People group profile · PG022568
The Kalabit of Indonesia
The Kalabit of Indonesia, numbering about 750 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are a Dayak highland people of the Bario region straddling Sarawak and North Kalimantan, isolated practitioners of animism and headhunting until 1940s Christian conversion, whose elders aided Sarawak's liberation from Japanese occupation in World War II.
They are an indigenous people in the Borneo-Kalimantan people cluster of the Malay Peoples. Their primary religion is Protestantism, and they primarily speak Kelabit.
Fast facts
- Country
- Indonesia
- Population
- 750
- Affinity group
- Asian Pacific Rim Peoples
- People cluster
- Borneo-Kalimantan
- Primary language
- Kelabit (kzi)
- Primary religion
- Protestantism
- Strategic Progress Index ?
- No Longer Unreached
- Evangelical
- 40% or Greater but Less than 50%
- GSEC ?
- 10% or Greater Evangelical
- Lostness priority ?
- Significantly Reached People Group
- Region
- South-Eastern Asia, Asia
Where they live
Gospel status
The Kalabit 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 Kalabit
- 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
Protestantism · Christianity
49% adherents
Primary language
Kelabit · Austronesian family
76% speak Kelabit
Gospel resources in Kelabit
- Bible available
- JESUS Film not available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Kalabit
- 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.
Kalabit in other countries
The same people is also reported in 1 other country.
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