Mandailing People Group Focus

“How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?” (Romans 10:14, ESV).

The 800,000 Mandailing primarily live in the South Tapanuli Regency of North Sumatra Province. The Mandailing are related to the Batak people groups, who are primarily Christian. The Mandailing are often quick to clarify that they are not Christian; they are Muslim. If a Mandailing person follows Jesus, they are no longer called Mandailing; they become Angkola.

Most Mandailing work as rice farmers. “Look for children and look for land” is an oft quoted Mandailing proverb. If you own your own land and have children, then you are a success. Not having children is a disgrace to the family. While individual families work the land as if they owned it, they cannot sell the land without permission from the community.

The Minangkabau introduced the Mandailing to Islam, and most Mandailing adhere to a form of folk Islam. Many traditional Mandailing ceremonies have been adapted to fit a Muslim context. They believe a person’s spirit can be taken; special ceremonies are done to reunite a person with his spirit.

There are several Angkola churches, but still, less than 1% of the total population is saved.

Pray that:

The Holy Spirit will convict of sin among the Mandailing people.

God will burden Angkola believers to pray for and share the Gospel with the Mandailing.

Believers will live in a way that shows the Mandailing that Jesus is stronger than any other spirit.

Angkola believers will obey Christ’s commands and not just put Christianity on top of animistic beliefs.

God will send out workers to serve the Mandailing.

Revival will break out among the other Batak people groups. Many Mandailing people reject Christianity because of what they see in the lives of their Batak cousins.

Equipped, obedient believers will be led to people of peace among the Mandailing.