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

Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.
readMark 10:15

Pray for those who might be trapped in pride, that God will humble them and give them a childlike faith and complete dependence on Him through faith in Christ.

Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near.
readIsaiah 55:6

Pray that the lost will seek the Lord while He may be found and call upon Him while He is near, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved.
readEphesians 2:4-5

Pray that as people place their faith in Christ, they will remember God's mercy and grace and experience joy as they walk in new life with Christ.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
readPsalm 23:6

Ask God to raise up believers who will share the hope that, for those who trust in Christ, goodness and love will follow them all the days of their lives, and they will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

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

Strategic Progress Index
All

1 people group

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