People group profile · PG022519
The Minangkabau of Indonesia
The Minangkabau of Indonesia, numbering about 8,130,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a matrilineal Austronesian people of the Minangkabau Highlands of West Sumatra whose identity was shaped by the Pagaruyung kingdom, widespread migration traditions, and a distinctive synthesis of Malay heritage and Islamic custom.
They are an indigenous people in the Minangkabau-Rejang of Sumatra people cluster of the Malay Peoples. Their primary religion is Sunni Islam, and they primarily speak Minangkabau.
Fast facts
- Country
- Indonesia
- Population
- 8,130,000
- Affinity group
- Asian Pacific Rim Peoples
- People cluster
- Minangkabau-Rejang of Sumatra
- Primary language
- Minangkabau (min)
- Primary religion
- Sunni Islam
- Strategic Progress Index
- Engaged yet Unreached
- Evangelical
- Less than 2%
- GSEC
- Less than 2% Evangelical, Concentrated CP Activity
- Lostness priority
- Frontier Unreached People Group
- Region
- South-Eastern Asia, Asia
- Location
- Aceh province: Aceh Singkil regency, Pulau Banyak and Singkil districts; Simeulue regency, Sinabang; South Aceh regency; Southwest Aceh regency; West Aceh regency, Meureubo district (Aneuk Jamèe dialect); Bengkulu province: west coast Mukomuko area; Sout
Where they live
Gospel status
The Minangkabau are Engaged yet Unreached, which means fewer than 2% are evangelical Christians, but there are sustained efforts to establish self-sustaining churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice. In GSEC terms, this people group is less than 2% evangelical but there has been initial or concentrated church planting among them within the past two years.
- Congregations exist Yes
- Church planting in the last two years Concentrated Church Planting
Next steps for the Minangkabau
- Continue prayer and fasting for this group
- Continue gospel seed sowing and church planting among this group
- Begin training up local leaders to lead and develop strategies to reach their own people
Primary religion
Sunni Islam · Islam
99% adherents
Primary language
Minangkabau · Austronesian family
100% speak Minangkabau
Gospel resources in Minangkabau
- Bible available, published -
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
- JESUS (Minangkabau)
Bibles
- Today's Minang Version, 2010 · video, audio, text
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Minangkabau
- 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.
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