People group profile · PG018432
The Southwest Tannese of Vanuatu
The Southwest Tannese of Vanuatu, numbering about 9,000 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are a Melanesian people of southwestern Tanna Island in Vanuatu, one of five distinct language communities on an island renowned for strong kastom traditions and, in some areas, the John Frum cargo-cult movement.
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 Southwest Tanna.
Fast facts
- Country
- Vanuatu
- Population
- 9,000
- Affinity group
- Asian Pacific Rim Peoples
- People cluster
- Vanuatu
- Primary language
- Southwest Tanna (nwi)
- Primary religion
- Roman 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
- Melanesia, Oceania
Where they live
Gospel status
The Southwest Tannese 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 Southwest Tannese
- 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
50% adherents
Primary language
Southwest Tanna · Austronesian family
100% speak Southwest Tanna
Gospel resources in Southwest Tanna
- Bible available, published 2014
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
- JESUS (Tanna, Southwest)
Bibles
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Southwest Tannese
- 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.
- 2 Timothy 2:2. Pray for faithful local leaders who will teach others, so that the church multiplies.
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