Northern Sumatra Mission, Indonesia

The vision of Northern Sumatra Mission (NSM) is to plant churches among the unreached people groups in northern Sumatra. A daughter ministry of Cahaya Suku, another ministry partner of Partners International, NSM grew quickly after Partners helped church planters relocate to assist in tsunami relief projects. Today NSM operates evangelistic and holistic projects with the ultimate goal of seeing Christian communities established. Partners has worked alongside NSM as an independent organization since 2008, helping the team establish their ministry outreaches in this tough area. Consistent investments in leadership training and organizational development have enabled NSM to continue to grow year by year.

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The vision of Northern Sumatra Mission (NSM) is to plant churches among the unreached people groups in northern Sumatra, Indonesia. A daughter ministry of Cahaya Suku, another ministry partner of Partners International, NSM grew quickly after Partners helped church planters relocate to assist in tsunami relief projects. Today NSM operates evangelistic and holistic projects with the ultimate goal of seeing Christian communities established. Partners has worked alongside NSM as an independent organization since 2008, helping the team establish their ministry outreaches in this tough area. Consistent investments in leadership training and organizational development have enabled NSM to continue to grow year by year.

Sumatra is the largest unevangelized island in the world. Of its 52 unreached people groups, 48 have no indigenous churches and 30 of them have no known Christian workers. The Deli Malay, and Mandailing people groups are some of the most unreached groups on the island. Because there were never more than a few dozen foreign missionaries committed to reaching them, Muslims in this part of the country have had little exposure to the Gospel.

Due to a 30-year conflict between separatists and the Indonesian government, many have never met a Christian or seen a Bible. Their only reference points are sermons and teachings from their religious teachers warning that anything Christian will defile them. Conversion to Christianity is paramount to committing “cultural suicide.” Yet, since the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and the opening up to the outside world, some recent and encouraging progress has been made and new opportunities have opened to share the Gospel.

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