Indonesian in Germany
Photo Source:
Endho - Pixabay
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| People Name: | Indonesian |
| Country: | Germany |
| 10/40 Window: | No |
| Population: | 19,000 |
| World Population: | 10,412,100 |
| Primary Language: | Indonesian |
| Primary Religion: | Islam |
| Christian Adherents: | 15.00 % |
| Evangelicals: | 11.00 % |
| Scripture: | Complete Bible |
| Ministry Resources: | Yes |
| Jesus Film: | Yes |
| Audio Recordings: | Yes |
| People Cluster: | Malay |
| Affinity Bloc: | Malay Peoples |
| Progress Level: |
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Introduction / History
Indonesians is a generic term for the hundreds of ethnic groups from Indonesia. There is a trade language, Bahasa Indonesia, but when it reaches the local level, it has so many borrowed words that Indonesians often cannot communicate with one another using that language.
Like most people, they are more likely to socialize with those from their country when they are in diaspora, despite cultural, religious, and linguistic differences.
Some Indonesians live in Germany, a country they have a history with since the 1800s. Some Indonesians came to Germany in the 1960s and 1970s as political asylum seekers.
What Are Their Lives Like?
Most Indonesians in Germany came either for higher education or for work. That started in the 1950s and it has continued ever since. Germany started recruiting medical professionals from Indonesia and other Asian countries starting in the 1970s. Some Indonesian women come to Germany to marry German men. Today, there is the German-Indonesian Society.
No matter where they live, Indonesians prefer to live with family members. Those in the diaspora often live apart from their families, something that takes them out of their comfort zone. They believe in showing respect to their elders and authority figures.
Indonesians like hot, spicy food, like what they are used to in their own country. There are plenty of hot chilis in Indonesian cooking. Some of their food is sweet because of the coconut and sugar that is often part of their dishes.
Indonesians in Germany love to celebrate. They have both religious and non-religious celebrations for life events that bring together entire communities.
What Are Their Beliefs?
Most Indonesians are Sunni Muslims, though there is a large Christian minority among the ethnic Javanese and others. The only country where Indonesians are considered unreached is Vietnam. They can be used as a mission force to Muslims wherever they live.
What Are Their Needs?
Indonesians in Germany need hearts that are open to obeying Christ’s command to take the gospel to a dying world.
Prayer Points
Pray for the Lord to provide them with all they need to thrive spiritually and materially.
Pray that Indonesians in the diaspora will put their identity in Jesus Christ, the one who offers dignity, purpose, and eternal salvation for all who call on his name.
Pray for Indonesians in Germany to disciple others, especially those from unreached Muslim and Buddhist communities.