Bolango in Indonesia

People Name:	Bolango
Country:	Indonesia
10/40 Window:	Yes
Population:	32,000
World Population:	32,000
Primary Language:	Gorontalo
Primary Religion:	Islam
Christian Adherents:	2.80 %
Evangelicals:	0.00 %
Scripture:	Complete Bible
Ministry Resources:	Yes
Jesus Film:	Yes
Audio Recordings:	Yes
People Cluster:	Gorontalo of Sulawesi
Affinity Bloc:	Malay Peoples
Progress Level:

Introduction / History

The Bolango people are one of the Gorontalo peoples who have wandered to an area in North Sulawesi province then married with the Bolaang people who were native to that area. The resulting union between these two peoples also created a merger of languages and a mixing of cultures which resulted in something different than either the Bolaang or the Gorontalo originally had. Currently, the Bolango live in the border area between Gorontalo and North Sulawesi provinces, in the district of Bolaang Uki, in the regency of Bolaang Mongondow in the North Sulawesi province, about 3-4 hours east of the city of Gorontalo.

What Are Their Lives Like?

The Bolango practice shared living styles, such as living within extended families. They greet one another with respect, even if they do not know the other person.
The Bolaang area used to be quite backward. More recently, development of the Southern highway as an alternative route between North Sulawesi and Gorontalo, has stimulated economic development. This development has been impacted by damage to the bridges from a flash flood. The opening of a fish processing plant in Bitung that handles the Bolaang tuna production has improved the economy of the Bolango.

What Are Their Beliefs?

The Bolango people are majority Muslim. There has yet to be found a Bolango person who has embraced any other religion. Not many non-Muslim live in the Bolango area, even though this group lives so close to the Minahasan people groups, who are majority Christian.

What Are Their Needs?

Illegal logging in the Bolango area causes floods which damage bridges and roads due to the volume of sand, earth and stone carried by the flood waters. If the damage to the forest continues to worsen, the surrounding homes will be threatened as well. Because of this, community awareness of forest conservation is needed so reforestation can take place. This could open up a field of work that would form an integrated step toward meeting a need in this area.
Gorontalo, the primary language of the Bolango, has a complete Bible, the JESUS Film, and multiple other Christian resources available.

Prayer Points

Thank God for the availability of the Bible and Christian resources. Pray for opportunities to show the JESUS film among the Bolango.
Ask the Holy Spirit to open the hearts and minds of the Bolango to the truth of the gospel.
Ask God to send gospel workers to the Bolango to share the gospel and train them in key areas of conservation.
Pray for the spread of the gospel from the Gorontalo, a nearby people group that is more reached.
Pray for a Disciple Making Movement to emerge among the Bolango.