Belitung in Indonesia

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

Introduction / History

The Belitung live on the island of Belitung (Biliton) in the province of Bangka- Belitung. This island is in the South China Sea, on the east of Sumatera to the southwest of Bangka Island. The Belitung people call themselves Urang Belitong (Belitung people). The island is mostly lowlands with some hills, such as Tajam Laki and Tajam Bini. In some areas there are small rivers, and some small lakes can be found in old tin quarries on the island. The islands are considered important for their tin mines.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Many earn their livelihood from mining tin and kaolin, a fine white clay. Other occupations include trade, fishing, boat building, iron working and general office work. Only a small part of the land is suitable for rice cultivation. Other crops include rubber, pepper, cloves, coconut, sweet potatoes and bananas. Handicraft industries developed by the Belitung include porcelain ceramics and woven rattan. The traditional Belitung house is built on a raised platform with bark walls and roofs of sago palm leaves.
The ancestry of the Belitung can be traced through either the line of the father or the mother. A village is formed by a group of families, termed a keleka. The keleka, led by a traditional chief along with his assistants, has its own rules and accepted boundaries.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The religious leader is a dukun (shaman/healer/occultist) whose duty is to lead the ceremonies of the community. The Belitung adhere to Islam which came to the area around the 17th century. Nevertheless, traditional animistic beliefs still flourish among the community. This can be seen in their ceremonies for working the rice fields (maras taun), fishing (buang jong), and weddings (gawai pengantin). They still believe in magical forces that inhabit sacred spaces.


What Are Their Needs?

The Belitung people need the spiritual hunger it will take for them to forsake all other gods and embrace the King of kings.


Prayer Points

Pray for the spiritual hunger it takes to embrace Jesus Christ despite public pressures.
Pray for loving and dedicated workers.


Scripture Prayers for the Belitung in Indonesia.


References

Used by permission © 2001 PJRN Indonesia


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Belitung
People Name in Country Belitung
Pronunciation BELL-i-tung
Alternate Names Pesisir, Southern; Southern Pesisir
Population this Country 116,000
Population all Countries 116,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 2
People ID 14374
ROP3 Code 107995
ROP25 Code 301053
ROP25 Name Belitung
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 Widespread in Peninsular Malaysia; also in Sarawak state: Kuching, Samarahan, Sri Aman, and Betong districts.   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 Widespread in Peninsular Malaysia; also in Sarawak state: Kuching, Samarahan, Sri Aman, and Betong districts..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Map of Belitung in Indonesia Ethnolinguistic map or other map

Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.03 %)
0.05 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
99.95 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Malay (116,000 speakers)
Language Code zlm   Ethnologue Listing
Primary Dialect Belitung
Dialect Code 13440   Global Recordings Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Malay (116,000 speakers)
Language Code zlm   Ethnologue Listing
Primary Dialect Belitung
Dialect Code 13440   Global Recordings Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Malay

Primary Language:  Malay

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1629-1932)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1668-1974)
Bible-Complete Yes  (2015)
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) Online
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
Audio Recordings Story of Jesus audio Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Malay Jesus Film Project
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Biblical answers to your questions Got Questions Ministry
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Four Spiritual Laws Campus Crusade for Christ
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App Download audio Bible app from Google Play Store Faith Comes by Hearing
Text / Printed Matter Download scripture in this language eBible.org
Text / Printed Matter Jesus Messiah comic book General / Other
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Malay Literacy & Evangelism International
Text / Printed Matter Tools for faith conversations Campus Crusade for Christ
Text / Printed Matter Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies World Missionary Press
Photo Source Wallpaper Flare  Creative Commons 
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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