People group profile · PG015295
The Betsimisaraka of Madagascar
The Betsimisaraka of Madagascar, numbering about 4,835,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a language of Madagascar, east coast, Toamasina province: Mahanoro District; Fianarantsoa province: Nosy Varika, Mananjary, Manakara Atsimo districts.
They are an indigenous people in the Malagasy people cluster of the Malay Peoples. Their primary religion is Ethnoreligion, and they primarily speak Southern Betsimisaraka Malagasy.
Fast facts
- Country
- Madagascar
- Population
- 4,835,000
- Affinity group
- Sub-Saharan African Peoples
- People cluster
- Malagasy
- Primary language
- Southern Betsimisaraka Malagasy (bzc)
- Primary religion
- Ethnoreligion
- Strategic Progress Index
- Engaged yet Unreached
- Evangelical
- Less than 2%
- GSEC
- Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
- Lostness priority
- Frontier Unreached People Group
- Region
- Eastern Africa, Africa
Where they live
Gospel status
The Betsimisaraka are Engaged yet Unreached, which means fewer than 2% are evangelical Christians, but there are sustained efforts to establish self-sustaining churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice. 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 Yes
- Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted
Next steps for the Betsimisaraka
- Continue prayer and fasting for this group
- Continue gospel seed sowing and church planting among this group
- Begin training up local leaders to lead and develop strategies to reach their own people
Primary religion
42% adherents
Primary language
Southern Betsimisaraka Malagasy · Austronesian family
60% speak Southern Betsimisaraka Malagasy
Gospel resources in Southern Betsimisaraka Malagasy
- Bible available, published 2014
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings not available
- Audio resources not available
- Bible stories available
Films
- JESUS (Malagasy, Southern Betsimisaraka)
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Betsimisaraka
- 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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