Land Dayak, Djongkang in Indonesia

Introduction / History

Today the Djongkang tribe has become a prominent people in West Borneo. Many scholars and official leaders come from this people. Deputy of Sanggau Distric (Kabupaten), Paolus Hadi, is Jangkang.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Jangkang has a strategic position having direct access to international transportation linking it to Sarawak, Malaysia and the wider world by road and through the port in the regional capital, Pontianak. But the road from Jangkang to Kembayan sub-distric is full of holes, wet and dirty in the rain season. The road from Jangkang to Mokok sub-distric (kecamatan) and to Sanggau is more better because facilitated by oil palm company.
Jangkang average population growth over the last ten years is 1.23 percent per annum. Jangkang trade and education are running well. Paddy is a staff of life. Rubber plantation is more wanted than sawit (oil palm plantation) and other plants. Oil palm plantation makes Dayak people uncomfortable because it has bad implications for local communities and indigenous peoples.
In Bodok and Mukok sub-distric, palm oil only became the main emphasis for investment and business expansion. The main economic activity at that time was logging, with almost the whole sub-district being allocated to primary forest logging. The result was widespread forest degradation and the companies paying little attention to their responsibilities to manage forests for the long term and carry out reforestation.
Djongkang people refuse the oil palm company, and they argue that for a long time, forest and environmental equity have made them survive. Djongkang people aware that oil palm company will change their ways of life and then lead to everything being measured only in economic terms. In their words, "Oil palm company has stealing in our own homes".

What Are Their Beliefs?

The Djongkang people practice mainly animism and various forms of Christianity. Long before a Catholic pastor from Sanggau parish came to Jangkang, the Jangkang Dayak tribe were animists. Sanggau parish history wrote that in 1934 Capuijn Father Fridolinus made a journey to Jangkang by foot. During the 1930s and 1940s various missionaries and parish leaders visited the Djongkang and eventually a Catholic parish was established.
Today the majority of Djongkangs are Catholics according to Badan Pusat Statistik Sanggau (Sanggau Regency in Figures). Once a week layity people in the Church in Jangkang parish gather and pray together from house to house. Sometimes at the night they pray "Rosario", a devotion to Mary, a Jangkang parish patron.
The Jangkang parish is served only by 2 pastors. So Jangkang district is waiting for more than 2 pastors and especially in Jangkang when for the first time Christian faith came from and grew up here, not every Sunday they attend a service.

What Are Their Needs?

The Djongkangs need to put all their faith in Jesus Christ.

Prayer Points

Pray for a multiplying movement of disciples who will bring healing, unity, and lasting hope, transforming entire villages through the power of Christ.
Pray that soon they will become Christ's ambassadors to disciple less-reached nations.
Pray for the Lord to bless Djongkang Christian believers with an abundance of God's love, joy, and kindness, drawing others to the King of kings.
Pray for them to be grateful for God's spiritual and physical provisions.
Pray that the Holy Spirit will move powerfully, so that they may become a light to those who still lack a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Text Source:   Joshua Project