Mbojo in Indonesia

The Mbojo are also called the Oma ("move") because they often move from one place to another. The main livelihood of the Mbojo is farming. Bima women are usually skilled at making plaited mats from bamboo and palm leaves. The village leader is assisted by highly respected village elders. The Mbojo are not closed to outside influence. Although most Mbojo are devout Muslims, they still believe in spirits and practice forms of animism, even still visiting healers, who are numerous in the area. The Mbojo are afraid of local gods like Batara Gangga (chief of the gods), Batara Guru, Idadari Sakti and Jeneng, as well as other spirit types called Bake and Jin, which live in trees and high mountains. They also believe in sacred trees in Kalate and Murmas, where the god Batara and the gods of Rinjani Mountain dwell.

Ministry Obstacles

Fear of offending the local gods will make it difficult for the Mbojo to place their faith in Christ.

Outreach Ideas

Pray that strong movements to Jesus will bring whole families into rich experiences of God's blessings.

Scripture Focus

"You turn things upside down! Shall the potter be regarded as the clay, that the thing made should say of its maker, He did not make me; or the thing formed say of him who formed it, He has no understanding?"  Isaiah 29:16

Scripture Prayer

Pray that many from this people group will soon understand that they belong to God by right of His life-giving creation.

Prayer Focus

In the 1930s, hundreds of Mbojo in the mountain areas around Dompu heard the gospel and received it. Today there are four villages in the mountains with a 'Christian' population of 90 percent, but they do not fully understand the Gospel. They are very isolated and poor. Medical assistance is greatly needed, especially for the Mbojo who only make use of the healers. They also need agricultural training and farming equipment. Helping increase the people's awareness of the benefits they could find in the ocean would help improve their economic state.