Haruku in Indonesia

Haruku
Photo Source:  Franc Le Blanc 
Map Source:  People Group location: IMB. Map geography: ESRI / GMI. Map design: Joshua Project.
People Name: Haruku
Country: Indonesia
10/40 Window: Yes
Population: 29,000
World Population: 29,000
Primary Language: Haruku
Primary Religion: Islam
Christian Adherents: 4.00 %
Evangelicals: 1.21 %
Scripture: Unspecified
Ministry Resources: No
Jesus Film: No
Audio Recordings: No
People Cluster: Maluku-Central
Affinity Bloc: Malay Peoples
Progress Level:

Introduction / History

The Haruku people live on the tiny island of Haruku. This chain of islands is located in the eastern portion of Indonesia and includes most of the islands between Sulawesi and New Guinea, and between Timor and the Philippines. The population is mostly of Malayan origin. They are the only speakers of the Haruku language.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Like the other tribes on Haruku Island, the Haruku people grow several popular spices, especially nutmeg, cloves, cumin and ginger as cash crops.

What Are Their Beliefs?

The tribes on Haruku Island are evenly divided between those who identify as Muslims and those who identify as Christians. The Haruku themselves are nearly all Muslim, with a small percentage that have converted to Christianity.

What Are Their Needs?

The Haruku do not have any Christian resources available in their own language. Fervent intercession and further mission work will need to be undertaken to strengthen the believers and see the people on this remote island reached with the gospel.

Prayer Points

Ask God to raise up workers from the nearby Christian tribes to take the gospel to the Haruku.
Ask God to give the Haruku a hunger and thirst for righteousness that will drive them to the foot of the cross.
Pray for translation of the Bible into the Haruku language.
Pray for a Disciple Making Movement to emerge among the Haruku, resulting in disciples and churches that multiply through generations and spread to neighboring tribes and islands.

Text Source:   Joshua Project