People group profile · PG022746
The Sabu of Indonesia
The Sabu of Indonesia, numbering about 154,000 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are an Austronesian ethnic group of eastern Indonesia, best known as the indigenous people of Savu (Sawu/Sabu) and Raijua islands in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Province.
They are an indigenous people in the Flores-Sumba-Alor people cluster of the Malay Peoples. Their primary religion is Animism, and they primarily speak Sabu.
Fast facts
- Country
- Indonesia
- Population
- 154,000
- Affinity group
- Asian Pacific Rim Peoples
- People cluster
- Flores-Sumba-Alor
- Primary language
- Sabu (hvn)
- Primary religion
- Animism
- 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
- Also known as
- Dou Hawu, Havunese
- Region
- South-Eastern Asia, Asia
- Location
- East Nusa Tenggara province: Flores island, Ende area; Raijua and Sawu islands, 3 enclaves; Sumba island, Waingapu and Melolo areas; Timor island, Kupang city
Where they live
Gospel status
The Sabu 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 Sabu
- 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
Animism · Ethnoreligion
80% adherents
Primary language
Sabu · Austronesian family
100% speak Sabu
Gospel resources in Sabu
- Bible available, published 2020
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
- JESUS (Sabu)
Bibles
- 2020 LAI · text
- 2020 Unit Bahasa dan Budaya (UBB) · video, audio, text
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Sabu
- 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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