People group profile · PG022785
The Bajau of Indonesia
The Bajau of Indonesia, numbering about 189,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a maritime branch of the broader Sama-Bajau peoples of Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines, who have traditionally practiced a seaborne way of life centered on fishing, trade, and mobility across the seas of Southeast Asia.
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 Indonesian Bajau.
Fast facts
- Country
- Indonesia
- Population
- 189,000
- Affinity group
- Asian Pacific Rim Peoples
- People cluster
- Borneo-Kalimantan
- Primary language
- Indonesian Bajau (bdl)
- Primary religion
- Sunni Islam
- Strategic Progress Index
- Engaged yet Unreached
- Evangelical
- Less than 2%
- GSEC
- Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
- Lostness priority
- Pioneer Unreached People Group
- Also known as
- Sama-Bajau, Bajau Laut, Sama Dilaut
- Region
- South-Eastern Asia, Asia
- Location
- Gorontalo province; North Maluku province: Bacan, Kayoa, Obi, and Sula islands; Central Sulawesi, North Sulawesi, South Sulawesi, and Southeast Sulawesi provinces
Where they live
Gospel status
The Bajau 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, some evangelical resources are available, but there has been no active church planting among them within the past two years.
- Congregations exist Yes
- Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted
Next steps for the Bajau
- 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
Indonesian Bajau · Austronesian family
76% speak Indonesian Bajau
Gospel resources in Indonesian Bajau
- Bible available, published 2020
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources not available
- Bible stories available
Films
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Bajau
- 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.
- Revelation 7:9. Pray for the day when people from this group stand before the throne with every nation, tribe, people and language.
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