Three times a week the International Mission Board sends out prayer requests for situations missionaries are facing. They call it "Prayerline." You can subscribe to it from the IMB website. Today's Prayerline illustrates the differences in people groups.
The Ar people of Colombia believe that although there is a Creator God, he does not involve himself in the real world. The real world is controlled by spirits and lesser gods. They also believe that man does not have a personal relationship with his Creator God. The Ar people do not see God as more powerful than the spirit world--or, at least, they do not have access directly to that power. The word of a non-Ar person has little value.
Ganaks (pronounced guh-KNOCKS) are a high-caste Hindu group who live in Northeast India. They consider themselves to be brothers of the Brahmin, the priestly Hindu caste. Ganaks are involved in astrology, the consulting of the positions of planets and stars to determine the fortunes and misfortunes of a person’s life. When a child is born, a Ganak astrologer will write out a horoscope that contains all the events of the person’s life and predicts aspects of their personality, their future job, and even the person they will marry. When there is any problem, they consult an astrologer to ask what ritual should be done or what type of special stone ring should be worn to counteract the problem. For Ganaks, astrology is not just a belief, it is a science. Traditionally, they are also devout Hindus, and worship many different gods. There are very few believers among the Ganak. A few house fellowships have been formed by those who have moved to more urban areas.
Each people group has unique faith issues which necessitates unique approaches. Who will pray for the AR and the GANAK? Two Colombian believers are trying to reach the AR. I assume that some unnamed person(s) is trying to reach the GANAK or their situation would not have been shared. But who will reach the 3,800 people groups that have yet to be embraced?
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