Amal in Papua New Guinea

Amal
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People Name: Amal
Country: Papua New Guinea
10/40 Window: No
Population: 1,500
World Population: 1,500
Primary Language: Amal
Primary Religion: Ethnic Religions
Christian Adherents: 40.00 %
Evangelicals: 8.00 %
Scripture: Translation Needed
Online Audio NT: No
Jesus Film: No
Audio Recordings: Yes
People Cluster: New Guinea
Affinity Bloc: Pacific Islanders
Progress Level:

Introduction / History

The Amal people live in a very remote area on the border of Sandaun and East Sepik Provinces, cut off from all other language groups by rugged terrain. Their villages lie along the Wagana River near the confluence with Wanibe Creek in Sandaun Province. There are no roads. Nor is there any road from their district of Ambunti Drekkir to Wewak, the capital of East Sepik. To reach Wewak, the people must walk to the Sepik River, then travel down the river to Burui before catching a vehicle to Wewak.
All age groups speak their traditional language. There is no evidence that they speak any other language, which reflects their isolation. It is likely that few, if any, can read. The nearest high schools and vocational training centers are many days away.

What Are Their Lives Like?

The people in this district are subsistence farmers. Growing vanilla plants for export is one way the locals in other language groups have been able to earn an income. It is not known if the Amal people have been able to access this opportunity.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Not even half of the Amal people are Christian. Though they are a reached people group, there are fewer than with other peoples in PNG.

What Are Their Needs?

Though there are a large percentage of Christians among the Amal people, that percentage is low by PNG standards.

Prayer Points

May they know they are loved by the King of kings.
Pray that they will have access to adequate medical and educational services despite their very remote location.
Pray that the Lord will raise up trained linguists and local translators to champion the work of Bible translation in the Amal language.
Pray that the Amal people themselves will desire more of God and his word.

Text Source:   Joshua Project