The Galoli of Timor-Leste

The Galoli of Timor-Leste, numbering approximately 17,500 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are described as a people native to East Timor, north coast between Mambae and Makasae, Laklo, Manatutu, Laleia, and We-Masin, Wetar Island They are an Indigenous people, with Galoli as their ethnic/kinship group and are in the Timor people cluster of the Malay Peoples. They mostly adhere to Roman Catholicism and Galolen is their primary language.

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

Fast Facts:

Affinity Group: Malay Peoples
Country: Timor-Leste
People Cluster: Timor
Primary Language(s): Galolen (gal)
Primary Religion(s): Roman Catholicism
Population: 17,500
Strategic Progress Index (SPI): Engaged yet Unreached
Global Status of Evangelical Christianity (GSEC): Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
People Group ID: PG023119
View on Joshua Project

Pray for the Galoli of Timor-Leste

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: Roman Catholicism
Religious Affiliation: Christianity

92%
%
Roman Catholicism Adherents

Dig Deeper (Language):

Primary Language: Galolen
Language Family: Austronesian

100%
%
Galolen Speakers

Media Resources in Galolen:

Films:

No film resources are listed for this language.

Bible Resources in Galolen:

No Bible resources are listed for this language.

Or check out the Galolen bible at Bible.com

Linked from YouVersion

SPI: Unreached yet Engaged

The Galoli 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 Galoli:
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 Galoli of Timor-Leste

"...And some fell into good soil and grew and yielded a hundredfold." As he said these things, he called out, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."
readLuke 8:8

Pray that the seeds of truth will take root in the hearts of those who are far from Jesus and that He will lead them from darkness to light.

“Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread."
readMatthew 6:10-11

As people go about their daily lives, pray they will have the opportunity to encounter Jesus-followers, receive the gospel, and respond with joy. Pray that, as God provides for their daily needs, He will also bring many into His beautiful kingdom.

Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.
readColossians 4:2

Pray that as people place their faith in Christ, they will continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving, as they bring needs before the Lord.

And through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
readColossians 1:20

As believers cross cultures to tell others about Jesus, praise God for allowing them to be a part of His reconciling all things to Himself, asking Him to help them remember their role in His beautiful plan of salvation for others.

Galoli Across Countries (ROP3 - 103166) reported in the following countries:

Strategic Progress Index
All

1 people group

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