People group profile · PG018475
The Bisaya of Malaysia
The Bisaya of Malaysia, numbering about 87,000 people, are Unengaged and Unreached. They are a Kadazan-Dusun tribe indigenous to the northwest coast of East Malaysia on the island of Borneo.
They are an indigenous people in the Borneo-Kalimantan people cluster of the Malay Peoples. Their primary religion is Sunni Islam, and they primarily speak Sabah Bisaya.
Fast facts
- Country
- Malaysia
- Population
- 87,000
- Affinity group
- Asian Pacific Rim Peoples
- People cluster
- Borneo-Kalimantan
- Primary language
- Sabah Bisaya (bsy)
- Primary religion
- Sunni Islam
- Strategic Progress Index
- Unengaged and Unreached
- Evangelical
- Less than 2%
- GSEC
- Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
- Lostness priority
- Pioneer Unreached People Group
- Region
- South-Eastern Asia, Asia
- Location
- North Brunei Bay coast area, mainly west Beaufort along Padas River, south of Weston; south Kuala Penyu District to coast
Where they live
Gospel status
The Bisaya are Unengaged and Unreached, which means fewer than 2% are evangelical Christians, and there has been no reported church planting activity in the past two years. 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 No
- Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted
Next steps for the Bisaya
- Pray that God would send workers to this people group
- Begin sowing the gospel and seek out people of peace
- Plant the first churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice
Primary religion
Sunni Islam · Islam
90% adherents
Primary language
Sabah Bisaya · Austronesian family
70% speak Sabah Bisaya
Gospel resources in Sabah Bisaya
- Bible available, published 1938
- 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 Bisaya
- 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.
- 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.
Bisaya in other countries
The same people (ROP3 101489) is reported in 1 other country.
| People group | Country | Population | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bisayas | United States | 15,000 | Unengaged and Unreached |
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