The Position
This unique location in Southeast Asia is one of the most challenging, dynamic, and rewarding locations to work in missions. It is home to islands and islets abounding in tropical beauty and lushness as well as bustling metropolis cities. It is a land of cultural and linguistic diversity with an estimated 1,000 different languages spoken throughout. With a mix of flavorful cuisine and dynamic religions practiced in this region, a great disparity can also be observed between modern and folk, village and urban, and technology and tradition.
Bound deeply by both orthodox and folk Islam, UPG-1 people long to know the truth about their eternal destiny. They are not legally permitted to leave Islam and must make great sacrifices if and when they weigh the cost of following Christ. However, creative approaches offer countless opportunities to engage locals and building meaningful relationships with them that begin spiritual conversations and opportunities. UPG-1 people are generally soft-spoken, hospitable, family-oriented and religious. With millions of people, UPG-1 has no church among them and only a handful of converts who rarely, if ever, gather with another believer.
Prayer Points
- Matthew 9:38, that the Lord would compel laborers into this harvest field with a passion for reaching UPG-1.
- That Southeast Asian partners would join in the effort to reach UPG-1.
- That God would sustain the few, isolated believers among UPG-1.
The Need
We are looking for humble, teachable servants of Jesus who have a passion to make Him known in South East Asia among UPG-1 and their neighbors. It is imperative that they are flexible, have an entrepreneurial spirit and passionate desire to build relationships and invest in the lives of people with different cultures and belief systems than their own. They must strongly value team unity and be able to work alongside cross-cultural national partners. Opportunities for access into the country (visas) are varied and we believe there are many practical skills and interests that the Lord can use among UPG-1, but we are most concerned with character and a deep desire to participate in evangelism and discipleship in this pioneer work.
Less than 1/10 of a percent could be considered Evangelical Christian and is 99% (or more) Islamic.