Riau Malay in Indonesia

The Riaus are peaceful farmers and fishermen living on the northern coast of central Sumatra. They are closely related to the Malays living across the sea from them in Malaysia. It would be reasonable to call them a Malay subgroup. They keep to themselves and don't mingle with outsiders.

Ministry Obstacles

They cling tightly to Islam, the one outside idea that this people group has embraced. The Riau tend to be distrustful of Christian missionaries, or anyone else bringing them foreign religious ideas.

Outreach Ideas

There are believers from other people groups on Sumatra Island who can reach out to the Riau Malay people.

Scripture Focus

"To whom then will you liken God, or what likeness compare with him? An idol! A craftsman casts it, and a goldsmith overlays it with gold and casts for it silver chains."  Isaiah 40:18-19

Scripture Prayer

Pray that this people group will soon understand that they can never form an idol that compares with the Lord.

Prayer Focus

Pray that the few followers of Christ among the Riau Malay people would be so full of the love and joy of the Holy Spirit that others would be willing to put their faith in Jesus as well. Pray for believers' protection. When a Riau Malay person decides individually to follow Christ, he is usually viewed as a rebel who has rejected his own people. Therefore, pray that the Lord would give dreams and visions to Riau Malay family leaders that would open their hearts to Jesus. Pray for a movement to Christ among the Riau Malay people.