Balaesan in Indonesia

The Balaesan have only been reported in Indonesia
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Balaesan are a small indigenous people group in Indonesia. They live on a small western peninsula on the island of Sulawesi. Most live in coastal villages, although some reside in the mountainous interior.
The Balaesan converted to Islam after encountering Arab and Indian traders hundreds of years ago. Their language, Balaesang, is considered endangered due to the small size of the people group.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Balaesan make their living by hunting, fishing and agriculture. Their main staple food is sago, the pulp of certain palm trees. They also grow peanuts, corn, and coconuts. Most Balaesan live in isolated villages where an elder or group of elders make the decisions and settle their legal disputes. Most men have only one wife.
Many of the Balaesan are illiterate. Their children generally quit school early to help their families make a living. Most Balaesan have learned to speak the national Indonesian language of Bahasa so they can communicate with outsiders, contributing to the endangerment of their native language.


What Are Their Beliefs?

In the early 20th century, the Dutch colonialists sent evangelists into the Balaesan region, but the people seem to have resisted and remained loyal to Islam and their folk religion. Like many Muslims in Indonesia, they see Allah as remote and uninterested in their daily lives.
The Balaesan live in constant fear of offending the evil spirits and their ancestors. They constantly attempt to appease the evil spirits who live around them. A village shaman offers chants, charms and rituals to protect the Balaesan from the power of the spirits.


What Are Their Needs?

The Balaesan need to be freed from their fear of evil spirits through the gospel. They would benefit from the introduction of solar panels that could help them run appliances and cell phones. Medical teams could vastly improve the health of the people. Literacy training would enable the Balaesan to read the Scriptures in the national language of Bahasa.


Prayer Points

Ask God to send Spirit-anointed workers to the Balaesan to address their needs for education and healthcare in the context of making disciples.
Ask Jesus to appear to family leaders among the Balaesan in dreams and visions, and to draw entire families to himself.
Pray for growth in discipleship and community among the small number of Balaesan believers.
Pray for translation of the New Testament into Balaesang, for gospel recordings, and for literacy training that will enable the people to read the Scritpures in both Balaesang and Bahasa.
Ask God to ignite a Jesus movement among the Balaesan people that will result in disciples and churches that multiply through generations.


Scripture Prayers for the Balaesan in Indonesia.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Balaesan
People Name in Country Balaesan
Alternate Names
Population this Country 7,000
Population all Countries 7,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 10600
ROP3 Code 100831
Country Indonesia
Region Asia, Southeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 42  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Sulawesi Tengah Province, Donggala regency, Balaesang subdistrict, Manimbayu peninsula, Ketong, Kamonji, and Rano villages.   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Country Indonesia
Region Asia, Southeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 42  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Sulawesi Tengah Province, Donggala regency, Balaesang subdistrict, Manimbayu peninsula, Ketong, Kamonji, and Rano villages..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Map of Balaesan in Indonesia Ethnolinguistic map or other map

Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.27 %)
0.27 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
99.73 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Balaesang (7,000 speakers)
Language Code bls   Ethnologue Listing
Primary Dialect Balaesan
Dialect Code 7597   Global Recordings Listing
Language Written Unknown
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Balaesang (7,000 speakers)
Language Code bls   Ethnologue Listing
Primary Dialect Balaesan
Dialect Code 7597   Global Recordings Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Balaesang

Primary Language:  Balaesang

Bible Translation Status:  Unspecified

Resource Type Resource Name Source
None reported  
Photo Source Anonymous 
Map Source People Group location: IMB. Map geography: ESRI / GMI. Map design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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