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People group profile · PG023082

The Wandamen of Indonesia

The Wandamen of Indonesia, numbering about 7,400 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are an Austronesian-speaking people of Cenderawasih Bay's Wandamen Peninsula in Papua, Indonesia, descended from Melanesian populations present for tens of thousands of years before Lapita-era seafarers arrived, regulating harvests through the sasi system.

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 Wamesa.

Pray for the WandamenPrint profile

AI-generated illustration representing the Wandamen people
AI-generated illustration, not a photograph. Photo by Google. (2026). Image generated by Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite: Wandamen

Fast facts

Country
Indonesia
Population
7,400
Affinity group
Asian Pacific Rim Peoples
People cluster
New Guinea
Primary language
Wamesa (wad)
Primary religion
Protestantism
Strategic Progress Index ?
No Longer Unreached
Evangelical
75% or Greater
GSEC ?
10% or Greater Evangelical
Lostness priority ?
Significantly Reached People Group
Region
South-Eastern Asia, Asia
Location
West Papua province: Manokwari, Wasior, Wandamen bay to Bintuni bay east end

Where they live

Gospel status

The Wandamen 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 Wandamen

  • 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

79% adherents

Primary language

Wamesa · Austronesian family

76% speak Wamesa

Gospel resources in Wamesa

  • Bible available, published 1994
  • JESUS Film available
  • Radio programs not available
  • Gospel recordings available
  • Audio resources available
  • Bible stories not available

Films

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

Pray for the Wandamen

  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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