Pacific

Regional Overview

About the Region

The Pacific is one of the most linguistically diverse regions in the world, with island communities often separated by vast distances, difficult terrain, limited infrastructure, and growing vulnerability to climate and economic disruption. Papua New Guinea alone is home to more than 800 languages, making Bible translation in this region both complex and deeply personal. Across the Pacific’s 1,037 languages, 527 languages still have limited to no Scripture at all. Your gift helps reach remote communities with the hope of God’s Word in the language they know best, so every person can understand the good news clearly.

Projects in Region

Gayo

Project: New Testament

Javanese

Project: Full Bible

Kangean

Project: New Testament

Our Partners

Seed Company
Gayo

Gayo

Goal: New Testament

Indonesia | Pacific

Speaking Population: 335,000

The Gayo people of Indonesia live in the cool mountain highlands of Aceh Province on the island of Sumatra, They speak the Gayo language and pass down many of their stories and songs through oral traditions like poetry and music. Deep sorrow shapes much of their culture; even their weddings are filled with weeping, and high suicide rates reflect a community-wide sense of hopelessness. Nearly all Gayo people follow Islam and have little to no access to the hope found in the gospel.

Project Timeline: 2023-2027

Current Annual Need: $209,190
Total Project Need: $420,000

Javanese

Javanese

Goal: Full Bible

Indonesia | Pacific

Speaking Population: 69,193,700

The Javanese are the largest ethnic group in Indonesia, mainly living on the island of Java in Southeast Asia, where rich volcanic soil makes rice farming a way of life. Their culture is known for valuing harmony and respect, with traditional arts like batik cloth, shadow puppet theater, and gamelan music still playing an important role today. Most Javanese practice Sunni Islam, though many also blend their faith with older local beliefs.

Project Timeline: 2022-2026

Current Annual Need: $259,399
Total Project Need: $403,627

Kangean

Kangean

Goal: New Testament

Indonesia | Pacific

Speaking Population: 89,100

The Kangean people are an Austronesian group native to the Kangean Islands, a cluster of around 60 islands north of Bali administered as part of East Java. They are known for their friendly, cooperative culture built around fishing, farming, and seafaring, with communal traditions of shared labor and hospitality at the heart of village life. Most are Sunni Muslims, though local beliefs in spirits and protective rituals blend with Islamic practice in ways that reflect the islands’ distinct coastal heritage. Their language, Kangean, is the language of home and village life, used alongside Indonesian and sometimes Madurese in this multilingual island setting.

Project Timeline: 2023-2029

Current Annual Need: $181,376
Total Project Need: $418,624