People group profile · PG018487
The Central Sama of Malaysia
The Central Sama of Malaysia, numbering about 69,000 people, are Unengaged and Unreached. They are a seafaring Sama-Bajau community of Sabah whose oral tradition traces their descent from Johor royal guards, and whose ancestors joined the Mat Salleh Rebellion against British colonial rule in the late nineteenth century.
They are an indigenous people in the Filipino, Muslim people cluster of the Malay Peoples. Their primary religion is Sunni Islam, and they primarily speak Central Sama.
Fast facts
- Country
- Malaysia
- Population
- 69,000
- Affinity group
- Asian Pacific Rim Peoples
- People cluster
- Filipino, Muslim
- Primary language
- Central Sama (sml)
- 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
- Frontier Unreached People Group
- Region
- South-Eastern Asia, Asia
Where they live
Gospel status
The Central Sama 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 Central Sama
- 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
99% adherents
Primary language
Central Sama · Austronesian family
100% speak Central Sama
Gospel resources in Central Sama
- Bible available
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Bibles
- 2008, Wycliffe Bible Translators, Inc. · video, audio, text
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Central Sama
- 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.
Sama, Central in other countries
The same people (ROP3 101933) is reported in 1 other country.
| People group | Country | Population | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Sama | Philippines | 143,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
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