Stories from the Field

August 2004

Grace and forgiveness among the Minang

What do followers of Christ have to offer the Minangkabau people of Indonesia? In a word, grace. Within the Minang way of life, revenge is the norm — not turning the other cheek or the Golden Rule. One believer who was being persecuted by a religious leader told her Minang friend, “I pray for the man who is persecuting me.” With a look of utter shock, the friend demanded to know what the believer was praying — surely for judgment and a curse on his household! When the believer said she prayed for the man to be forgiven and for her own heart not to be hard toward him, the Minang woman shook her head in disbelief. After a moment of reflection she said, “You are a good person to pray such, but I could not pray the same!” How true! Only with the love of Jesus can we love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us! Ask that believers living in Minang land will be a shining example of Christ’s love to those around them. Pray that the Minang people will desire such grace in their own lives.