I get these emails everyday from Global Prayer Digest which inform me of a new “unreached” people group to be praying for. By unreached, I mean that they have no self sustaining indigenous church, that christians make up less that 1% of the population, and that most likely they don’t have the Bible in their own language. I read this one yesterday, and had it on my heart to post a little about them so that we all could be praying for them.
A cluster of 27 lush pristine islands, each ringed with a white sand beach, lie to the northwest of Sri Lanka. Translated “one hundred thousand islands,” the Lakshadweeps consist of 10 inhabited islands, 17 uninhabited islands, 12 atolls, three reefs and five submerged banks. The total landmass of the tiny island chain equals 11 sq. mi. or 32 sq. km. According to the 2001 census, the total population of the islands is 60,595, and many of the inhabitants have migrated to Sri Lanka.
The main industries on the Lakshadweep Islands are coconut farming and fishing. The government has hired college educated fishing experts, and after five years of research and community education, the people of the island of Agatti have created a modern community-managed reserve to protect the tuna’s delicate food chain. A dozen people have been trained to monitor and care for the marine protected area around Agatti. In contrast to Agatti’s modern mindset, the people of Minicoy Island proudly maintain their traditional matrilineal society where the property and inheritance descend along the female line. A prospective groom must provide a dowry or bride-price, take the last name of the bride, and move into her family’s home. The Lakshadweep people are virtually 100 percent Muslim.
Pray the Lord would reveal Himself to these island people in visions and dreams. Pray their hearts would be stirred to know the One who created their beautiful islands. Pray for missionaries familiar with fishing and wildlife management to join the Lakshadweep people and minister among them. Pray these people would become fishers of men!
Blessings guys, have a great weekend!