Lembata, West in Indonesia
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Map Source:
People Group location: SIL / WLMS. Map geography: ESRI / GMI. Map design: Joshua Project.
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| People Name: | Lembata, West |
| Country: | Indonesia |
| 10/40 Window: | Yes |
| Population: | 9,600 |
| World Population: | 9,600 |
| Primary Language: | Labalekan-Mingar |
| Primary Religion: | Ethnic Religions |
| Christian Adherents: | 5.09 % |
| Evangelicals: | 0.09 % |
| Scripture: | Unspecified |
| Ministry Resources: | No |
| Jesus Film: | No |
| Audio Recordings: | No |
| People Cluster: | Flores-Sumba-Alor |
| Affinity Bloc: | Malay Peoples |
| Progress Level: |
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Introduction / History
The West Lembata people are also known as the Ata Lembata. This ethnic group lives on the island of Lembata, which is part of the Lesser Sunda Islands. They speak the Lembata language, which is a member of the Austronesian language family.
What Are Their Lives Like?
Most of the West Lembata people are farmers, fishermen and weavers. People value the intricate designs in their cloth goods. They grow corn, sweet potatoes and cassava and fish in the nearby waters. In order to maintain their livelihood, the West Lembata people have actively promoted sustainable development and the preservation of their environment.
What Are Their Beliefs?
The West Lembata people have their own animistic religion which involves the worship of ancestral spirits and deities of the natural surroundings. Their beliefs have been influenced by Roman Catholicism since the days when the Portuguese sent missionaries in the 1700s.
What Are Their Needs?
Though they are economically marginalized, the West Lembata people have kept their cultural ways.
Prayer Points
Pray for many from this unreached people group to understand both God’s judgment and his majestic glory.
Pray for loving workers to go to the West Lembata people, and for their hearts to be ready to receive their savior.
Pray for a chain reaction of families reaching families that result in thousands of new disciples who share their faith with others.
Pray for grace and truth expanding into their entire society as all believers learn to love others.