People group profile · PG007638
The Bataan Sambal of the Philippines
The Bataan Sambal of the Philippines, numbering about 2,700 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are an Ayta people of the Bataan Peninsula whose name means to separate, distinguishing them from other Ayta groups, among the Philippines' earliest inhabitants some 30,000 years ago, with the highest documented Denisovan ancestry in the world.
They are an indigenous people in the Filipino Tribal people cluster of the Malay Peoples. Their primary religion is Animism, and they primarily speak Magbukun Ayta.
Fast facts
- Country
- Philippines
- Population
- 2,700
- Affinity group
- Asian Pacific Rim Peoples
- People cluster
- Filipino Tribal
- Primary language
- Magbukun Ayta (ayt)
- Primary religion
- Animism
- Strategic Progress Index ?
- No Longer Unreached
- Evangelical
- 5% or Greater but Less than 10%
- GSEC ?
- 5% or Greater but Less than 10% Evangelical
- Lostness priority ?
- Moderately Reached People Group
- Region
- South-Eastern Asia, Asia
Where they live
Gospel status
The Bataan Sambal are No Longer Unreached, which means 2% or more are evangelical Christians. In GSEC terms, this people group is greater than or equal to 5% evangelical.
- Congregations exist Yes
- Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted
Next steps for the Bataan Sambal
- Pray for the churches among this group to grow in faithfulness and maturity
- Equip believers to reach the unreached peoples around them
- Send out laborers from this people to the nations
Primary religion
Animism · Ethnoreligion
95% adherents
Primary language
Magbukun Ayta · Austronesian family
50% speak Magbukun Ayta
Gospel resources in Magbukun Ayta
- Bible not available
- JESUS Film not available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources not available
- Bible stories not available
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Bataan Sambal
- 2 Timothy 2:2. Pray for faithful local leaders who will teach others, so that the church multiplies.
- Ephesians 5:8. Pray that those walking in darkness will turn to the light and live as children of light.
- Romans 10:14–15. Ask God to send messengers, so that people can hear, believe and call on the name of the Lord.
- Matthew 9:37–38. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest field.
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