People group profile · PG023125
The Makasai of Timor-Leste
The Makasai of Timor-Leste, numbering about 163,000 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are a Papuan-language people of eastern Timor-Leste's Baucau and Viqueque districts, descended from Trans-New Guinea migrants who intermarried with Austronesian-speaking populations and absorbed Portuguese colonial influence through Tetum as a lingua franca.
They are an indigenous people in the Timor people cluster of the Malay Peoples. Their primary religion is Roman Catholicism, and they primarily speak Makasae.
Fast facts
- Country
- Timor-Leste
- Population
- 163,000
- Affinity group
- Asian Pacific Rim Peoples
- People cluster
- Timor
- Primary language
- Makasae (mkz)
- Primary religion
- Roman Catholicism
- Strategic Progress Index ?
- No Longer Unreached
- Evangelical
- 20% or Greater but Less than 30%
- GSEC ?
- 10% or Greater Evangelical
- Lostness priority ?
- Significantly Reached People Group
- Region
- South-Eastern Asia, Asia
Where they live
Gospel status
The Makasai 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 Concentrated Church Planting
Next steps for the Makasai
- 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
Roman Catholicism · Christianity
90% adherents
Primary language
Makasae · Timor-Alor-Pantar family
100% speak Makasae
Gospel resources in Makasae
- Bible not available
- JESUS Film not available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings 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 Makasai
- 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.
- Psalm 27:1. Pray that new believers will be strengthened in the face of persecution, with the Lord as their stronghold.
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