10/40—Week 4 [EDUCATE]—Southeast Asia

Pastor Jeff Summers

3/1/09

south_east_asia_map.jpg                                                                                         

This week we will focus on Southeast Asia. 

FOCAL REGION: SOUTHEAST ASIA 

Countries in Southeast  

Asia:  Bangladesh,Brunei, 
Cambodia, East Timor, 
Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, 
Myanmar, Philippines,
Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam (12)   

Population:  723.6 million

Dominant Worldview:  Islam

FOCAL COUNTRY: INDONESIA

Population: 229.15 million (87.7% Muslim; 7.4% Christian; 2.3% Ethnic Religions)

·         Archipelagic nation of over 6,000 inhabited islands (another 11,500 uninhabited islands)

·         Average Income (per capita): $1279/yr

·         Literacy Rates: 90% of the population

·         40 million Indonesians have no access to clean water; 100 million have no access to clean sanitation

·         Malaria affects 1 in 5 people

 

(Very) Brief History

200 BC

Dvipantara or Jawa Dwipa Hindu kingdom is thought to have existed in Java and Sumatra

5th C. AD

Stone inscriptions in west Java announce decrees of Purnavarman, king of Tarumanagara

700 AD

Wet-field rice cultivation, small towns and kingdoms flourish. Trade links are established with both China and India

732 AD

Sanjaya dynasty founded around this time according to Canggal inscription

3rd-15th C. AD

The Sumatra-based Srivijaya naval kingdom flourishes and declines

8th C.-832 AD

The agriculturally-based Buddhist Sailendra kingdom flourishes and declines

752-1045 AD

The Hindu Mataram dynasty flourishes and declines

1200s AD

Islam is first thought to establish itself in the Aceh region

1293 AD

The Hindu Majapahit kingdom is founded in eastern Java

1350 AD

Sri Rajasanagara succeeds Jayanagara as ruler of Majapahit (his reign is considered the empire's 'Golden Age'); Under commander Gajah Mada, Majapahit stretches over much of modern day Indonesia

1400s AD

Islam establishes itself firmly in Indonesia

1509 AD

First known western contact with traders from Portugal, run off by Sultan Mahmed Syah; much Portuguese activity in the islands

1595 AD

First Dutch expeditions to the islands

1602 AD

British East India Company lands and builds trading post

1873 AD

The beginning of the bloody Aceh War for Dutch occupation of the province; Aceh declared conquered in 1903

1912 AD

Islamic League becomes first national political party

1920 AD

Communist Party of Indonesia (PKI) founded

1942 AD

Japan occupies Indonesia during WWII

1945 AD

First meeting of Commission for Indonesian Independence; Japan surrenders in WWII; draft of constitution for the Republic completed; “Proclamation of Indonesian Independence” signed

Late 1940s AD

Political and military unrest as many vie for power in newly established government

1950s-2000s AD

Unrest lasts; much political shifting and re-shifting; Suharto elected to 7 consecutive presidential terms although unrest still exists within Indonesia; free elections held (1999), but no elected officials seem to bring peace or prosperity

1997 AD

Severe drought begins throughout the region; devastating forest fires

1999 AD

Ambon Christian-Muslim clash begins (lasts 3 yrs), over 10,000 killed and 700,000 displaced in Maluku

2004 AD

Tsunami kills 160,000; widespread devastation

2006 AD

Earthquake kills thousands in central Java


Summary:

Over the centuries, there have been the rise and fall of many kingdoms and rulers without long periods of peace.  The long established religions of the region have persisted—Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islam—with Islam becoming the predominant worldview.  Unrest and instability have hindered progress and the enforcement of human rights in the region.  Natural disaster has plagued the region…especially over the last decade.  Such a situation desperately cries out for the peace and hope that comes through Jesus.

Colossians 4:2-4

Paul instructs the Colossian believers to…

DEVOTE THEMSELVES TO PRAYER

The manner in which they are to persist in prayer is…

BEING WATCHFUL

WITH AN ATTITUDE OF THANKSGIVING

To boil this down, Paul says that we are to persist in WELL-INFORMED, KNOWLEDGEABLE PRAYER.

1 Chronicles 12:32

Romans 13:11

PAUL’S EXAMPLE OF BEING EDUCATED:

ROMANS:  Paul also knew of the situation with the believers in Rome

Romans 1:8-10

Romans 16:17

Paul knew what was happening with them and knew the danger that was around them.

GALATIANS:  He was able to speak directly to the situation.

