Introduction / History

The Bati people are a small, Muslim indigenous group who live on the far eastern edge of Indonesia's Maluka Island. The Bati are known for their legend about a flying primate-like creature that can take small children away from their families. The legend may have come from large eagles who are able to carry off a small child. The Bati speak their own language of Bati. Many of the Bati men have a working knowledge of Bahasa Indonesian, the national language, so they can carry on trade with other groups.

What Are Their Lives Like?

The Bati live in a tropical rain forest near rivers and the ocean. The Bati earn a living primarily by fishing. Bati women are involved in cultivating rice, maize, coconuts, fruits and vegetables. They sell their surplus rice and fish to buy things they cannot make for themselves like cell phones and appliances. Bati homes are often built on stilts to keep the house dry during periods of flooding. Village elders make judicial decisions and deal with outsiders.
The Bati marry within their group. Families and young people arrange marriages. A man can have up to four wives if he can afford them, but monogamy is the norm. The Bati have large families; they view children as a blessing from Allah. Many children die before their tenth birthday due to lack of modern medicine. It is the sons' responsibility to take care of their elderly parents.
The Bati are primarily an oral culture. Many women are unable to read and write. The Bati pass down important traditions through poems, songs, dances and artwork. The Bati live in such a remote area that few schools exist to educate their children.

What Are Their Beliefs?

The Bati people are officially Sunni Muslim, but also believe in natural spirits and the ghosts of their ancestors. These spirits must be appeased or they can bring disaster upon the people.

What Are Their Needs?

The new churches among the Bati need pastors and Bible teachers. The Bati need to see the love of Christ demonstrated among them in practical ways, including through modern medicine, education, and modern technology such as solar panels.
The Bati language has no Christian resources, so they need a translation of the New Testament. Due to the lack of literacy, especially among the women, the Bati especially need audio resources.

Prayer Items

Ask the Lord to send loving, Holy Spirit-anointed workers to the Bati and to direct them to Bati who are hungry for spiritual truth.
Pray that the new Bati believers would grow in their faith and their knowledge and practice of the Bible.
Pray that every Bati person would have the opportunity to hear the gospel in a way he or she can understand.
Ask God to initiate a Disciple Making Movement to spread throughout Bati communities in this decade.

Scripture Prayers for the Bati in Indonesia.