The Hermit Islanders of Papua New Guinea

The Hermit Islanders of Papua New Guinea, numbering approximately 90 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a small and little-known Indigenous people group located in Papua New Guinea, specifically associated with the Hermit Islands in the Bismarck Sea. They mostly adhere to Protestantism and Seimat is their primary language.

Photo by Google. (2026). Image generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash: Hermit Islander

Fast Facts:

Affinity Group: Pacific Islander Peoples
Country: Papua New Guinea
People Cluster: New Guinea
Primary Language(s): Seimat (ssg)
Primary Religion(s): Protestantism
Population: 90
Strategic Progress Index (SPI): Engaged yet Unreached
Global Status of Evangelical Christianity (GSEC): Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
People Group ID: PG020272
View on Joshua Project

Pray for the Hermit Islanders of Papua New Guinea

Join others around the world in praying for the lost to be saved, the gospel to advance, the global Church to grow, and for laborers to be sent out and sustained in the harvest.

Dig Deeper (Religion):

Primary Religion: Protestantism
Religious Affiliation: Christianity

58%
%
Protestantism Adherents

Dig Deeper (Language):

Primary Language: Seimat
Language Family: Austronesian

90%
%
Seimat Speakers

Media Resources in Seimat:

Films:

No film resources are listed for this language.

Bible Resources in Seimat:

Bible Name (Translation)VideoAudioText
2012 Wycliffe Bible Translators, Inc.✓

1 entry

Or check out the Seimat bible at Bible.com

Linked from YouVersion

SPI: Unreached yet Engaged

The Hermit Islanders are Engaged yet Unreached, which means there are less than 2% evangelical Christian populations but there are sustained efforts at establishing self-sustaining churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice.

Next steps for the Hermit Islanders:
Continue prayer and fasting for this group
Continue gospel seed sowing and church planting among this group
Begin training up local leaders to lead and develop strategies to reach their own people

Pray specifically for the Hermit Islanders of Papua New Guinea

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
readRomans 6:23

Pray that those who do know about God's free gift will hear and believe that the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord and that they will joyfully accept this gift.

Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you. Heal the sick in it and say to them, "the kingdom of God has come near to you."
readLuke 10:8-9

Pray that the lost will receive messengers of the gospel with joy, turn from their sins, and be healed.

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
readPsalm 119:105

Pray that as people place their faith in Christ, they will meditate daily on the Word of God so that, through it, they might have wisdom for the big and small decisions they face every day.

Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.
readEphesians 6:13

Pray that God will send believers to the lost of this people group and that, as they share the gospel, they will take up the whole armor of God so that they can stand firm when trials come.

Agomes Across Countries (ROP3 - 103758) reported in the following countries:

Strategic Progress Index
All

1 people group

To download a comprehensive people group list in spreadsheet form, visit our Research Data page.

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