People group profile · PG007858
The Cocos Malays of Christmas Island
The Cocos Malays of Christmas Island, numbering about 250 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are a Malay community indigenous to the Cocos (Keeling) Islands of the eastern Indian Ocean. They speak Cocos Malay and English, practice predominantly Sunni Islam, and trace their heritage to settlers from across the Malay Archipelago.
They are a diaspora people in the Malay people cluster of the Malay Peoples. Their primary religion is Sunni Islam, and they primarily speak Cocos Islands Malay.
Fast facts
- Country
- Christmas Island
- Population
- 250
- Affinity group
- Asian Pacific Rim Peoples
- People cluster
- Malay
- Primary language
- Cocos Islands Malay (coa)
- Primary religion
- Sunni Islam
- Strategic Progress Index
- No Longer Unreached
- Evangelical
- 2% or Greater but Less than 5%
- GSEC
- 2% or Greater but Less than 5% Evangelical
- Lostness priority
- Minimally Reached People Group
- Region
- Australia and New Zealand, Oceania
Where they live
Gospel status
The Cocos Malays are No Longer Unreached, which means 2% or more are evangelical Christians. In GSEC terms, this people group is greater than or equal to 2% evangelical.
- Congregations exist No
- Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted
Next steps for the Cocos Malays
- 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
Sunni Islam · Islam
97% adherents
Primary language
Cocos Islands Malay · Austronesian family
100% speak Cocos Islands Malay
Gospel resources in Cocos Islands Malay
- Bible not available
- JESUS Film not available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings not 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 Cocos Malays
- 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.
- 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.
Malay, Cocos Islands in other countries
The same people (ROP3 102252) is reported in 1 other country.
| People group | Country | Population | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cocos Malays | Cocos (Keeling) Islands | 550 | Unengaged and Unreached |
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