GLOBAL PRAYER NETWORK: Baliaga, Highland Bali of Indonesia

Senin, 19 Mei 2014

Baliaga, Highland Bali of Indonesia

The Baliaga are a people group residing in several remote villages on the island of Bali. They are considered to be the original inhabitants of the island and were there long before the 16th century arrival of the people group we now know as Balinese. The culture, language, and religion of the Baliaga differ significantly from that of their Balinese neighbors. They maintain a strong sense of cultural identity and still practice unique rituals found nowhere else. It is difficult to distinguish between the culture and religion of the Baliaga people because these are so intertwined. Although they practice the Balinese form of Hinduism, they are also animistic. They worship at various Balinese temples, but also practice a form of ancestor worship.

Ministry Obstacles
Generations of belief in Hinduism mixed with Animism make it quite difficult for a person to comprehend the Gospel when it comes.

Outreach Ideas
Perhaps Christian tourists to the island of Bali will be given an interest in making their trip more fruitful by telling the Baliaga about Jesus, who he is and what he offers to the Baliaga.

Pray for the followers of Christ
Even though there are no known followers of Jesus today among the Baliaga people, pray for the many who will soon come to saving faith. They will need much prayer to completely change their worldview from Hinduism/Animism to an understanding of the one creator God.

Pray for the entire people group
Since most of their villages are located high in the mountains instead of near fertile rice fields, they are limited in the kinds of crops they can grow. Their mountain remoteness and lower economic status causes them to be looked down upon by most Balinese.

Scripture Focus
"...that all the peoples of the earth may know that the Lord is God; there is no one else." 1 Kings 8:60