People group profile · PG010503
The Tanga of Papua New Guinea
The Tanga of Papua New Guinea, numbering about 12,000 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are an Austronesian-speaking island people of the Tanga and Feni Islands of Papua New Guinea whose identity is rooted in kinship networks, ceremonial traditions, seafaring heritage, and the cultural life of New Ireland Province.
They are an indigenous people in the New Guinea people cluster of the Pacific Islander Peoples. Their primary religion is Roman Catholicism, and they primarily speak Niwer Mil.
Fast facts
- Country
- Papua New Guinea
- Population
- 12,000
- Affinity group
- Asian Pacific Rim Peoples
- People cluster
- New Guinea
- Primary language
- Niwer Mil (hrc)
- Primary religion
- Roman Catholicism
- 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 ?
- Marginally Reached People Group
- Region
- Melanesia, Oceania
Where they live
Gospel status
The Tanga 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 Tanga
- 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
Roman Catholicism · Christianity
80% adherents
Primary language
Niwer Mil · Sino-Tibetan family
100% speak Niwer Mil
Gospel resources in Niwer Mil
- Bible available, published 1927
- 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 Tanga
- Revelation 7:9. Pray for the day when people from this group stand before the throne with every nation, tribe, people and language.
- 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.
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