Gayo People Group Profile

“‘But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it’” (Matthew 13:16-17, NIV).

The 300,000 Gayo live in the Aceh province of Northern Sumatra. The heart of their area is the Gayo Highlands of the passes of the Bukit Barisan mountain range. Most of the Gayo work as coffee farmers, but they are also known as fishermen and craftsmen. Kerawang Gayo is a famous handicraft that features fine gold embroidery. The Gayo have a strong oral tradition. Stories are passed down from generation to generation in traditional Gayo poems.

Most Gayo follow Islam, but they are typically not as strict as their Acehnese neighbors. There are noticeably less Mosques in Gayo communities than in Acehnese areas. Many Gayo still believe in good and bad spirits. They revere holy men, both living and dead, and often make offerings to them for guidance with life problems and spiritual protection.

 

There are only a few known believers and no existing Gayo church. The Gayo have great needs in the areas of agriculture development, healthcare and education. While area officials have traditionally been resistant to allowing outside assistance into Gayo communities, they themselves have not done much to meet the needs of the Gayo people.

Pray that:

God will reveal to the Gayo about the wisdom and protection available in Christ is greater than the spirits that they fear or the holy men they revere.

God will burden believers already living among the Gayo to reach out and share the Gospel with their neighbors.

Doors will open for believers to meet some of the community development needs in Gayo communities.

Believers seeking to reach the Gayo will have wisdom, courage, spiritual protection and unity.

God will call more workers to live among and reach out to the Gayo.

New believers will be gathered, grown and turned loose to reach their own people group.

God will protect new believers from persecution and spiritual attacks.

Flying Sharks

This photo was taken on the beach in Padang, Sumatra. Beaches are wonderful gathering places for people. You often see people have picnic meals, playing soccer, and flying kites. Most kites in Indonesia are homemade. Some are very simple, while others, like the flying shark, are elaborate.

The skill of kite making is normally passed down from father to son. While the fathers make the kites it’s unusual to see Indonesian men with their children flying kites. When it happens it’s a beautiful thing, as many children on Sumatra feel disconnected and abandoned by their fathers.

Pray for the fathers on Sumatra to be more involved in the lives of their children.

Pray for the church to have wisdom to equip and challenge fathers to succeed in their Biblical role of fatherhood.

Pray for the fatherless on Sumatra to find the love of their Heavenly Father, through Jesus the Son.

Gambling with Eternity

This photo could have been taken anywhere on the island of Sumatra. Drinking, smoking and gambling are widespread social problems among the men of Sumatra. The worker who took this photo asked permission before he took the picture. Many enthusiastically agreed, but as the picture was taken many other men covered their faces. They knew in their hearts that gambling was wrong, but they do it anyway. Many of them are spending money at the expense of their wives and children.

Spiritual gambling is also a widespread problem on Sumatra. When asked about the methods they use to pay their sin debts many Sumatrans respond with a variety of possible good works – praying, fasting, giving to the poor, and doing good deeds. When asked if they are certain that those good works will completely pay their sin debt they respond that they hope so, but only God knows. When these same Sumatrans hear about the finished work of Jesus on the cross that can give them confidence that their sin debt is paid in full, they often still prefer the gamble of trusting in their good works and following their religious traditions.

Pray that God will set many Sumatran men free from addictions to alcohol and gambling that are devastating families across the island of Sumatra.

Pray for the Holy Spirit to reveal the truth of the Gospel to Sumatrans so that they are willing to forsake their traditions in order to receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

Pray for believers on Sumatra to be bold to share the Gospel that alone can set people free from their religious gambling that is putting their eternal souls in danger.