Rawas People Group Profile

“He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him” (Psalm 126:6 ESV).

The 200,000 Rawas live on fertile, productive land in southern Sumatra. They have expansive rubber plantations as well as the production of many popular fruits such as oranges, mangoes, pineapples, papaya, rambutan and durian. They also raise livestock such as ducks, chickens, goats and water buffaloes. When it comes to food production, they are self-sufficient.

The Rawas language is a form of Malay. Many of their traditional dances come from the Malay forms such as Tari Piring (Plate Dance) and Tari Pisau (Knife Dance). The Rawas also enjoy pencak silat (an Indonesian form of martial arts).

The Rawas are devout in their adherence to Sunni Islam. They strictly follow Ramadan and have festive celebrations of all the Muslim holidays. Their marriage and burial ceremonies are in accordance with Muslim beliefs. They often wear carved objects with Islamic motif or design as a charm.

There are no known believers among the Rawas, and no indigenous Rawas church. The Rawas are a tight knit, interconnected community and outside influences are limited.

Pray that:

Malaria is common in Rawas areas. This is perhaps their only felt need. Pray that Christian doctors and healthcare workers will show the Rawas the love of Christ through treatment of and preventative measures against Malaria.

The Holy Spirit will reveal the true wages of sin to the Rawas and show them the true righteousness that can only be found through faith in Jesus.

God will send workers to live among and share the Gospel with the Rawas.

Entire families and communities will come to faith together.

Agricultural innovations will open doors for Christian farmers to work with and share the Gospel with Rawas farmers.

God will burden believers living on Sumatra to adopt the Rawas in prayer and in outreach efforts.

First fruit believers will soon be born again among the Rawas.