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People group profile · PG022786

The Balaesan of Indonesia

The Balaesan of Indonesia, numbering about 6,400 people, are Unengaged and Unreached. They are an ethnolinguistic community of Indonesia.

They are an indigenous people in the Kaili-Tomini of Sulawesi people cluster of the Malay Peoples. Their primary religion is Sunni Islam, and they primarily speak Balaesang.

Pray for the BalaesanPrint profile

AI-generated illustration representing the Balaesan people
AI-generated illustration, not a photograph. Photo by Google. (2026). Image generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash: Balaesan

Fast facts

Country
Indonesia
Population
6,400
Affinity group
Asian Pacific Rim Peoples
People cluster
Kaili-Tomini of Sulawesi
Primary language
Balaesang (bls)
Primary religion
Sunni Islam
Strategic Progress Index ?
Unengaged and Unreached
Evangelical
Less than 2%
GSEC ?
Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
Lostness priority ?
Frontier Unreached People Group
Region
South-Eastern Asia, Asia
Location
Central Sulawesi province: Donggala regency, Balaesang sub-district, Kamonji, Ketong, and Rano villages on Manimbayu peninsula

Where they live

Gospel status

The Balaesan are Unengaged and Unreached, which means fewer than 2% are evangelical Christians, and there has been no reported church planting activity in the past two years. 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 No
  • Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted

Next steps for the Balaesan

  • Pray that God would send workers to this people group
  • Begin sowing the gospel and seek out people of peace
  • Plant the first churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice

Primary religion

Sunni Islam · Islam

99% adherents

Primary language

Balaesang · Austronesian family

75% speak Balaesang

Gospel resources in Balaesang

  • Bible not available
  • JESUS Film not available
  • Radio programs not available
  • Gospel recordings not available
  • Audio resources not available
  • Bible stories not available

Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.

Pray for the Balaesan

  1. Romans 10:14–15. Ask God to send messengers, so that people can hear, believe and call on the name of the Lord.
  2. Matthew 9:37–38. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest field.
  3. 2 Timothy 2:2. Pray for faithful local leaders who will teach others, so that the church multiplies.
  4. Ephesians 5:8. Pray that those walking in darkness will turn to the light and live as children of light.

Download a prayer guide

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