The Rutara people, isolated from God’s truth because they don’t have the Scriptures in their own language, are caught in a fear-based religion requiring them to continually appease the spirit world. Their religion weaves their traditional animistic worship with the beliefs of a major world religion that includes various spirits, gods and goddesses. Less than one percent of the population makes up a small but active Christian church.

The church has grown slowly during the past decade. But because Rutara believers have access to Scripture only in the national language, most don’t understand the gospel message, and they continue to cling to their animistic religious practices.

Local churches and Christian workers will promote the Rutara Scriptures when they are produced. The translation team has the endorsement of the Rutara Christian community, but the project can’t move forward without partners who will invest and pray.

Getting to know the Rutara

Historically the Rutara people are a hunter/gatherer society, taking particular pride in their fishing ability; they fish with handwoven nets and natural poisons. As outsiders migrated into the fertile Rutara area, they cleared broad areas of the forestland for agriculture. Now, many Rutara speakers depend upon subsistence farming and raising cattle for their livelihood.