People group profile · PG010188
The Maria of Papua New Guinea
The Maria of Papua New Guinea, numbering about 3,300 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are an indigenous ethnic group of Papua New Guinea, Central province: Marshall Lagoon to Mt.
They are an indigenous people in the New Guinea people cluster of the Pacific Islander Peoples. Their primary religion is Protestantism, and they primarily speak Maria (Papua New Guinea).
Fast facts
- Country
- Papua New Guinea
- Population
- 3,300
- Affinity group
- Asian Pacific Rim Peoples
- People cluster
- New Guinea
- Primary language
- Maria (Papua New Guinea) (mds)
- Primary religion
- Protestantism
- Strategic Progress Index ?
- No Longer Unreached
- Evangelical
- 30% or Greater but Less than 40%
- GSEC ?
- 10% or Greater Evangelical
- Lostness priority ?
- Significantly Reached People Group
- Region
- Melanesia, Oceania
Where they live
Gospel status
The Maria are No Longer Unreached, which means 2% or more are evangelical Christians. In GSEC terms, this people group is greater than or equal to 10% evangelical.
- Congregations exist Yes
- Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted
Next steps for the Maria
- 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
Protestantism · Christianity
40% adherents
Primary language
Maria (Papua New Guinea) · Manubaran family
100% speak Maria (Papua New Guinea)
Gospel resources in Maria (Papua New Guinea)
- 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 Maria
- 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.
- Romans 10:14–15. Ask God to send messengers, so that people can hear, believe and call on the name of the Lord.
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