July 7th, 2024

Psalm 119: 41–48

Let your steadfast love come to me, O Lord,
your salvation according to your promise;
then shall I have an answer for him who taunts me,
for I trust in your word.
And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth,
for my hope is in your rules.
I will keep your law continually,
forever and ever,
and I shall walk in a wide place,
for I have sought your precepts.
I will also speak of your testimonies before kings
and shall not be put to shame,
for I find my delight in your commandments,
which I love.
I will lift up my hands toward your commandments, which I love,
and I will meditate on your statutes.

Mbojo (mm-boh-JOH) in Indonesia

Religion & Geography
Largest Religion: Islam
% Evangelical:  0.06% 
Population: 843,000

The Mbojo are also called the Oma ("move") because they often move from one place to another. The main livelihood of the Mbojo is farming. Bima women are usually skilled at making plaited mats from bamboo and palm leaves. The village leader is assisted by highly respected village elders. The Mbojo are not closed to outside influence. Although most Mbojo are devout Muslims, they still believe in spirits and practice forms of animism, even still visiting healers, who are numerous in the area. The Mbojo are afraid of local gods like Batara Gangga (chief of the gods), Batara Guru, Idadari Sakti and Jeneng, as well as other spirit types called Bake and Jin, which live in trees and high mountains. They also believe in sacred trees in Kalate and Murmas, where the god Batara and the gods of Rinjani Mountain dwell.Fear of offending the local gods will make it difficult for the Mbojo to place their faith in Christ.

In the 1930s, hundreds of Mbojo in the mountain areas around Dompu heard the gospel and received it. Today there are four villages in the mountains with a 'Christian' population of 90 percent, but they do not fully understand the Gospel. They are very isolated and poor. Medical assistance is greatly needed, especially for the Mbojo who only make use of the healers. They also need agricultural training and farming equipment. Helping increase the people's awareness of the benefits they could find in the ocean would help improve their economic state.

Advancing Christ’s Kingdom

Are there people you have shared the gospel with recently? Let us pray for those seeds to take root.

Are there people you are seeking to engage with the gospel? Let us pray for opportunity, boldness, and the Lord's salvation. 

Are you burdened by anything in our community? Let us take it to the Lord. 

In what other ways can we pray for Christ’s kingdom to advance in our region?