People group profile · PG018430
The Southwest Bay of Vanuatu
The Southwest Bay of Vanuatu, numbering about 1,100 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are an Oceanic people of the Sinesip cultural area in southwestern Malakula, Vanuatu, whose kin groups hold exclusive rights to dances, artifacts, and songs tied to particular places, believed to be gifts from the spirit world that can be traded.
They are an indigenous people in the Vanuatu people cluster of the Pacific Islander Peoples. Their primary religion is Roman Catholicism, and they primarily speak South West Bay.
Fast facts
- Country
- Vanuatu
- Population
- 1,100
- Affinity group
- Asian Pacific Rim Peoples
- People cluster
- Vanuatu
- Primary language
- South West Bay (sns)
- 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 ?
- Moderately Reached People Group
- Region
- Melanesia, Oceania
Where they live
Gospel status
The Southwest Bay 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 Southwest Bay
- 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
54% adherents
Primary language
South West Bay · Austronesian family
68% speak South West Bay
Gospel resources in South West Bay
- Bible available, published 1905
- 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 Southwest Bay
- 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.
- Matthew 9:37–38. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest field.
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