Ilavan in Sri Lanka
ee-LAH-van

The Ilavan people work as toddy-tappers. This means they extract sap from palms such as coconut and palmyra to make an alcoholic beverage. They grow coconut, palm and sugar. Most Ilavan people in Sri Lanka are now farmers. Others are builders, chauffeurs, handymen, truck drivers and taxi drivers.

Ministry Obstacles
Ilavan people in Sri Lanka practice Hinduism, the ancient religion of South Asia. For centuries, they have believed that the Hindu gods are the only ones who can provide for their needs. There is also a lot of social pressure to remain in the Hindu fold.

Outreach Ideas
Since the Ilavan people don't have a god they can lean on for love and actual care, they might be drawn to the God of the Bible if someone would go to them.

Scripture Focus
"Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world."  Hebrews 1:1-2

Scripture Prayer
Pray that today’s people group comes to understand that the one, true God has spoken through His Son, Jesus Christ. Pray they would have the wisdom to listen to Jesus.

Prayer Focus
Pray that the tiny Ilavan church would live as a light in a spiritually dark part of the world. Pray that many would have the power of the Holy Spirit to be Christ's hands and feet to their Hindu neighbors. Pray for spiritual hunger. Pray for a movement to Christ among the Ilavan people of Sri Lanka this decade. Pray for their elders to have a desire for true spiritual nourishment that can only come from Jesus Christ.

Presented by Joshua Project
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