Cotabato Manobo in Philippines

Manobo simply means "people" or "person." There are two classes: royal and non-royal.

Ministry Obstacles
There are eight subgroups living on the Philippines' southern island of Mindanao. They speak one of the languages belonging to the Manobo language family, one of which is Cotabato. Many are farmers who allow fields to remain fallow for specific periods of time, so cultivation is shifted from place to place. They require agricultural development projects that educate them on crop rotation and fertilizer use. Their social life is patriarchal. Polygamy is allowed for men of wealth. They struggle with a changing world. Outside pressures have significantly affected their culture. They fear losing their original languages, cultural identity, and traditional religion. They incorporate new practices into their belief system.

Scripture Focus
"Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—"  1 Peter 2:2

Scripture Prayer
Pray that the believers in today’s people group would long for the word of God and grow into spiritual maturity.

Prayer Focus
Being splintered into eight subgroups means they might need eight teams rather than one going to them. It's already hard to reach people in that part of Mindanao Island. Ask the Lord to send Holy Spirit-anointed workers to the Cotabato Manobo, especially in the areas of agricultural development, to help educate them in areas of crop rotation and the use of fertilizers. Pray they will have a thirst for the water of life only Jesus can provide. Ask the Lord to provide for the Cotabato Manobo's physical and spiritual needs and that they will understand this as an example of his grace and mercy. Ask God to give the few believers already among them boldness in creating an unstoppable movement to Christ.

Presented by Joshua Project
www.joshuaproject.net