People group profile · PG009569
The Aro of New Caledonia
The Aro of New Caledonia, numbering about 425 people, are Unengaged and Unreached. They are an Ajie-speaking Kanak people of Poya and Houailou, descended from Southeast Asian settlers who arrived in New Caledonia 5,000 to 6,000 years ago bringing slash-and-burn agriculture, irrigation, polished stone tools, and double-pontoon sailing craft.
They are an indigenous people in the New Caledonia people cluster of the Pacific Islander Peoples. Their primary religion is Roman Catholicism, and they primarily speak Ajië.
Fast facts
- Country
- New Caledonia
- Population
- 425
- Affinity group
- Asian Pacific Rim Peoples
- People cluster
- New Caledonia
- Primary language
- Ajië (aji)
- Primary religion
- Roman Catholicism
- Strategic Progress Index
- Unengaged and Unreached
- Evangelical
- No Known Evangelicals
- GSEC
- Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
- Lostness priority
- Frontier Unreached People Group
- Region
- Melanesia, Oceania
- Location
- North and South provinces: Cradji, Nékliai, and Poya on west coast
Where they live
Gospel status
The Aro are Unengaged and Unreached, which means fewer than 2% are evangelical Christians, and there has been no reported church planting activity in the past two years. In GSEC terms, this people group is less than 2% evangelical, some evangelical resources are available, but there has been no active church planting among them within the past two years.
- Congregations exist No
- Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted
Next steps for the Aro
- Pray that God would send workers to this people group
- Begin sowing the gospel and seek out people of peace
- Plant the first churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice
Primary religion
Roman Catholicism · Christianity
90% adherents
Primary language
Ajië · Austronesian family
100% speak Ajië
Gospel resources in Ajië
- Bible available, published 2014
- 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 Aro
- John 17:3. Pray that many will come to know the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom he has sent.
- Psalm 27:1. Pray that new believers will be strengthened in the face of persecution, with the Lord as their stronghold.
- Romans 12:4–5. Pray that believers from many cultures will work together as one body so that the church is built up.
- Revelation 7:9. Pray for the day when people from this group stand before the throne with every nation, tribe, people and language.
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