Dayaks are the native people groups in the Kalimantan Island. The Sanggau-Sekadau group lives in the areas of Sanggau and Sekadau, which are separated by only about an hour’s travel by public transportation. Dayaks become Sanggau-Sekadau Muslims either as individuals, in a family, or together with all the people in a larger group. The term “Dayak Senganan” refers to a group of Dayaks who are Muslims, who claim themselves as Sekadau Malay. The Sanggau-Sekadau live mostly around the capital cities of the Sanggau and Sekadau regencies in East Kalimantan.

Mystical influences, however, are still evident in their lives. A shaman is an important figure in their society, but they are considered poor because of the many prohibitions placed upon them. Some have changed religions for personal reasons while others have married with a Muslim Melayu transmigrant.

The specific factors involved in their changing of religion have been obscured by several generations of time. The Sanggau-Sekadau group is part of the Dayak ethnolinguistic grouping called the Land Dayak which also includes the Bakati, Bakati Rara (Serawak, Malaysia), Bakati Sara, Bidayuh (Serawak, Malaysia), Jangkang, Kembayan, Ribun, Semandang and Benyadu.

The Trans-Kalimantan road crosses over the Sanggau and Sekadau lands in Eastern Kalimantan regency. The road, however, does not go through Central and Western Kalimantan. The Sanggau-Sekadau live together in small numbers with the Dayak and other transmigrants. The Kapuas and Sekayam are the two main rivers in the area. Rivers serve as the main transportation conduits for people living in most villages, as land transportation is very difficult. Distribution of goods such as food, medicines, agricultural products and more also takes place via the rivers. Water vehicles commonly include sampan (small boats), barges and motor boats. The Sanggau-Sekadau make their living through farming and fishing in the river. Many Sanggau-Sekadau, however, are poor.

Bible Portions – No
New Testament – No
Complete Bible – No

Pray for strategies and ways to reach out to them.
Pray for these people’s hearts.
Pray for God’s people to go reach them out and bring the Good News to them.
Pray for translators to go translating His word for them so they may come to understanding the true living God and worship Him.

Resource: Joshua Project

Today is the last Monday we pray for the least-unreached and Bibleless people groups. Next week will be New Year, and let’s spend extra minutes to pray and ask God to show you what His new perspective in prayer in this new year ahead…

Our today’s focus group is the people of Dayak Tidung.

They are unique and one of largest ethic religious groups in Indonesia. There are about 30,000 people. There are some Christians (less than 2%). But they have no Bible or any resources to God’s word.

The Dayak Tidung belong to the Dayak cluster, speak the Dayak Tidung dialect and follow Islam. In the Bulungan regency, they are associated with the Bulungan people (who are considered the most indigenous group in Bulungan) and in that area they are called the Tidung Bulungan. The Tidung Bulungan language is close to the Dayak Tidung language. The Dayak Tidung are also sometimes called Dayak Pantai (pantai means “beach”). Another group of Tidung live in Kinabalu, Marudu and Belud in Sabah district, Malaysia. Perhaps because they live on the beach, the Tidung are more open to outsiders than other Dayak peoples. This openness has led to the Tidung being more influenced by outside cultures of the modern world. Outside influence is heightened by transmigration areas in the traditional Tidung territory. The Dayak Tidung language is part of the Dayak ethno-linguistic grouping called the Tidong which also includes the Bulungan, Kalabakan (Malaysia), Sebakung Murut and Serudung Marut (Malaysia). (source Joshua Project).

Please pray that God will send his workers to reach out to them and bring the Good News to them in language they can understand best. Pray for those who are Christians live among them can be used by God to show His love and grace to the unbelievers.

THANK YOU for praying with me in 2014! And I cannot wait to pray again with you in 2015!

GOD BLESS YOU AND HAPPY NEW YEAR 2015!

Today, our focus group is from the island of Borney, the people of Dayak Pasir.

The Dayak Pasir are the original inhabitants of the Pasir Regency in the province of East Kalimantan. Based on their living areas, the Dayak Pasir consist of five sub-groups: (1) The Pasir Telake who live along the Telake River, including all of Long Kali area, (2) The Pasir Adang who live along the Adang River in the area of Long Ikis, (3) The Pasir Kendilo whose living area stretches from the source of the Kuaro River to the mouth of the Pasir River (including the area of Muara Koman and Batu Kajang), (4) The Labuan, who live in the village of Labuan and (5) The Pasir Tanjung Aru, who live throughout the area of Tanjung Aru. There are also many other Pasir groups including Balik, Burat Mato, Keteban, Misi, Pematang, Pembesi and Saing Bawei. The Pasir live side by side with other groups, particulary the Banjar, Bugis and Jawa peoples. They speak the Dayak Pasir language, which has 12 dialects: Pamatung, Telake, Tukos, Adang, Pias, Toyo, Lerengan, Nyowo, Tajur, Penuhan, Leburan and Megi. Besides Pasir and the national Indonesian language, they also use the Banjar and Bugis languages. (source Joshua Project)

The population is about 160,000 people. They are one of the least-reached people groups and do not have any resources or accesses to God’s word in language they can understand best.

Ask God to make ways and access to his Word. Ask God to send his workers to reach out to them. Ask God to send His glory shines among this people. They need to see the light of the world, Jesus.

THANK YOU for praying today!

The Bakumpai are a group of Dayak people who speak the Bakumpai language and call themselves the Bakumpai. The majority follow the Islamic religion and have traditions and language which are different than those of the Banjar people. However, there are many similarities between the Bakumpai and the Dayak ethnic groups around them. In spite of this, they choose to identify themselves as different from the Dayak groups mainly because of their Islamic religion (the Dayak majority are Christian). The majority of the Bakumpai live near the Barito River, which flows through the province of Central Kalimantan. In Southern Kalimantan, the Bakumpai live in Barito Kuala regency while those in Central Kalimantan live in South Barito regency. Their neighbors in the south are the Banjar people and in the north the Ngaju and Maanyan peoples. Some experts speculate that the Bakumpai are one of the sub-groups of the Ngaju people group, although the Bakumpai consider themselves a separate people group. The Bakumpai language is part of the Dayak ethnolinguistic grouping called the West of Greater Barito which also includes the Kohin, Ot Danum, Ngaju and Siang. (source Joshua Project)

Over 170,000 people of Bakumpai people who live in this area. There are no believers and they have no Bible at all. Beside spiritual needs, they need medical attention. Please more detail on Joshua Project website about the needs.

Please pray for them. Pray asking God to send His church to reach out to them. Pray asking God to send people who can translate His word into their language so they may come to understand the truth that will deliver them and set them free.

Thank you for praying!