Spring 2000

Week seven

What’s inside:

UPG information; project list; The State of Global Evangelization; and God’s Heart for the Nations Bible study by Jeff Lewis

Unreached People Group (UPG) focus: Malay of Malaysia

The Malay have lived in Southeast Asia for centuries, but little is known about them before they converted to Islam in the 1400s A.D. To be Malay is to be Muslim, the Malaysian constitution declares. The Malay were divided into many small, competing Islamic kingdoms until 1909 when they were unified under British colonization. Malaysia was granted independence from the British in 1970 and has become industrialized quickly, with one of the fastest-growing economies in the world.

Most Malaysians are poor farmers and fishermen residing in small villages along the coast, rivers and roads. Although many Malay are moving to cities and assuming factory work and government jobs, the economy is dominated by the Chinese living in Malaysia.

Families generally consist of a husband, wife and their children. Although Islamic law allows each man to have up to four wives, most have only one. Couples are allowed to marry after the woman has gained consent from her father or male guardian and the couple has registered with the local religious leader. Divorce is easy to gain since a Muslim man must simply declare verbally his intent to divorce his wife.

Malaysian Islam mixes practices from Hinduism and Buddhism, which preceded Islam in Malaysian tradition. For example, a shamman (witch doctor) is frequently consulted for illness when medicine is not available. Because of this syncretism (mixing of religions), other Muslims view Malaysians as poor Muslims who have distorted the pure doctrines of Islam.

Only a tiny minority of the Malay follow Jesus. In the western region of the Malaysian peninsula witnessing to Muslims is outlawed, but the government actively tries to convert Christians and other religious minorities to Islam. In Eastern Malaysia there is more religious freedom, but Islam is still preferred.

Prayer Points:

• Pray that Malaysian Christians will provide a strong witness.
• Pray that God will reveal Himself to the Malay through all means, including dreams and visions.
• Pray for the effectiveness of the JESUS film among the Malay.
• Pray that others would be called to spread the glory of God and plant churches in the region.

Project List for Central and Southern Asia

Details on all projects are available on the Web at www.thetask.org/students on the Mission projects link.

Bible study:

GOD’S HEART FOR THE NATIONS