethanynorth.com/profiles/profile1.html
