GLOBAL PRAYER NETWORK: Mbojo of Indonesia

Jumat, 19 Juli 2013

Mbojo of Indonesia

The Mbojo are also called the Oma ("move") because they often move from one place to another. The main livelihood of the Mbojo is farming. Bima women are usually skilled at making plaited mats from bamboo and palm leaves. The village leader is assisted by highly respected village elders. The Mbojo are not closed to outside influence. Although most Mbojo are devout Muslims, they still believe in spirits and practice forms of animism, even still visiting healers, who are numerous in the area. The Mbojo are afraid of local gods like Batara Gangga (chief of the gods), Batara Guru, Idadari Sakti and Jeneng, as well as other spirit types called Bake and Jin, which live in trees and high mountains. They also believe in sacred trees in Kalate and Murmas, where the god Batara and the gods of Rinjani Mountain dwell.

Ministry Obstacles
Fear of offending the local gods will make it difficult for the Mbojo to place their faith in Christ.

Outreach Ideas
Pray for workers to disciple the few people who would identify themselves as Christians.

Pray for the followers of Christ
In the 1930s, hundreds of Mbojo in the mountain areas around Dompu heard the gospel and received it. Today there are four villages in the mountains with a 'Christian' population of 90 percent, but they do not fully understand the Gospel. They are very isolated and poor.

Pray for the entire people group
Medical assistance is greatly needed, especially for the Mbojo who only make use of the healers. They also need agricultural training and farming equipment. Helping increase the people's awareness of the benefits they could find in the ocean would help improve their economic state.

Scripture Focus
"Having an eternal gospel to preach to those who live on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people." Revelation 14:6