Introduction / History

The Bayono are a tiny, remote people group located in the heart of Irian Jaya, south of the main Jayawijaya Mountain range, in the swampy lowland rainforest. The climate is hot and humid year-round. Their location is miles from regular transportation routes.

What Are Their Lives Like?

The Bayono people are semi-nomadic, living in tree houses 2-15m high and rotating to different areas of the rainforest for hunting (wild boar, cassowary, monitor lizard) and gathering (sago palm, edible ferns, fruit).
The Bayono live in an atmosphere of fear due to revenge killings, kidnappings, fear of spirit taboos and fear of sickness potentially caused by black magic.

What Are Their Beliefs?

The Bayono are animists. Their lives are dominated by fearful attempts to appease local spirits to gain their favor and avoid sicknesses or curses. They also fear the use of black magic by their fellow community members. Periodically, they meet for broad community spirit worship festivals.
The Bayono had their first meaningful contact with outsiders in the mid-2000s when two missionary families began living among them and learning their language.

What Are Their Needs?

Much about the Bayono culture needs the transformation of the gospel. The people need to be freed from the fear of evil spirits and need to replace traditions of revenge with forgiveness and reconciliation.
The Bayono do not have the Bible in their heart language, and no Christian resources in their language are currently available.

Prayer Items

Pray for supernatural victory in the hearts and territories of the Bayono people.
Pray for local Papuan missionaries' health, safety, and strength to faithfully share the gospel amidst enormous trials and challenges.
Pray for the missionary family who is learning the Bayono language for the purpose of translating the Bible into Bayono.
Pray that the eight newly baptized believers would grow in their faith and reach those around them. These are the first Bayono Christian believers in history.
Ask God to multiply these believers into a Christ-ward movement that spreads throughout the entire group and transforms Bayono culture.

Scripture Prayers for the Bayono in Indonesia.