Menya in Papua New Guinea

The Menya have only been reported in Papua New Guinea
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Menya are a highlands people of Morobe Province in Papua New Guinea, centered in the Menyamya area near the rugged mountain country bordering other Angan-speaking peoples. They belong to the interior societies of southeastern New Guinea, where communities have long been shaped by steep terrain, forested ridges, clan ties, and foot-travel between scattered settlements. Their language is Menya, an Angan language of the broader Kratke Range region.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Menya live in a mountainous and heavily forested environment where villages and hamlets are commonly spread across ridges, valleys, and garden land rather than concentrated in large roadside settlements. In this kind of highland setting, ordinary life typically centers on small-scale gardening, especially root crops and other subsistence foods, with pigs often important in household economy, exchange, and community relationships. Travel between settlements is often by foot along local tracks, and homes are generally simple village houses built from local materials suited to a wet tropical mountain climate. Family and clan obligations are strong, and daily life is shaped by reciprocal labor, marriage ties, and village cooperation. Their language in ordinary life is Menya, though bilingual use of Tok Pisin is growing and some also use English in wider contact settings.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Menya are identified as Christian, though some traditional ethnic religious influence may remain.


What Are Their Needs?

The Menya need strong biblical discipleship so that Christian profession is matched by genuine repentance, biblical conviction, and obedience to Christ. Where there is a strong Christian base, the need is for healthy churches, faithful shepherds, sound teaching, and families that live out the gospel clearly. They need protection from nominal Christianity, compromise, and any lingering attachment to older spiritual loyalties. They also need renewed zeal to carry the gospel beyond their own community and to serve other ethnic groups with faithful witness.


Prayer Items

Pray that the Menya would grow in genuine repentance, biblical clarity, and joyful obedience to Jesus Christ.
Pray that pastors, elders, and other local leaders would teach Scripture faithfully and lead with humility and courage.
Pray that any remaining attachment to older spiritual practices would be fully surrendered to the lordship of Christ.
Pray for strong Christian families, healthy churches, and enduring discipleship among the Menya.
Pray that the Menya would actively reach out to other ethnic groups with the gospel and become a faithful witness beyond their own community.


Scripture Prayers for the Menya in Papua New Guinea.


References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menya_language
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angan_languages


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Menya
People Name in Country Menya
Alternate Names Menye
Population this Country 49,000
Population all Countries 49,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale Progress Gauge
Unreached No
Frontier No
GSEC 5  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed
PeopleID3 13680
ROP3 Code 106552
Country Papua New Guinea
Region Australia and Pacific
Continent Australia
10/40 Window No
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Gulf province: Karema district, Naniwe area; Morobe province: Menyamya district, north Tauri river area and tributaries.   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Country Papua New Guinea
Region Australia and Pacific
Continent Australia
10/40 Window No
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Gulf province: Karema district, Naniwe area; Morobe province: Menyamya district, north Tauri river area and tributaries..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016

No people group static map currently available. Use the above button to submit a map.




Primary Religion: Christianity
Major Religion Estimated Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity
99.00 %
Ethnic Religions
1.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Judaism
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Sikhism
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Menya (49,000 speakers)
Ethnologue Language Code mcr
Ethnologue Language Familly Trans-New Guinea
Glottolog Language Family Angan
Written / Published Yes   (ScriptSource Listing)
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Menya (49,000 speakers)
Ethnologue Language Code mcr
Ethnologue Language Familly Trans-New Guinea
Glottolog Language Family Angan
Written / Published Yes   (ScriptSource Listing)
Total Languages 1

Primary Language:  Menya

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1995-2008)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (2017)
Bible-Complete No
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) Online
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Menya YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Menya YouVersion Bibles
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.