Bati in Indonesia

The Bati have only been reported in Indonesia
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Bati people are a small, Muslim indigenous group who live on the far eastern edge of Indonesia's Maluka Island. The Bati are known for their legend about a flying primate-like creature that can take small children away from their families. The legend may have come from large eagles who are able to carry off a small child. The Bati speak their own language of Bati. Many of the Bati men have a working knowledge of Bahasa Indonesian, the national language, so they can carry on trade with other groups.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Bati live in a tropical rain forest near rivers and the ocean. The Bati earn a living primarily by fishing. Bati women are involved in cultivating rice, maize, coconuts, fruits and vegetables. They sell their surplus rice and fish to buy things they cannot make for themselves like cell phones and appliances. Bati homes are often built on stilts to keep the house dry during periods of flooding. Village elders make judicial decisions and deal with outsiders.
The Bati marry within their group. Families and young people arrange marriages. A man can have up to four wives if he can afford them, but monogamy is the norm. The Bati have large families; they view children as a blessing from Allah. Many children die before their tenth birthday due to lack of modern medicine. It is the sons' responsibility to take care of their elderly parents.
The Bati are primarily an oral culture. Many women are unable to read and write. The Bati pass down important traditions through poems, songs, dances and artwork. The Bati live in such a remote area that few schools exist to educate their children.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Bati people are officially Sunni Muslim, but also believe in natural spirits and the ghosts of their ancestors. These spirits must be appeased or they can bring disaster upon the people.


What Are Their Needs?

The new churches among the Bati need pastors and Bible teachers. The Bati need to see the love of Christ demonstrated among them in practical ways, including through modern medicine, education, and modern technology such as solar panels.
The Bati language has no Christian resources, so they need a translation of the New Testament. Due to the lack of literacy, especially among the women, the Bati especially need audio resources.


Prayer Points

Ask the Lord to send loving, Holy Spirit-anointed workers to the Bati and to direct them to Bati who are hungry for spiritual truth.
Pray that the new Bati believers would grow in their faith and their knowledge and practice of the Bible.
Pray that every Bati person would have the opportunity to hear the gospel in a way he or she can understand.
Ask God to initiate a Disciple Making Movement to spread throughout Bati communities in this decade.


Scripture Prayers for the Bati in Indonesia.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Bati
People Name in Country Bati
Alternate Names Bush Bati
Population this Country 5,500
Population all Countries 5,500
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 6  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 10726
ROP3 Code 101137
ROP25 Code 309193
ROP25 Name Bati (Indonesia)
Country Indonesia
Region Asia, Southeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 42  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Maluku Province. East coast, Seram island between Kian Darat and Keleser towns, inland.   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Country Indonesia
Region Asia, Southeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 42  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Maluku Province. East coast, Seram island between Kian Darat and Keleser towns, inland..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
8.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
92.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Bati (5,500 speakers)
Language Code bvt   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Unknown
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Bati (5,500 speakers)
Language Code bvt   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Bati

Primary Language:  Bati

Bible Translation Status:  Translation Needed

Resource Type Resource Name Source
None reported  
Photo Source Anonymous 
Map Source Joshua Project / Global Mapping International  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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