People group profile · PG022795
The Bonerate of Indonesia
The Bonerate of Indonesia, numbering about 15,500 people, are Unengaged and Unreached. They are an island people of Indonesia's Flores Sea south of Selayar, descended from the original island population mixed with early Butonese settlers, linguistically tied to Buton rather than mainland Sulawesi, historically known as skilled boatbuilders.
They are an indigenous people in the Tukangbesi of Sulawesi people cluster of the Malay Peoples. Their primary religion is Sunni Islam, and they primarily speak Bonerate.
Fast facts
- Country
- Indonesia
- Population
- 15,500
- Affinity group
- Asian Pacific Rim Peoples
- People cluster
- Tukangbesi of Sulawesi
- Primary language
- Bonerate (bna)
- Primary religion
- Sunni Islam
- Strategic Progress Index ?
- Unengaged and Unreached
- Evangelical
- No Known Evangelicals
- GSEC ?
- No Evangelicals, Churches or Resources
- Lostness priority ?
- Frontier Unreached People Group
- Region
- South-Eastern Asia, Asia
- Location
- South Sulawesi province: Bonerate, Madu, Kalaotoa, Karompa, and Selayer islands
Where they live
Gospel status
The Bonerate 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, there are no evangelical Christians or churches among this people group and there is no access to evangelical print, audio, visual or human resources.
- Congregations exist No
- Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted
Next steps for the Bonerate
- 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
Bonerate · Austronesian family
100% speak Bonerate
Gospel resources in Bonerate
- 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 Bonerate
- 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.
- John 17:3. Pray that many will come to know the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom he has sent.
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