The Kerinci of Indonesia

The Kerinci of Indonesia, numbering approximately 359,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are an Indigenous Malay community of central Sumatra associated with the Jambi cultural sphere whose identity reflects centuries of interaction among inland and riverine populations along the Batang Hari watershed. They mostly adhere to Sunni Islam and Kerinci is their primary language.

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

Fast Facts:

Affinity Group: Malay Peoples
Country: Indonesia
People Cluster: Minangkabau-Rejang of Sumatra
Primary Language(s): Kerinci (kvr)
Primary Religion(s): Sunni Islam
Population: 359,000
Strategic Progress Index (SPI): Engaged yet Unreached
Global Status of Evangelical Christianity (GSEC): Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
People Group ID: PG022499
View on Joshua Project

Pray for the Kerinci of Indonesia

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: Sunni Islam
Religious Affiliation: Islam

100%
%
Sunni Islam Adherents

Dig Deeper (Language):

Primary Language: Kerinci
Language Family: Austronesian

100%
%
Kerinci Speakers

Media Resources in Kerinci:

Films:
TitleLink
JESUSView Film

1 film

Bible Resources in Kerinci:

No Bible resources are listed for this language.

Or check out the Kerinci bible at Bible.com

Linked from YouVersion

SPI: Unreached yet Engaged

The Kerinci 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 Kerinci:
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 Kerinci of Indonesia

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
readRomans 8:1

Pray that God will reassure those who may be struggling with the cost of following Jesus that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

"O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me."
readJohn 17:25

Pray that the lost will come to know the Father and Jesus Christ, whom He has sent, and that they will be filled with His love and grace.

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 he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled.
readMark 5:20

Pray that God will bring people who appear beyond hope to faith in Jesus and that they will then go and tell others of the marvelous things He has done.

Kerinci Across Countries (ROP3 - 104863) 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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