VIEWPOINT MAGAZINE Volume 2.2 | Page 15

UPGs Reach Out to Java Pesisir Lor By EunBin Cho The Java Pesisir Lor is an Indonesian sub–ethnic group under the main group of Javanese. Although they speak Javanese, they are very direct and aggressive unlike the rest of the reserved and easy-going Javanese. Their population of 34,074,000 live in small cities of Central Java, West Java, and Southwest Java. They build bamboo-framed houses and modern brick homes side by side, which form a closely connected community. The 97.20 % of the Java Pesisir Lor practice Sunni Islam. Therefore, they put priority in reading their Qur’an, which is believed to be a revelation from God. There are two distinct groups among these Muslims: the mystic “abangan’ and the orthodox “santri.” The mystic Muslims perform religious ritual, “Selametan Rasulan,” to earn favor and receive blessings from Mohammed and other spirits. In contrast, Orthodox Muslims mediate Sheik Abdul Kadir Jaelani’s holy book, Manaqib, in order to earn favor. This region with highly populated Muslims is part of the 10/40 Window, the area that includes majority of world’s Muslims, Hindus, and Buddhists and high concentration of UPG’s. Among the Java Pesisir Lor people, only 2.80% define themselves as Christians. This small group of people face persecution from their world. Because there are very few missionaries in the region, the progress of the Christian mission is very slow. Although some evangelical resources are available, active church planting has been banned in the past years. We live in the same island, Java, with the Java Pesisir Lor people. However, most of us are not aware of these unreached people and the persecuted Christians. Because Jesus gave us the mission to go out and make disciples of all nations, we have the responsibility to reach out to these people. Though not everyone is available to move into the mission field and spread the gospel, every one can pray for these people, because prayer is the way that every single Christian can get involved in mission. We should pray that the Holy Spirit will reveal himself to many Muslims through the few Christians and missionaries in the area; and that God will strengthen and bless these persecuted Christians. Source : http://www.joshuaproject.net/people-profile.php?peo3=12334&rog3=ID 14