In the early part of this century, the Lubu still roamed the mountains in a wild state, living mainly in tree houses. They shot game with blow guns and poisoned darts and existed on the products of the jungle. Their clothing was simple, they ate all types of meat, and they cooked in hollow bamboo.

Although they have made considerable progress since that time, the Lubu are still very tribal in their basic lifestyle. Like the Kubu, they are afraid of water and seldom wash, even though they live alongside rivers. They are generally despised and mistrusted by their Batak neighbors, who suspect them of partaking in all kinds of witchcraft.

What Are Their Lives Like
No longer living in the trees, the Lubu now live in huts built on the ground. A group of houses forms a village (bandja), and a number of villages forms a district (kuria). The chief of the bandja is called na bodjo bodjo. All the older male members of the community (the family heads) have a voice in the village government. When a chief dies, he is succeeded by his son.

In every Lubu village there are special communal houses (tawatak) for boys and others for girls. After the age of twelve, both sexes are expected to sleep in these communal houses. Marriages usually take place when the girls turn fifteen. A small bride-price is required, but most Lubu men do not have the ability to pay it. As a result, most of them must work for up to two years for their future parents-in-law during the engagement period.

The Lubu grow rice as their staple crop. However, on the whole, they do not seem very particular in their choice of food. For special delicacies, they eat mice and bats, as well as monkeys killed with blowguns.

The musical instruments and songs of the Lubu have been adopted from the Batak. The Lubu often compose songs about their culture, and these are sung around the fires at night. Interestingly, the Lubu never dance.

What Are Their Belief?
Although 20% of the Lubu are nominally Muslim, the great majority (80%) are ethnic religionists, still practicing many of their pagan beliefs. Hosts of both good and evil spirits are honored, especially the spirit of the first tribal chief, Singa Tandang. The Lubu attribute sickness to the work of evil spirits, particularly ghosts who are said to work either externally or internally on a person. Many traditional rituals are performed at birth and puberty. Like the Alas-Kluet, Lubu girls have their teeth filed and permanently blackened before marriage.

What Are Their Needs?
It is imperative that a more detailed and specific study of the Lubu be done in order to develop church planting strategies. Medical and agricultural help would probably be a vital part of any effective ministry to the Lubu. A very small percentage of the people have been exposed to the Gospel, but there are no known Christians. The Bible, the Jesus film, and Christian radio broadcasts are not available to the Lubu in their own language. Thus, there remains a great need for Bible translators and Christian media personnel who can meet this need.

The remoteness of the Lubu has played a major role in their neglect by missionary efforts. Although they live close to the Batak (many of whom are Christian), long-standing bitterness and fear prevents the Gospel from being effectively shared. Their pagan religious beliefs, as well as the veneer of Islam, keep them in spiritual bondage. Because of their many rituals, the Lubu are unaware that they can be completely set free. Fervent intercession is the key to opening their hearts to the truth that Jesus is the only God who can deliver them.

• Ask the Lord of the harvest to send missionaries to live and work among the Lubu.
• Pray that Christian radio broadcasts and the Jesus film will soon be available to the Lubu.
• Ask the Lord to raise up qualified linguists to translate the Bible into the Lubu language.
• Pray that God will reveal Himself to the Lubu through dreams and visions.
• Ask the Holy Spirit to save key leaders among the Lubu who will boldly proclaim the Gospel.
• Take authority over the spiritual principalities and powers that have kept the Lubu bound for many generations.
• Ask God to raise up prayer teams who will begin breaking up the soil through worship and intercession.
• Pray that strong local churches will be raised up among the Lubu by the year 2000.

THE PEOPLE

• People name: Lubu
• Country: Indonesia
• Their language: Lubu
• Population: (1990) 35,600
  (1995) 38,500
  (2000) 41,400
• Largest religion: Ethnic religionist 80%
  Muslim (Sunni) 20%
• Christian: 0%
• Church members: 0
• Scriptures in their own language: None
• Jesus Film in their own language: None
• Christian broadcasts in their own language: None
• Mission agencies working among this people: 0
• Persons who have heard the Gospel: 1,900 (5%) Those evangelized by local Christians: 0 (0%)
  Those evangelized from the outside: 1,900 (5%)
• Persons who have never heard the Gospel: 36,600 (95%)

• Country: Indonesia
• Population: (1990) 182,811,600
  (1995) 197,587,700
  (2000) 212,730,600
• Major peoples in size order: Javanese 26.2%
  Javanese Indonesian 10.7%
  Sudanese 10.6%
  Madurese 5.7%
  Sudanese Indonesian 3.1%
• Major religions: Muslim 43.7%
  New religionist 35%
  Christian 13%
• Number of denominations: 113