Photo from Bangka

Pray for the Bangka Malay and for Sumatrans all over the island to build their lives on an eternal foundation.

Not Just a Car Model

This man in Riau is making a nisan or grave-marker out of cement and ceramic tile. This type of headstone is very common on Sumatra. There are different types of nisan used for Christians and Muslims. Usually the businesses who make nisan are located next to the cemetery.

Death is a reality that every Sumatran will have to face. Most people here on the island prefer not to think about it, but all acknowledge the truth that death is an impending appointment for every person. The important question is how to best prepare for that appointment.

The common belief on Sumatra is that good works is the best method to prepare to meet God. They are often unclear about how much “good work” is needed to balance “bad deeds.” The idea of a mediator who steps in to pay the sin debt seems too good to be true.

Death is coming for every man. And in the history of the world death only gave back one man because He never did any “bad deeds.” Jesus is that man, and He gave the great sacrifice once for all to pay the sin debt of those who believe upon His finished work.

Sumatrans need to hear about the great substitutionary death of Jesus and the Good News that there is another way to prepare for the inevitable meeting with God after death. That way is the way of grace through faith. After all, by good works no one is justified before Holy God.

Pray for the people on Sumatra who are trusting in good works to realize that they are not able to pay their own sin debt.

Pray for Christ followers to be bold to share the Good News about how Jesus has already paid the sin debt for those who believe upon His finished work at Calvary.

Pray for the Holy Spirit to bring deep conviction of sin to the peoples of Sumatra so that they can repent before it is too late.

Connected

It is becoming more and more common to see Sumatrans on tablets or other mobile devises like this Minangkabau man photographed in Pekanbaru. With greater access to the internet and to information, many Sumatrans are being exposed to a wide range of ideologies, unfortunately many of these ideas are not of the Lord.

At a recent prayer gathering one worker heard a mother lamenting the wide-spread problem with young men and pornography in her community. The ideas of sexual freedom are pervasive on the internet. Unfortunately what is purported as “freedom” is actually bondage.

Another unexpected side-effect of being “connected” on the internet is a social disconnect from the people around you. Sumatran cultures have always been highly social, connected cultures; but as more people get plugged into technology that social fabric is starting to fray.

There are many wonderful things about technology, but the dark-side of what is out there on the World Wide Web only serves to highlight that we are all sinners in need of a Savior. The challenge for many people on Sumatra is that they have no connection to people who are able and or willing to share the Good News of how they can be set free from the bondage of sin.

Pray for the people of Sumatra to come under deep conviction of sin.

Pray for believers on Sumatra to be courageous to share what they know with people who need to know the Savior.

Pray for wisdom for Sumatrans to navigate the dark-side of technology that is becoming available to them.

Where's the Beef?

Seeing cows on the side of the road or in a soccer field is common here on Sumatra. Every year Muslims celebrate Idul Adah. On the way to church one worker witnessed several cows like the ones pictured here being sacrificed. Many Muslims believe that giving towards the sacrifice on Idul Adah will help to pay for their sins. Some people even write out their sins and put them under the blood as the animal is being sacrificed.

In one city on Sumatra there were signs of sacrificial animals with seats on their backs. The sign said, “Let me carry you to heaven.”

The meat from the sacrifice is supposed to be given to poor Muslims. This again is seen as a meritorious good work that will pay a person’s sin debt. The friend of one worker was on the committee that decided who gets the meat from the sacrifice. This man offered some of the meat to the worker. This is extremely ironic because the worker is neither poor nor Muslim.

The idea of sacrifice is deeply pictured in the Old Testament, which Muslims accept as being stories from God. What many Muslims do not know is the story of the Great Sacrifice of the Lamb of God. Believers on Sumatra have an incredible opportunity and responsibility to share this important story with their friends and neighbors. If people here are ever to have their sins paid for, they need more than the blood of bulls, sheep, and goats. These sacrifices are not able to carry them to heaven.

