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People group profile · PG017126

The Tembe of Brazil

The Tembe of Brazil, numbering about 1,500 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are an Indigenous people of Brazil, belonging to the Tupi-Guarani linguistic family. They primarily inhabit areas in the eastern Amazon, especially in the state of Pará, near the Guamá and Gurupi rivers, and some communities in Maranhão.

They are an indigenous people in the Guarani people cluster of the Latin American and Caribbean Peoples. Their primary religion is Folk Catholicism, and they primarily speak Tembé.

Pray for the TembePrint profile

AI-generated illustration representing the Tembe people
AI-generated illustration, not a photograph. Photo by Google. (2026). Image generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash: Tembe

Fast facts

Country
Brazil
Population
1,500
Affinity group
American Peoples
People cluster
Guarani
Primary language
Tembé (tqb)
Primary religion
Folk Catholicism
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 ?
Marginally Reached People Group
Region
South America, Americas
Location
Pará: Terra Indígena Alto Turiaçu, banks of Gurupi river

Where they live

Gospel status

The Tembe 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 Yes
  • Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted

Next steps for the Tembe

  • 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

Folk Catholicism · Christianity

57% adherents

Primary language

Tembé · Tupian family

75% speak Tembé

Gospel resources in Tembé

  • Bible available, published 2008
  • JESUS Film not available
  • Radio programs not available
  • Gospel recordings not available
  • Audio resources available
  • Bible stories not available

Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.

Pray for the Tembe

  1. 2 Timothy 2:2. Pray for faithful local leaders who will teach others, so that the church multiplies.
  2. Ephesians 5:8. Pray that those walking in darkness will turn to the light and live as children of light.
  3. Romans 10:14–15. Ask God to send messengers, so that people can hear, believe and call on the name of the Lord.
  4. Matthew 9:37–38. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest field.

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