Posted on Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Focus UPG: Asilulu of Indonesia

Who they are:

The Asilulu live on the island of Ambon in the villages of Asilulu and Ureng, in the district of Leihitu, Central Maluku Regency, in the province of Maluku. The provinces of North Maluku and Maluku were created from the province of Maluku in 1999. Transportation to the Asilulu area is available both by land and by sea. General transportation is available several times a day to the city of Ambon. The Maluku Islands, historically called the Spice Islands, are a string of over one thousand islands scattered over the eastern portion of Indonesia. They include most of the islands between Sulawesi and New Guinea and between Timor and the Philippines. The Asilulu language is one of the original languages of the island of Ambon and is spoken by people who reside on the west coast. The people in the village of Negri Lima speak a very similar, but different, language sometimes known as Henalima. Historically, the Asilulu language was a trade language for this region, and even now it is not unusual to meet a person from a neighboring island, such as Seram, who can speak the Asilulu language.

The Asilulu are Muslims. As such, they believe they will be judged based on their knowledge of the Qur’an, as well as what they did with their lives. The Asilulu have syncretized Islam with their traditional beliefs. They mix traditional cultural practices and Islamic teachings in many of their events, such as weddings, circumcisions, royal inaugurations, and building of mosques (mesjid).

How we can pray for them today:

Ask God to give the workers the wisdom of God to navigate cultural, political and religious issues for gaining access and favor among an unreached people group can be very tricky.
In every people group there are fathers who love and provide for their children. They each have something in them that connects with our Father in Heaven. Our prayers can focus the attention of the Holy Spirit on one of these fathers.
Ask God to make a way for these people to have their Bible in the language they understand best in their heart. Everyone on the planet has the right to hear the truth of God’s love for them, but many times, Gov. leaders restrict their people from having access to the Gospel. Through prayer we can see this change.

(source: Joshua Project and Prayer Guard)

Posted on Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Focus UPG: Bawean of Indonesia

Who are they?

The Bawean homeland is a 200 square kilometer island 120 kilometers north of Surabaya (East Java) in the middle of the Java Sea. Bawean has been known as the “island of women” because the majority of its inhabitants are women. This is because the men tend to look for employment in other lands. A man from Tanjung Ori village who worked for 20 years in Malaysia said, “A Bawean male is not considered an adult until he has stepped on foreign soil.” Merantau (going to distant lands to seek success) is a major aspect of Bawean culture and it influences almost every other facet of their society. A significant number of the Baweanese reside in Malaysia. In fact, the Baweanese population there far exceeds that found on the island itself, which numbers 60,000 inhabitants. Other areas of Baweanese migration include Perth, Australia and Singapore, where they are known as the Boyanese people.

What language do they speak?

Linguistically speaking, the Bawean dialect is part of Madura language which also includes the dialects of Bangkalan, Pamekasan, Sampang, Sapudi and Sumenep.

What are their beliefs?

Originally the Bawean embraced animistic beliefs. Then Hindu and Buddhist influences entered the island until the 1600’s when the Baweanese people converted to Islam. Their religious devotion is extremely strong and they pride themselves in the fact that 100% of the island’s inhabitants follow Islam. There are many mosques (mesjid), small Islamic prayer houses (musholla) and traditional Islamic schools (pesantren) in every village. Boys and girls from six or seven years of age receive religious instruction including lessons in reciting the Qur’an and sometimes live in the house of a kyai (Islamic teacher). The kyai is greatly respected by the Bawean people.

Do they have a Bible in their language?

Yes.

How can we pray for them?

Words have little meaning, especially in places where physical needs are great. It takes the miraculous to capture the hearts of the people. In places where embracing Christianity means abuse and persecution, believers need to be sure they have accepted the real God. ASK GOD to perform miracles to confirm the Word.
In every people group there are leaders who guide the activities of others. They each have something in them that connects with the God of the universe. Our prayers can focus the attention of the Holy Spirit on one of these leaders today. ASK GOD to give revelations of Him to the leaders.
Everyone on the planet has the right to hear the truth of God’s love for them, but many times, Gov. leaders restrict their people from having access to the Gospel. Through prayer we can see this change. ASK GOD to remove the oppositions.

(Resources: Joshua Project and PrayerGuard.net)

Posted on Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Focus UPG: Wolio of Indonesia

Who are they?

The Wolio (also known as the Baubau, Buton or Butung) primarily live on the island of Buton, around the city of Baubau, but can also be found on Muna, located in the SE Sulawesi province. Their ancestors were immigrants from Johor, Malaysia at the beginning of the 15th century, who also founded the Buton dynasty. In 1540, the sixth king became a follower of Islam. He reshaped the kingdom to become a sultanate and set himself up as the first sultan. The sultanate of Buton lasted until the death of the last sultan in 1960. With his death, the Buton sultanate ended its formal reign, though the influence of Buton is still felt throughout all of the islands in the region. The Wolio are at the heart of the culture of Buton. Buton today is known for its production of asphalt and is currently being explored for oil and other minerals. Many people have moved to other islands to find work. At present, some Wolio people live in the areas of Maluku and Papua.

