Alas in Indonesia

Alas in Indonesia The majority of the Alas people live in villages and make their living from farming and raising livestock. The Alas area is considered the lumbung padi (rice storehouse) of the Aceh area. The culture of the Alas emphasizes two types of law. The first type consists of religious laws that are given by God and cannot be changed. The second type consists of traditional laws, which include rules that have been made by the leaders of the community. Generally, the Alas people are followers of Islam, but they still seek the assistance of a dukun (shaman/healer/occultist). They perform ceremonies so that their crops will prosper. Ministry Obstacles The Alas reside in Aceh province, an area with a long history of resistance to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Outreach Ideas Much prayer is needed for the Alas people. Prayer to prepare their hearts to understand and believe, and prayer for workers. Pray for the followers of Christ Pray for the few Christian believers among the Alas people. They need outside prayer support. Pray they will not waver in their commitment to Christ, and will be able to encourage each other. Pray for the entire people group Educational and economic development are greatly needed by the Alas. Southeast Aceh has great potential for tourism, agriculture and mining, but it has not yet been tapped. Scripture Focus "For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea." Habakkuk 2:14		People Name: Alas Country: Indonesia 10/40 Window: Yes Population: 87,000 World Population: 87,000 Language: Batak Alas-Kluet Primary Religion: Islam Bible: None Online Audio NT: No Jesus Film: No Audio Recordings: No Christ Followers: Few, less than 2% Status: Unreached Progress Level: 1.1