March 2002

Welcome to the IMB Collegiate eNewsletter for March 2002. This month's eNewsletter focuses on the Banjar people of Southeast Asia.
What's Inside:
People Group Info: Banjar of Southeast Asia, Prayer Points, Mission Projects in Southeast Asia, Urgent Project Requests, Passion for Prayer Info, God's Heart for the Nations Bible study

Unreached People Group (UPG) focus: The Banjar of Southeast Asia 

Personal Testimony from Mr. M, a Banjar believer

"Back in 1984, I left Islam to follow Christ with the help of a Christian teacher in the village school who told me about Jesus Christ. After choosing to become a Christian, I had to officially change my religion on my government registration card. I was really afraid to go and do this because the official in charge of registration was my father! But God gave me the courage to do it and I was baptized shortly after.

When my family found out what I had done, they threw me out of the house and treated me as if I was dead. They began putting pressure on me to return to Islam and offered me a large financial reward to abandon my Christian faith. I told them I was too happy in my faith and wouldn't do it. Once they invited me over to their house for tea, and they served me tea with roach killer in it. I prayed 'God, if you can turn water into wine, you can surely turn this poison into water.' I drank the tea and I was fine! After that, my family decided that it was more important to accept me and remain a family. No matter what happens, I am going to remain a Christian!"

Who are the Banjar?

In the middle ages, several Southeast Asian people groups were united by a ruler who professed faith in Buddhism, Hinduism and Islam and the kingdom of Banjar was born. The Banjar of Southeast Asia now live in one of the most ethnically diverse, populous nations in the world.

Most Banjar (known as the people of "river culture") are farmers and fishermen. Their meals are usually rice and fish or vegetable curry soups, with lunch being their most important-and sometimes their only-meal. As a rural people, the Banjar live mainly in villages along the river. Most of the homes are built on stilts four to eight feet off the ground into the river.

What are their beliefs?

The Banjar are 100% Muslim and observe all Islamic religious holidays. In fact, the Banjar are pleased that one of the most conservative Muslim theological schools in Southeast Asia is in a predominantly Banjar city. Nevertheless, some Hindu-based ideas linger, such as old beliefs in spirits of soil and seeking relief through medicine men. In addition, many practices, especially weddings, are actually Hindu-Buddhist in content, but mixed with Islamic rites.

What are their needs?

There are no Scriptures or Jesus Film in the Banjar language. The first Christian radio broadcast in Banjar has been recorded and ready to air for sometime, but the producers have received some disagreement about the program. Radio can be one of the major arteries through which the Gospel can flow to the Banjar. They are in desperate need of Christ, but they are very difficult to reach. "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Ask the Lord of harvest to send out laborers to His harvest field." Matthew 9:37

For more information about the Banjar, go to: http://www.ksafe.com/profiles/home.html and search by the name "Banjarese."

Prayer Points

• Pray that the Banjar will become completely dissatisfied with the confusion of their beliefs and will desire the truth.

• Pray that fear of cultural rejection and even of persecution would not prevent Banjar seekers from responding to God when they encounter Him in their search.

• Ask the Lord of harvest to send out workers who are willing to go and share Christ with the Banjar.

• Pray that God will give Southeast Asian believers courage to share Christ with the Banjar.

• Pray that evangelical literature and the Jesus film will soon be made available to the Banjar.

Pray for the nations - http://www.imb.org/CompassionNet/default.asp

Project List

• Details on all projects are available on the web at www.thetask.org/students on the mission projects link.

• There are MANY MORE projects in Southeast Asia! Check them out at www.thetask.org/students/projects

Urgent project requests

Students needed in Paris and Mexico!

• Project #11711: We need two people with French language skills to come work with prayer walk teams among the Muslims of Paris.
  Dates: 5/15/02 - 8/03/02
  Cost: $2560.00 plus airfare
• Project #48921: We need 10-15 students to spend fall semester in Guadalajara, Mexico. Must have good experience in a local university ministry to participate in evangelism and discipleship on campuses in Guadalajara and in local churches. The goal is to create a movement of student evangelism in Guadalajara and surrounding campuses.
  Dates: 9/12/02 - 12/12/02
  Cost: $2070.00 plus airfare
• More info about these projects at www.thetask.org/students/projects
• To apply for these or any other collegiate projects, go to www.thetask.org/students/apply

Passion for Prayer

Passion for Prayer is coming! Join a team to prayerwalk in Western Europe from June 26 to July 13, 2002. Look for additional information about Passion for Prayer in your inbox this Monday.

Matthew 14:22-33

One of my favorite stories in the Book of Books uses the experience of walking on water to illustrate the difference between faith and fear. The disciples were out all night on a boat in the middle of some rough lake waters when all of the sudden they saw someone approaching their boat, walking on the water. Just like we would have been, they were afraid. They thought that a ghost was walking toward them (which seems like a fair guess for a group of really tired men who already had seen several supernatural events), but it wasn't a ghost, it was their Master.

Their Master told them, "Don't be afraid. It is I." Which is to say, "Because I am here, you should not be afraid." (Another assumption might be, if He's not there, you might have good reason to be scared!) Recognizing the Master, Peter bravely asked to join Him. "Tell me to come to you," he said. The Master said, "Come on," and Peter got out of the boat. The other eleven stayed put. As Peter kept his eyes on the Master he was able to walk on the water, but when he looked at the situation surrounding him, he lost his faith and began to sink.

Some days we feel just like Peter. For us, coming to Southeast Asia was "getting out of the boat." It really does feel like we have left our "boat" and we're walking out on the water. But after being here awhile, we've learned to build other boats. Some days we even shut the curtains and pretend that we aren't really in a boat. No matter where we have lived, just like you, we daily face the dare of our life-to get out of the boat and walk by faith. If we don't, we risk missing an opportunity to be with the Master. We want to be where He is.

We challenge people continuously to get involved in the work here in a physical way, but no one as yet has gotten out of the boat on our side of the water. We need more workers to share the load (Matthew 9:37). If you know of anyone that has been called to cross-cultural work, please let them know that the need here is still great. These fields are not yet ready for harvest, but they could use a lot of tilling and planting.

How is God leading you to step out of the boat?