What language do they speak?

They speak the Wolio language, which is from the Wotu-Wolio language cluster that includes the following languages: Kalao, Laiyolo, Kamaru, Wotu. Arabic is also understood by some and its script is used in religious writings and older written materials in the Wolio language.

What do they believe?

Almost all Wolio have beliefs centered in Sufi Islam. According to their teachings, they practice mediation in order to receive visions from God, or to find hidden truths far beyond their own reasoning. Belief in reincarnation is also adhered to as a result of Hindu influence. They also believe that evil spirits cause illnesses to occur while helpful spirits give guidance.

Do they have Bible or partial of the Bible, or other materials?

How can we pray for them?

Ask God to give wisdom and strategies to the workers to gain access and favor among the people group. Workers need the wisdom of God to navigate cultural, political and religious issues.
Ask God to touch the people’s hearts and give them hunger for Him and His word.
Ask God to reveal the culture keys.

(Resources: Prayerguard and Joshua Project.)

Posted on Monday, September 30, 2013

Bible Translation Day

Today is the Bible Translation Day.

It is all began in 1966. When Uncle Cam, Wycliffe Founder, for the first time he shared the idea with Oklahoma Senator Fred Harris, his friend of several years.

“September 30 is St. Jerome’s Day,” Cam said. “He’s the first translator of the whole Bible. I thought maybe we could get the House and Senate to pass a resolution calling for the president to proclaim September 30 as Bible Translation Day.”

Harris liked the idea and agreed to propose the resolution in the Senate. Soon Cam received word that the resolution passed! On September 30, 1966, a ceremony was held to proclaim that day as Bible Translation Day.

In the years since Cam first started Wycliffe, 518 language groups have received the entire Bible and 1,275 have the New Testament in the language they understand best. Additionally, over 1,500 Bible translation projects are currently in process.

Today, Wycliffe continues to carry on the tradition of celebrating Bible Translation Day. With unwavering focus towards the unfinished task at hand, Wycliffe seeks to pursue the goal that Cam so eloquently laid out in his speech—that of bring the translated Word of God into every language that still needs it.

(source: Wycliffe Blog)

Do you wanna know why Bible Translations? Here’s why:

This is why we do what we do, this is why we want to go. So that these people will have the Word, their lives will be transformed by the power of God’s word and they will worship the only one true God in Jesus’ name.

Posted on Friday, September 27, 2013

His Plan, His Purpose, His Way

This was his eternal plan,
which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord.
(Ephesians 3:11 NLT)God’s plan is eternal for He himself is eternal God. His salvation plan is for eternal. Can you imagine that if God ever had set a certain time for everyone to repent? I would be lost. Thankful that He is so patient with us & waiting for everyone to repent and be saved.

God has planned us, His Church, to GO, SHARE the Gospel & DISPLY God’s wisdom to the world. Often we feel safe & comfy just being in the church, don’t want to step out of our comfort zone. Honestly, I feel safe for my kids to just be in church environment & Christian communities all the time so they won’t sin. But how do I know what is exactly in their hearts? But God know. Can I know what they will do before hand? no! But God can. He has their future in His hands & He is the one who plan their lives. I cannot control the future but He does.

What I am trying to say here is that keeping ourselves away from the world (we are still lhere, on earth!) is not gonna keep us holy and righteous. God himself with His grace who saved us from who we were before (Ephesians 2:11-12). God makes us holy. God makes us righteous. God makes us who we are in Christ. And he has a purpose when He call us , adopt us into His family, saved us. He has planned for us to go, share the Good News with the world, and display His wisdom & love to the world so that they may know who He is.

If we just be in our comfort zone all the time, then how these unsaved, unreached people will know who God is and what Jesus has done for them?

This one God spoke to me personally this morning. That I have the access, He has opened to door for me to enter His presence, why didn’t I go boldly to Him, instead I keep everything inside my heart? There are things I cannot share with others, just don’t know how to say it. I even do not know how to pray about it. But here’s the truth:

– Through Christ, I have the way to Go to the Father (John 14:1-14). That is absolute promise of God.
– God give me the Holy Spirit (John 14:15-30), the One who will pray foe us in our weakness according to the will of God (Romans 8:26-30). That is the work of the Holy Spirit in us, believers.

Don’t you just love how He KNOWS each of us so well and know exactly each of our need right now? Oh Yes He always answers you every time you seek Him,talk to Him and wait for His answer.

And…one more reminder for me and you….

So please don’t lose heart because of my trials here. I am suffering for you, so you should feel honored. (Ephesians 3:13)

Yes I often lose heart when I was in trials. God command me not to lose heart in the battle for He is with me and it is all for the benefit of His glory and others to come to know Him. Our sufferings and trials are for His glory to be made known. In our weakness, God is there and He reveals His power for the others to see that God is God, the sovereign One.

I cannot stand by myself in the trials, and for that I really need YOU to pray with me and for me, so I can stand in His promises! Would you be praying for me?

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