Pray for believers to overcome their fears and boldly share the story of the Great Sacrifice with their friends and neighbors who are still trying to pay for their own sins through good works.

Pray for the Holy Spirit to reveal to Sumatrans the insufficiency of the blood of animals to atone for the wages of sin.

Pray for God to visit all the peoples on Sumatra with the knowledge of the truth that can set people free and give them eternal life.

Duano People Group Profile

“Mightier than the thunders of many waters, mightier than the waves of the sea, the LORD on high is mighty!” (Psalm 93:4, ESV).

The Duano sometimes refer to themselves as Desin Dolaq which in their language means “sea-people.” They are indigenous to Sumatra and the Riau islands, but a large group of Duano migrated to the area near Johor, Malaysia within the past two centuries. There are currently 15,000 Duano living on Sumatra and the Riau islands. They are historically a sea going people or sea nomads. The Duano speak a variation of the Malay dialect. In large the Duano live like most other Malay people groups.

Most Duano make their living by fishing and harvesting foods from the sea. Duano tend to live simple lives and many do not seek much education. They also tend to be of a lower economic status compared with neighboring people groups.

The Duano are Muslim, but they also maintain many of their animistic beliefs. They have strong beliefs about the spirit world and what must be done to appease the spirits to avoid problems. There are some Duano believers in Malaysia, but there are no known believers in Sumatra among this people group.

Pray that:

God will call workers to go and live among and share the Gospel broadly with the Duano.

The Holy Spirit will prepare hearts among the Duano to hear and respond to the Gospel.

New Duano believers will be effectively grouped with other believers and taught to be obedient followers of Christ.

New believers will have courage to face persecution from family and friends.

Believers from Malaysia from among the Duano will be burdened to reach out to the Duano in Indonesia.

Duano believers will show that Christ is greater than the spirits they used to fear.

The Duano people will come to know the God who is mightier than the waves of the sea.

Photo from Bangka

Unbearably Cute!

Similar to America, it’s not unusual to see cars decorated like this one for a wedding. Weddings are big events and it is normal for the family to collect money from the larger family. One cross-cultural worker related how her house helper was asked by her family to donate her entire salary for several months to help pay for a wedding. It’s a source of shame to the entire family to not be able to afford a big wedding.

At the end of time there is going to be a huge wedding feast. Jesus is the bridegroom, and the Father is going to go to great expense to make everything extraordinary for those invited to attend. The shame involved in missing this big wedding makes the shame families feel on Sumatra to be light and momentary. The only people invited are those who are part of the bride of Christ.

Pray for Christ’s bride on Sumatra to grow in both number, maturity, and beauty.

Pray for the lost on Sumatra to hear the invitation to the wedding feast and to receive it with great joy.

Pray for the powers of darkness on Sumatra to be bound so that the Gospel will be received by many people.

Offerings on Wheels

These little offering boxes were in the grand mosque (Muslim place of worship) in Pekanbaru. During their services the boxes are rolled down the carpet in front of the people who are kneeling to worship. Mosques don’t have chairs or benches. People kneel on their knees throughout the services.

Giving to charity is one of the 5 pillars of Islam. Muslims believe that participating in the good works outlined in the 5 pillars will pay their sin debt. It is a difficult process, because Muslims never know for certain when their observance of good works is enough to cancel the debts they incur when they sin.

Those who do poorly at following the rules often shrug their shoulders with resignation that they are going to hell for who knows how long. Those who do well are often proud and look down on others. Unfortunately, good works will not pay mankind’s sin debt. Only the blood of Jesus is a sufficient offering to satisfy the righteous requirements of Holy God.

Pray for the peoples of Sumatra to hear about the blood offering that pays for sin.

Pray for those who do well at following rules and those who do not to come to realize the Good News that Jesus Christ welcomes them to come and be made clean.

Pray for the Spirit to prepare the hearts of the more than 1 million people living in Pekanbaru to hear and respond to the Gospel.

Pray for believers in Pekanbaru to be bold and courageous to share the Gospel with their friends, coworkers, neighbors, and family.