Indonesia

Partner with Local Missionaries in Indonesia

Located in the 10/40 Window

Earning the honor of Southeast Asia’s largest economy, Indonesia is also the world’s largest country comprised only of islands. A vast archipelago between the Indian and Pacific oceans, Indonesia is made up of 13,466 islands—922 of which are permanently inhabited. The majority of the islands are coastal lowlands, though the largest islands—Java, Sumatra, Borneo, New Guinea, and Sulawesi—have some interior mountains. Indonesia is the most heavily forested region on earth after the Amazon.

Indonesia’s incredible diversity comes from its 300 distinct native ethnic groups. Though Indonesian is the country’s official language, most citizens speak other languages. More than 700 languages are used in Indonesia.

With the fourth largest population on earth, the country is the most populous Muslim-majority nation in the world. More than 87 percent of the population is Muslim, with the majority being Sunni Muslim. An aggressive mosque-building program, fueled by petrol dollars, is part of the Islamic vision of an Indonesia free from Christians. Believers face high levels of persecution from radical Muslims, who are pushing Sharia-inspired laws in more and more communities.

Christianity has sustained continued growth throughout the past 50 years, especially among animist people, but nearly 100 million people remain unreached.

Indigenous missionaries face high levels of persecution and need assistance to help cover their living expenses as they persevere to share the gospel with unreached people groups. Bibles are needed for the 13 million believers in the 80-percent Muslim country, along with biblical training for Indonesian pastors. Among Indonesia’s Christian population is a strong need for biblical leadership and teaching. Many indigenous churches have no discipleship program. Biblical illiteracy is an enormous problem, which has allowed syncretism into the Church.

Motorbikes are needed for local translators, who create gospel recordings in native languages, and indigenous missionaries who follow up with villagers after they listen to the recordings. The availability of Scripture and gospel teaching in the heart languages of Indonesia’s tribal population will greatly benefit the growth and maturity of the Church.

Other needs include funding to help local missionaries and pastors start small businesses, which enable them to be self-sustaining and provide them with many opportunities to engage with people in their communities. More than 1,000 people have been reached with the gospel through these small businesses. Assistance is also needed for an indigenous ministry to continue its compassionate food distribution program, which feeds several hundred malnourished children in poor areas.

Sources: Joshua Project, CIA World Factbook, Operation World

269 million

Population

3.18%

Evangelical Population:

789

People Groups:

235

Unreached People Groups:

How to Pray for Indonesia

Pray for the more than 200 people groups in Indonesia that are still unreached with the gospel; ask the Lord for open doors and divine connections, that witnesses for Christ would soon be established in each of these groups.
Pray for wisdom and resources for indigenous missionaries as they share the gospel in strategic and creative ways.
Pray that the Lord would break the stronghold of Islam in Indonesia and open people’s eyes to the truth of Jesus Christ.

More stories from Indonesia

Help Power Gospel Proclamation in Indonesia

After leading a woman and her husband to Christ, church planters helped them in the fields so they could get work done – freeing up time for Bible study. The native Christian workers’ discipleship of their family included helping them overcome their troubled past, along with aiding in health and informal education. Church planters make daily efforts to meet people open to spiritual conversations, sharing the gospel with 15,000 Muslims over a period of six months. Workers need donations to proclaim God’s grace in Christ and cultivate new faith. Pray the Word would speed ahead and be honored.

Help Workers Plant Churches in Indonesia

A secret Christian who has long been an influential Hindu priest has asked a native Christian worker to disciple him; he wants to learn more about how to follow Christ as he considers whether to make a public declaration of his faith. In villages where there were once only Hindus, people learned that some residents had stopped stealing and other wrongdoing because they put their faith in Christ. Donations are sought for native missionaries to reach their own people with the gospel. Pray that transformed lives will draw more people to Christ.

Help Plant Churches in Indonesia

A native ministry has 137 church planters sharing the gospel throughout the country, and over the course of six months they planted 34 house churches. Including people who heard about Christ through social media, workers shared the message of salvation with 15,800 people. Among those coming to Christ was a drug addict who had habitually robbed to support his habit; a church planter led him to Christ, and the former addict led two people to saving faith. He and the local missionary started a small home fellowship. Donations are sought for such gospel work. Pray new Christians will come to know the fullness of Christ’s deity.

Support Discipleship Of New Believers in Indonesia

Church planters of one ministry have shared the gospel with 21,335 people during the last six-month period, and of that number, 650 people decided to follow Christ. One new believer, a street busker who had lost all hope for his future, was baptized, and now he is discipled regularly by Christian workers. He has a newfound joy in Jesus and is excited to share the gospel with others. Another new believer shared the gospel with five of his friends who all accepted Christ and began to attend a local house church. Donations of $60 or $120 help church planters reach people like these men. Pray for God to continue to open doors to minister to non-believers.

Share the Gospel with Unreached People in Indonesia

A team of evangelists met a 56-year-old man at a park and engaged him in conversation, and at one point he said it was the first time he had heard that sin is forgiven through Jesus. After he said he believed their message, they led him in prayer to confess his sin and accept Christ as Lord and Savior. Since then, however, they have not been able to locate him, and they request prayer for him. Workers led 743 to faith in Christ and planted 46 house churches over a six-month period. Donations are sought for such gospel work. Pray for more workers to proclaim the message of salvation and expand God’s kingdom.

Refresh Missionaries With Peace Of Christ in Indonesia

The leader of a native ministry travels on his motorcycle through villages tucked into the mountains and through cities and towns to preach in the name of Jesus and to train new believers as Christian leaders. Some of the places in which he and his team work have been devastated by natural disasters such as floods and volcanic eruptions. Other places are predominately Muslim. Yet, this team perseveres in their evangelism and discipleship. “I must try to have strong will or desire in bravery for the glory of my Lord Jesus Christ’s name,” the ministry leader said. Funds of $60 or $120 help support Christian workers to evangelize in these difficult places. Pray for their safety as they preach.