The Jaya are a small population of people who live in the savannah of southeastern Chad. They live in nearly a dozen villages and make their living in agriculture and hunting.
Since the government is actively discouraging the hunting of large animals, the Jaya are becoming more dependent on the crops they raise in the rainy season. The Jaya people make a living cultivating millet, sorghum, maize, beans, and peanuts along with raising chickens and goats to supplement their diets. Elders rule the Jaya villages. Families arrange marriages with Jaya girls marrying young. A man may have up to four wives if he can afford them. Children often do not attend school but spend their days helping to support their families.
The majority of the Jaya claim to be Sunni Muslims. The brand of Islam is strongly influenced by folk religion and a belief in natural spirits. These spirits must be appeased by rituals and ceremonies, or they can bring disaster upon the people. Most Jaya have never heard a clear presentation of the good news about Jesus Christ. They believe Isa or Jesus to be only a human prophet.
Their children need schools. The Jaya need clean sources of water. They also would benefit by obtaining modern medicine. Many Jaya children die before reaching the age of 10. Most of all the Jaya need to hear the life-changing message of Christ. He alone can forgive their sins and grant them eternal life. There is currently an ongoing project to translate the New Testament into the Jaya language.
Pray that Christian workers currently living among the Jaya would see many Jaya respond positively to the claims of Christ. Pray that Jaya parents would be able to provide for their children and for the children to be able to attend school. Ask the Lord to raise up a church of Jaya believers in this decade. Pray a Jaya Bible would soon become available and get into the hands of Jaya believers.
Scripture Prayers for the Jaya in Chad.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaya_language
| Profile Source: Joshua Project |
