Java Pesisir Lor in Indonesia

People Name:	Java Pesisir Lor
Country:	Indonesia
10/40 Window:	Yes
Population:	38,040,000
World Population:	38,040,000
Primary Language:	Javanese
Primary Religion:	Islam
Christian Adherents:	2.80 %
Evangelicals:	0.06 %
Scripture:	Complete Bible
Ministry Resources:	Yes
Jesus Film:	Yes
Audio Recordings:	Yes
People Cluster:	Java
Affinity Bloc:	Malay Peoples
Progress Level:

Introduction / History

The Java Pesisir Lor people are a distinctive Muslim Javanese sub-ethnic group. They inhabit the villages, small towns and cities which stretch south from the North Java Sea to the hills and mountains that span two-thirds of the length of the island of Java. This sub-ethnic group has more in common with the Islamic Malay-speaking traders and seafarers of other Indonesian coastal areas than with their Hindu-mystic Javanese cousins to the south.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Historically, the Java Pesisir Lor have made their living through agriculture and fishing. Today, some are beginning to seek training for a variety of urban and rural occupations throughout Indonesia. The Pesisir Lor diet consists of a variety of rice and soybean-cake dishes, including vegetables and an occasional egg or bit of meat, always cooked with spices and served with either tea or coffee.

Arabic clothing style and drama forms characterize the culture. Pesisir "batik" cloth is an explosion of bright colors. The Pesisir Lor play cymbals, drums and two-stringed musical instruments, rather than the traditional five-tone Javanese "gamelan". Koran reading and martial arts practice take precedence over shadow plays and courtly dances. They live in both bamboo-framed homes and modern brick homes, often built side by side, both constructed with red tiled roofs.

They are less emotionally reserved and in personal communication they can be direct and aggressive.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Nearly all the Pesisir Lor people profess the Sunni Islamic faith, but many actually practice more mystical Sufi beliefs. Orthodox "santri" Muslims seek divine favor through the mediating spirit of Sheik Abdul Kadir Jaelani and the public reading of his holy book, Manaqib. In contrast, mystic "abangan" Javanese perform the "Selametan Rasulan" religious ritual to seek the blessings of not only the prophet Mohammed, but also numerous saints, spirits and deities.

Most orthodox Javanese seek to practice the nine guidelines laid down by Sunan Ja'far and Sunan Kalijaga, two of the nine original Islamic missionaries who brought Islam to the north coast of Java and whose graves there are venerated to this day. These nine guidelines include: religious law, reality, mysticism, wisdom, confession of faith, ritual prayers, alms fasting and pilgrimage. Javanese Pesisir Lor people travel to these graves year-round beseeching ancient spirits for health, salvation and sustenance.

What Are Their Needs?

The Pesisir Lor need better access to underground water sources and a better system of dams and irrigation. They also need more large-scale industry in order to provide a greater variety of work opportunities for the poor masses. Their products need more effective distribution methods; current channels for many of their industrial and commercial products are not adequate.

Prayer Points

Ask the Holy Spirit to give the Pesisir Lor spiritual discernment to recognize the falsehood of Islam and pray for a hunger for the truth.
Thank God for the availability of the Bible in the Javanese language; pray for encounters with the word that will change the hearts of many Pesisir Lor.
Ask God to send workers to the Pesisir Lor to share the gospel, plant churches, and aid in economic development.
Pray for a Disciple Making Movement among the Pesisir Lor in the next decade, leading to disciples and churches multiplying through generations.