Introduction / History

This small people group are indigenous to mountainous southeast Espirtu Santo island. The are Melanesians speaking an Austronesian language. They are virtually unknown to the outside world. Their history is fivefold: pre-colonial, colonial, World War II, and post-war colonial, and post-colonial. Because of British and French colonialism, some may speak English or French alongside the lingua franca of Vanuatu, as well as their own language. World War II, however, perhaps left an even more lasting impact: cargo cults.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Colonialism did not leave much development. Consequently, subsistence agriculture persists along with raising some small livestock. Social life is communal. Labor is shared between the sexes. Kinship ties are close and men's societies are important, as are ritual, dances, and kava drinking ceremonies for communicating with the dead.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Animism is important to the people. Ambalong animism involves ancestor veneration (hence kava ceremonies) and their influence on life; and mana, spiritual power, which animates nature.

Today Christianity is the majority religious faith. Christian denominations include Roman Catholicism, Anglicanism, Church of Christ, Pentecostalism, and Presbyterianism. Evangelicals are among these. Unfortunately, there is some syncretism between Animism and Christianity.

Then there is John Frumism, a cargo cult, resulting from World War II airdrops of supplies. It is materialist and millenarian. Some indigenous congregations espouse John Frumism.

What Are Their Needs?

They need cyclone resilience. They also need access to safe drinking water and good health care. The need economic opportunity. In a word, development is needed.

Spiritual needs also exist. There is need for culturally sensitive discipleship and leadership development. There is need for the Bible in their native language and with it, Biblical literacy. Syncretism needs to be addressed also.

Prayer Items

Pray for physical well-being and safety from cyclones and earthquakes. Pray for access to clean water. Pray for sustainable livelihoods and food security.
Pray for spiritual growth, discipleship, and Biblical literacy; hence for Bible translation into their heart language. Pray the gospel will be understood indigenously.
Pray for strong, humble, and discerning church leadership concerning syncretism.
Pray for denominational cooperation; and for good people-missionary relations.

Resources
"Vanuatu," World Culture Encyclopedia & We Are the Mighty (re. John Frum)

Scripture Prayers for the Amblong in Vanuatu.