“He has brought Timor Leste into the kingdom of the Son he loves!”
For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves(Colossians 1:13)
》 Country Profile
Continent | Southeast Asia
Population ｜ 1.44 million
Area ｜ 14,874㎢ Located on the east side of Timor between Indonesia and Australia in Southeast Asia.
Capital City | Dili (280,000 people)
People Groups | Total 24 groups, Austronesian-speaking people groups (Tetum 39.4%, Mambai 11.9%, Makasai 9.3%, Baikeno 6.3%), Trans-New Guinea language family (Bunaq 5%)
Offical Language(s) | Tetum, Portuguese
Total Languages | 23
Bible Translations | Completed 3, New Testament 2, Partial 2
Religion | Christian 91.3% (Protestant 4%, Catholic 85.3%), Ethnic religion 8.4%, Islam 0.2%, Hindu 0.1% /Evangelical 2.5% (36,000 people)
》 About Timor-Leste
Timor-Leste was a Portuguese colony from 1511 to 1975, and was occupied by Japan from 1942 to 1945. After declaring independence in 1975, Indonesia invaded nine days later and forcibly annexed the country in 1976. Around 100,000 to 250,000 people died during Indonesia’s 25-year rule. In 2006, a military uprising led to violence and the breakdown of law and order, threatening national security. In response to a government request, the UN deployed 1,600 authorized police officers as well as the peacekeeping troops of the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT). The country experienced its longest period of stability since its independence after successfully holding parliamentary and presidential elections in 2012 and a regime change in 2015. After completing its peacekeeping mission by the end of 2012, the UNMIT has departed the country. As a semi-presidential republic, José Ramos-Horta has been serving a five-year term as president since 2022.
Timor-Leste’s economy struggles, with 42% of the population living in poverty. Since 2005, the country experienced growth from oil and gas revenues, as well as increased public investment, especially after the global rise in oil prices in 2007. However, from 2013, economic growth slowed due to political instability and falling oil prices. While 65% of the population works in agriculture, it only contributes to 17% of the GDP due to low productivity. With concerns over the depletion of its oil reserves, the government is focusing on developing new oil and gas fields. The country faces several challenges, including diversifying its economy in the non-oil sector, addressing high youth unemployment, cultivating a skilled workforce, improving the quality of public services, enhancing the productivity and efficiency of government spending, and revitalizing the private economic sector. Timor-Leste’s GDP per capita is approximately $3,200
》 Scripture Focus
| Colossians 1:13-20(NIV) 13. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14. in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. 15. The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20. and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. |
》 Prayer Points
1. Having spent over 500 years as a Portuguese colony, Catholicism has became a major part of the traditions and culture of Timor-Leste. While more than 85% of the population identifies as Catholic, many still mix Catholic beliefs with traditional spiritualism. Despite some resistance due to the perception that Protestantism is a religion that came from Indonesia, it accounts for 4% of the population with over 36,000 evangelical believers. Let us give thanks for this growth. Let us pray that through the preaching and teaching of the Assemblies of God (AoG) and the IPTL (Protestant Church in East Timor), pastors and believers will be firmly established in the gospel and prayer and leave nominalism behind. Through the church’s prayers and evangelism, may the people be delivered from the dominion of darkness and brought into the Kingdom of the Son of God.
2. Many NGOs have provided aid and development assistance to Timor-Leste, although some have withdrawn due to instability. The government welcomes missionaries, especially those with expertise in education, and ministries like YWAM have responded by building orphanages and elementary schools. Several mission organizations, including Christian Vision, the Transformation Alliance, Nazarene Church, and WEC, are focusing on ministries for children and youth. Let us pray that missionaries will preach and teach the holistic gospel and raise up godly leaders who will be disciples of Christ. May the people of Timor-Leste be reconciled to God through the peace brought by Jesus’ blood, and may they experience the joy of salvation.
3. About 40% of the population belongs to the Tetum people group, and 11.9% are Mambai. However, since most Timorese people are not familiar with the Bible, they need to hear the truth of the gospel and be transformed through faith. The New Testament has been translated into Tetum, but the complete Bible is still needed. 16 other languages need Bible translations as well. Through the Jesus Film and the Christian Vision radio station, the gospel is being spread in various languages. Let us pray that all who hear the message may be transformed. Many orphans are at risk of becoming street gangsters or victims of sex-trafficking. Let us pray that through programs like the Life Project, Shalom Center, and Children at Risk, children may be restored by God’s love and raised up as a holy army to spread the gospel.
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