Weekly UPG Prayer Focus

Country: Japan | Population: 1,151,000 | Language: Okinawan | Main Religion: Ethnic Religions | Evangelical: 0.1-2.0%

The Ryukyuan are a tight-knit indigenous community from the Ryukyuan Islands. They are Ryukyuan first and Japanese second. During WWII, the Battle of Okinawa saw fierce fighting with roughly 250,000 casualties, including 20,195 American soldiers. The Ryukyuan are among the longest-living people in the world. They honor and worship their ancestors, whom they believe both watch over and protect their families. The Ryukyuan also worship spirits in the natural world and seek to live in harmony with nature. Women are highly esteemed with central roles as shamans and mediators in the spiritual world, as well as guardians of the home. Pray for believers to have opportunities to share their faith with the Ryukyuan. Pray that they would understand why Jesus, the Creator of the Universe, willingly died for their sins. Pray that they will choose to follow Jesus and put their trust in Him.

Country: India | Population: 22,621,000 | Language: Hindi | Main Religion: Hinduism | Evangelical: 0.0-0.1%

A well-known Jat proverb says that men may come and men may go, but I go on forever. It has been said that no Jat wants to be ruled. They are brave, hardworking people who possess both the desire and ability to rule. The Jats are known for their military prowess. They place great pride in their ancestry and rarely marry people from other ethnic groups. As a people, they are typically taller and heavier than most of their neighbors, and are often feared by other communities. They can be found in all walks of life, including high academic and technical positions. Most Jats live in rural areas and are usually landowners. They are one of the most prosperous groups in India on a per-capita basis. The Jats are pragmatic Hindus who worship whatever gods will benefit them. They hold negative views of Christianity as they only see low-status people choosing to follow Jesus. Pray that influential members of the Jat community would believe in Christ and that they would boldly share the Gospel with their people.

Country: Tunisia | Population: 11 million | Language: Arabic, Tunisian Spoken | Main Religion: Islam | Evangelical: 0.00%

Tunisia has a rich history of Phoenician, Roman, and Byzantine culture. A strong Christian church was established there in the first few centuries after Christ, but disappeared soon after. Virtually all Tunisian Arabs are Muslim, however the country is largely secular and many Tunisians seldom, if ever, go to a mosque. Tunisians place a high value on family. They are friendly and known for their hospitality. Nearly 40% of Tunisians are under the age of 25, and they are highly educated. Lack of employment in the country led to an overthrow of the government in 2011, and the beginning of the Arab Spring. Pray for God to strengthen, encourage, protect, and multiply the small number of Tunisian Arab believers. Pray for completion of Bible translation work in this language. Pray that entire Tunisian families would come to faith and choose to follow Jesus. Pray that God would establish churches in every city and village in the country.

Country: Indonesia | Population: 4,082,000 | Language: Banjar | Main Religion: Islam | Evangelical: 0.0-0.1%

The Banjar people live on the southern coast of Kalimantan (the Indonesian part of Borneo). They tend to marry and settle near parents or relatives, seldom moving to other parts of Indonesia. They are devout Muslims, and Islam influences every aspect of their identity and daily life. Yet they hold on to traditional animistic beliefs of supernatural beings living in stones, trees, and mountains. The Banjar do not look positively on modern methods or technologies. They do not mix much with other groups and are suspicious of outsiders’ intentions. Pray that the Banjar would be open to hearing the Gospel. Pray for church planting efforts and that these fellowships of believers would flourish and grow. Pray that the Banjar would find their true identity in Christ, who is their Creator and Savior.