Bajau of Indonesia

Bajau of Indonesia The Bajau (sometimes referred to as Sea Gypsies) are a highly mobile maritime people group found throughout the coastal areas of Sulawesi, Maluku, Kalimantan, Sumatra, and East Nusa Tenggara. Two to six families will group together in an alliance to regularly fish and anchor together, often sharing food, nets, and gear, and pooling labor. The Bajau are Sunni Muslim of the Shafi'i school. Claims to religious piety and learning are an important source of individual prestige. Among boat dwelling communities in particular, community shamans (dukun) assemble at least once a year for a public sance and nightly trance dancing. Ministry Obstacles The nomadic lifestyle of these people makes it difficult to establish any kind of long term relationship with them. Outreach Ideas Pray for the distribution of Gospel recordings (which are available) to the Bajau people. Pray these will be valued by the people, and passed from person to person. Pray for the followers of Christ There are few if any followers of Jesus among the Bajau, but pray for those who will soon come to Christ. Pray they will clearly understand who Jesus is, and not mix the purity of the Gospel with superstition and a religion of works. Pray for the entire people group The Bajau need infrastructure development and renovations in the areas of health and education. Medical workers, facilities, and services in their communities are very inadequate. Many Bajau are illiterate, partially due to their nomadic lifestyle. Scripture Focus "But indeed, as I live, all the earth will be filled with the glory of the Lord." Numbers 14:21		People Name: Bajau Country: Indonesia 10/40 Window: Yes Population: 167,000 World Population: 167,000 Language: Bajau, Indonesian Primary Religion: Islam Bible: None Online Audio NT: No Jesus Film: No Audio Recordings: Yes Christ Followers: Few, less than 2% Status: Unreached Progress Level: 1.1