People group profile · PG033364
The Saint-Mariens of Madagascar
The Saint-Mariens of Madagascar, numbering about 79,000 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are an island people of Nosy Boraha, known in colonial times as Sainte-Marie, whose home became a notorious pirate haven between 1685 and 1720, most notably when pirate Thomas Tew married a local princess whose son, Ratsimilaho, became a ruling king.
They are an indigenous people in the Malagasy people cluster of the Malay Peoples. Their primary religion is Animism, and they primarily speak Plateau Malagasy.
Fast facts
- Country
- Madagascar
- Population
- 79,000
- Affinity group
- Sub-Saharan African Peoples
- People cluster
- Malagasy
- Primary language
- Plateau Malagasy (plt)
- Primary religion
- Animism
- Strategic Progress Index
- No Longer Unreached
- Evangelical
- 5% or Greater but Less than 10%
- GSEC
- 5% or Greater but Less than 10% Evangelical
- Lostness priority
- Marginally Reached People Group
- Region
- Eastern Africa, Africa
Where they live
Gospel status
The Saint-Mariens are No Longer Unreached, which means 2% or more are evangelical Christians. In GSEC terms, this people group is greater than or equal to 5% evangelical.
- Congregations exist No
- Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted
Next steps for the Saint-Mariens
- 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
Animism · Ethnoreligion
55% adherents
Primary language
Plateau Malagasy · Austronesian family
100% speak Plateau Malagasy
Gospel resources in Plateau Malagasy
- Bible available, published 2011
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
Bibles
- Dikanteny Iombonana Eto Madagasikara · video
- Interconfessional Version · audio, text
- Protestant version 1985 based on Malagasy Protestant Bible 1965 · audio, text
- Revised Protestant Version · audio
- Roman Catholic Version 2010 based on text Malagasy Catholic Bible 2003 · audio, text
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Saint-Mariens
- 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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