People group profile · PG019282
The Tambanua of Malaysia
The Tambanua of Malaysia, numbering about 16,500 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are an ethnolinguistic community of Malaysia.
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 Tombonuo.
Fast facts
- Country
- Malaysia
- Population
- 16,500
- Affinity group
- Asian Pacific Rim Peoples
- People cluster
- Borneo-Kalimantan
- Primary language
- Tombonuo (txa)
- Primary religion
- Sunni Islam
- Strategic Progress Index
- No Longer Unreached
- Evangelical
- 15% or Greater but Less than 20%
- GSEC
- 10% or Greater Evangelical
- Lostness priority
- Moderately Reached People Group
- Region
- South-Eastern Asia, Asia
- Location
- Sabah: Beluran, Kota Marudu, and Pitas districts
Where they live
Gospel status
The Tambanua are No Longer Unreached, which means 2% or more are evangelical Christians. In GSEC terms, this people group is greater than or equal to 10% evangelical.
- Congregations exist Yes
- Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted
Next steps for the Tambanua
- 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
Sunni Islam · Islam
50% adherents
Primary language
Tombonuo · Austronesian family
70% speak Tombonuo
Gospel resources in Tombonuo
- Bible available, published 2002
- JESUS Film not available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Bibles
- 2002 The Bible League · video, audio, text
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Tambanua
- 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.
- Ephesians 5:8. Pray that those walking in darkness will turn to the light and live as children of light.
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