People group profile · PG022964
The Kupel of Indonesia
The Kupel of Indonesia, numbering about 13,500 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are an Eastern Mek people of Pegunungan Bintang Regency near the PNG border, the second-largest ethnic group there after the Ngalum, whose traditional knowledge is preserved through the Mepum Sadimop fairy tale and practices like stone-burning ceremonies.
They are an indigenous people in the New Guinea people cluster of the Pacific Islander Peoples. Their primary religion is Protestantism, and they primarily speak Ketengban.
Fast facts
- Country
- Indonesia
- Population
- 13,500
- Affinity group
- Asian Pacific Rim Peoples
- People cluster
- New Guinea
- Primary language
- Ketengban (xte)
- Primary religion
- Protestantism
- Strategic Progress Index ?
- No Longer Unreached
- Evangelical
- 50% or Greater but Less than 75%
- GSEC ?
- 10% or Greater Evangelical
- Lostness priority ?
- Significantly Reached People Group
- Region
- South-Eastern Asia, Asia
- Location
- Papua province: Papua New Guinea border area, east highland slopes, scattered
Where they live
Gospel status
The Kupel 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 Kupel
- 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
54% adherents
Primary language
Ketengban · Nuclear Trans New Guinea family
100% speak Ketengban
Gospel resources in Ketengban
- Bible available, published 2023
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
- JESUS (Ketengban)
Bibles
- 2013 Wycliffe Bible Translators, Inc. · audio, text
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Kupel
- 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.
- Romans 10:14–15. Ask God to send messengers, so that people can hear, believe and call on the name of the Lord.
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