Introduction / History

The Nuaulu are a Melanesian people who live in the jungles of the island of Seram, Indonesia.

What Are Their Lives Like?

They are subsistence farmers but grow cloves, nutmeg, chocolate, and coconuts as cash crops. They also fish in the ocean and hunt for wild pigs and other animals in the forest. Hunting trips might last a week.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Most Nuaulus practice ancestor worship and make sacrifices for hunting success. They also believe their ancestors manifest as certain animals and will therefore not harm particular species. Most believe that the ancestors and other spirits control their daily lives. They must obey the traditions handed down by the ancestors. These include ceremonies surrounding birth and puberty initiation rites.

What Are Their Needs?

They need greater openness to Bible translation in process and a proper understanding of the gospel on the part of those who claim to be Christians. These nominal Christians need discipleship and church activities that meet their needs. As it stands, nominalism is strong.

Prayer Items

Pray for local Christians to disciple those who claim to be Christians.
Pray for renewal in the churches serving Nuaulu communities.
Pray that the Bible translation in process would be used more widely and begin to change more lives.
Pray that soon Nuaulus will be discipling others using biblical materials.

Scripture Prayers for the Nuaulu, South in Indonesia.