Galatians 6:15

COLOSSIANS:  Paul was aware of what was happening and was able to pray effectively for them and give them specific encouragement:

Colossians 1:3-6

THESSALONIANS:  Paul knew about their situation because Timothy gave report (hear “educated”) to Paul (1 Thes 3:6):

1 Thessalonians 1:2-3

2 Thessalonians 3:6-8

TIMOTHY:  Paul knew that Timothy was a young man in ministry and was continually looking after him. 

1 Timothy 1:3-7 

2 Timothy 4:9-13

PHILEMON:  In this short letter, Paul reveals how closely he is tied to these two believers—Philemon and Onesimus. 

                Philemon 9, 12, 18

How can we EDUCATE OURSELVES?  What difference does EDUCATION make?

FOCUS YOUR EFFORTS

DIVE IN!

CONNECT WITH A MISSIONARY/MISSIONS ORGANIZATION

CONNECT WITH AN INDIGENOUS CHRISTIAN IN THE REGION

WHAT THEN?

SHARE WHAT YOU KNOW

INVEST

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER:

How can you impact the nations through LEARNING MORE?

What would motivate you to learn?

THIS WEEK (TO GO BOX):

1)      WEEK OF PRAYER:

Spend time praying for Indonesia this week.  Here is a suggested schedule for praying (based on our prayer guidelines):

M:  For Muslims to understand the truth of Scripture and the message of the gospel

T:  That the gospel would reach each language and people group in Indonesia

W:  An open door in Sumatra for the gospel to be shared

R:  For Christians in Indonesia to remain faithful and spiritually impact their country

F:  God’s provision for tsunami relief and rebuilding, that the poor would be fed, and hearts would be changed

S:  Stability and justice in the region

Su:  God would glorify Himself and draw Indonesia into the Kingdom
 

2)      FAMILY ACTIVITY:  Hot Bananas with Cinnamon-Coconut Sauce

Spend time making these as a family.  Talk about God’s heart for the Indonesian people and spend time praying for Indonesia based on the prayer points given today.

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:

·         4 bananas

·         1/2 cup coconut cream*

·         1 1/2 cups coconut milk

·         1/2 teaspoons cinnamon, or to taste

·         2 tablespoons sugar

·         1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed in 3 tablespoons coconut milk

·         Mint leaves

*Made without water, coconut cream is a thicker version of coconut milk. Canned coconut cream is found in most supermarkets. If unavailable, use light cream as a substitute.

Preparation:

1)      Peel the bananas and cut into quarters. Steam the bananas in a covered steamer over a wok filled with boiling water.

2)      Bring the coconut cream and coconut milk to a boil. Stir in the cinnamon and sugar. Give the cornstarch and coconut milk mixture a quick re-stir. Add to the saucepan, stirring quickly to thicken.

3)      Place the steamed banana pieces in individual serving dishes and pour the sauce over. Garnish with mint leaves and Asian fruit slices, as desired. 

3)      Choose a country/people group in the 10/40 Window and begin researching.  Learn everything you can about the culture, the spiritual climate, the political scene, and how Christ is moving.  Uncover the needs of Christians in the area and begin to pray and meet some of those needs. 

If you are daring enough, share this with others and “adopt” a country or people group together…and impact them for Christ in any way that God would lead you.

PRAYER POINTS FOR INDONESIA: Courtesy of OPERATION WORLD

·         Indonesia is the largest Muslim country in the world. In some areas, like East Timor and Ambon, Christians have been attacked and killed by Islamic extremists. However, at least 65 million ‘Muslims’ do not strictly follow the religion – pray that they would be able to hear about Jesus.

·         Indonesian Christians are committed to spreading the gospel across the whole of their nation. Pray that God would resource their vision to see people hearing the gospel in every village on every island.

·         Sumatra, Indonesia’s largest island, is the largest unevangelised island in the world. More than 25 million people there have never heard about Jesus.  Pray that God would open a door for the gospel to be proclaimed.

·         The cities of Jakarta and Surabaya are key cities in reaching the rest of Indonesia. The capital of Jakarta has at least 1,000 churches and thousands of cell groups. Pray that the lives of Christians in these cities will be able to spiritually impact their whole country.

·         Pray that churches and key Christian agencies will be able to provide solutions for post-tsunami issues and the widespread poverty.

·         Other current issues include: alleviating poverty, preventing terrorism, consolidating democracy after four decades of authoritarianism, implementing financial sector reforms, stemming corruption, and holding the military and police accountable for human rights violations.