Prayer for Aceh

Meditate on Psalm 89:14-18

14Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you. 15Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, Lord. 16They rejoice in your name all day long; they celebrate your righteousness. 17For you are their glory and strength, and by your favor you exalt our horn. 18Indeed, our shield belongs to the Lord, our king to the Holy One of Israel.

Prayer Prompt

The Melayu Tamiang people live in southeastern Aceh.  Most of the villages of the Tamiang can be found around the Tamiang River. Their area is very fertile and most Melayu Tamiang people work as farmers or fishermen if they live close to the coast. One legend states that the name Tamiang comes from the words itam and mieng (black cheek). This name supposedly arose because a king of Tamiang named Raja Muda Sedia (1332-1362) had a black mark on his cheek. Another story claims that the name Tamiang comes from the name of an island in the Riau Archipelago, the original dwelling place of the Tamiang.  The historical Tamiang kingdom lived by a proverb: “A fair king will be worshipped, but a cruel king will be dethroned.” Like many peoples in Sumatra, the Tamiang Malay also mix animistic beliefs and traditions into their practice of Islam. Let’s press into prayer this year for the Melayu Tamiang.

Prayer Points: 

-We praise God for reports of Kingdom workers among the Tamiang after five years of praying for workers to engage this people group! 

-Pray that the Holy Spirit would prepare these persons of peace, to not only receive the kingdom for themselves but also to open up their entire social network to the kingdom. 

-Pray that believers living near the Tamiang people would be led by the Holy Spirit to be Jesus to the Tamiang and share the good news of the kingdom in word and deed.  

– Pray that the Tamiang would see that Jesus is more than “a fair king” that He is a king who gave himself up for them and offers them eternal and abundant life. As their proverb states, may they worship Jesus as their king and dethrone the cruel and evil false kings of the past.