The Dagoda of Timor-Leste

The Dagoda of Timor-Leste, numbering approximately 49,500 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are an Indigenous Fataluku community of Lautém at Timor-Leste's eastern tip, centered around Lospalos, whose non-Austronesian Fataluku language belongs to the Timor-Alor-Pantar family. They mostly adhere to Roman Catholicism and Fataluku is their primary language.

Photo by Google. (2026). Image generated by Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite: Dagoda

Fast Facts:

Affinity Group: Malay Peoples
Country: Timor-Leste
People Cluster: Timor
Primary Language(s): Fataluku (ddg)
Primary Religion(s): Roman Catholicism
Population: 49,500
Strategic Progress Index (SPI): Engaged yet Unreached
Global Status of Evangelical Christianity (GSEC): Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
People Group ID: PG023118
View on Joshua Project

Pray for the Dagoda of Timor-Leste

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Dig Deeper (Religion):

Primary Religion: Roman Catholicism
Religious Affiliation: Christianity

86%
%
Roman Catholicism Adherents

Dig Deeper (Language):

Primary Language: Fataluku
Language Family: Timor-Alor-Pantar

100%
%
Fataluku Speakers

Media Resources in Fataluku:

Films:

No film resources are listed for this language.

Bible Resources in Fataluku:

No Bible resources are listed for this language.

Or check out the Fataluku bible at Bible.com

Linked from YouVersion

SPI: Unreached yet Engaged

The Dagoda 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 Dagoda:
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 Dagoda of Timor-Leste

Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.
readLuke 12:7

Pray that those who don't yet know how to trust in Jesus will not be consumed by worry and anxiety, but will trust in the Father's care and provision for their daily needs and for their eternal salvation

If I ascend to heaven, you are there. If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
readPsalm 139:8

Pray that the lost will recognize God's presence with them wherever they go, put their faith in Christ, and seek to live in a way that honors and glorifies Him.

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.
readIsaiah 26:3

Pray that as people place their faith in Christ, the Lord will keep them in perfect peace as they trust in Him.

He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
readPsalm 23:3

Pray for believers to go and share the gospel with others here. Ask that God will restore their souls and lead them in paths of righteousness for His name's sake.

Dagoda Across Countries (ROP3 - 102370) reported in the following countries:

Strategic Progress Index
All

1 people group

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