Kayupulau in Indonesia

Introduction / History

The Kayupulau are a small ethnic group who for hundreds of years have lived in the coastal regions of Jayapura Bay in Tahima Soroma, Jayapura, Papua, Indonesia. They speak Kayu Pulau-Kayu Batu, belonging to the Austronesian language family. A group that is culturally and linguistically similar live in Kayu Batu and are known by that name, and both groups speak the same language. However, the number of speakers has greatly declined, so that it is now considered an endangered language. Their leader is called the Ondoafi. The village head of Tahima oversees the four sub-tribes or clans of the Kayu-Pulau, while the Kayu Batu have only two clans. Another tribe living in their midst, the Youwe clan, comes from the Cycloop Mountains. When their meeting house was burned by another tribe, they came to settle amongst the Kayupulau. A meeting was held and the Kayupaulau granted them land. During World War II, the Kayupulau were evacuated to Ormu. After the war ended, they returned to their land, where they have lived ever since.

Christianity arrived in Papua during the Dutch colonial rule in the 19th century, the first Protestant missionaries arriving on Mansinam Island in 1855. This event is commemorated every year as "Gospel Day" across Papua. Catholic missions followed in the early 20th century. After 1963, missions shifted to local leadership amid suspicions of Dutch influence. Missions emphasized Bible translation, literacy, and health. Radio programs and mobile teams for Bible storytelling were also used. Evangelization was remarkably successful, and house churches and community centers were established. However smaller groups like the Kayupulau experienced more sporadic outreach than other larger groups.

What Are Their Lives Like?

The Kayupulau have a taboo against eating bamboo sharks and white crabs. Beads are commonly used as currency in addition to their ornamental value. They live by fishing, sago palm processing, and mangroves. They live isolated lives with minimal cultural integration to the outside world.

What Are Their Beliefs?

They have a deep connection to their land, maintaining animistic traditions intertwined with environmental reverence. Despite the history of Catholic missions, Catholic influence is minimal. Most identify as Christian, but their faith is often in the spirit world rather than the Sovereign Lord. Overall, Christianity among the Kayupulau has been described as "embryonic" due to the small size and isolation of the group.

What Are Their Needs?

Mangrove swamps limit access to their land, so that geographic isolation makes both development and evangelization challenging.

No strictly Kayupulau churches are documented, but Kayupulau Christians affiliate with churches including other groups. Some of these churches have tried to blend ancestor veneration with Christian worship. Churches struggle with nominalism and the revival of animism during crises. Migration of youth to urban centers outside their ethnic homeland reduces church attendance. Government restrictions on foreign missionaries have been enforced since the 1970s and churches nationalized. Persecution of Christians is low compared to Muslim majority areas, but rising, with some church closures.

Prayer Points

Pray that nominal Christians may know Jesus deeply and personally and that churches grow strong with a Biblical base.
Pray that despite their small numbers, Kayupulau believers may be able to effectively evangelize those around them.
Pray that the Holy Spirit will bless their families and churches, prompting them to take the name of Christ to Indonesian Muslims.

Text Source:   Joshua Project