Acehnese People Group Profile

“Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ” (Philippians 3:8, ESV).

The 4 million Acehnese people live on the northern tip of the island of Sumatra. Islam entered the islands of Indonesia through the Acehnese heartland. In the past, Muslim pilgrims on their way to Mecca would stop in Banda Aceh, the provincial capital. For this reason the city is called the “Terrace of Mecca” to this day.

The Acehnese are known by other Indonesian people groups as being the most dedicated Muslims in Indonesia. They are strict Sunni Muslim and have been instrumental in spreading Islam throughout Indonesia and to other Southeast Asian countries. The Aceh Province is the only area in Indonesia to have instituted Shari’a law. Acehnese will often violently oppose any member of their people group who wants to follow another religion. To be Acehnese is to be Muslim.

Most Acehnese men work as farmers or fishermen. The women handle domestic affairs. Children are expected to help with the household chores from a very young age. Men generally do not involve themselves in household affairs, including child rearing. Inheritance is settled by Islamic law with a double portion going to the men, but homes and land almost always pass to the women.

In 2004 a cataclysmic tsunami swept through the west coast area. Over 150,000 people were killed. Yet, in the aftermath of this disaster many Acehnese learned that Christians are different than what they learned from their religious training. Acehnese became, for a time, more open to outsiders.

There are a handful of believers, but they are fearful of family and community reaction, so they are not bold to share their faith. There is no indigenous Acehnese church.

Pray that:

Believers living among the Acehnese will be bold to share the Gospel daily.

Acehnese believers will be given courage from the Lord to share their faith with family and friends.

Three reproducing and vibrant Acehnese churches will be planted this year.

All ideas set up against the knowledge of God will be brought down by the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit will convict the Acehnese of sin and reveal Jesus as the one path to true righteousness.

The Acehnese will see that Isa [Jesus] is more than just a prophet and they can be Acehnese without being Muslim.

God will not allow those who want to isolate Acehnese from outsiders to succeed.