Simbari, Chimbari in Papua New Guinea

Introduction / History

The Simbari people of PNG live in the mountainous regions of the Eastern Highlands Province, with communities also found near the Lamari River and extending toward the Gulf Province. They are a distinct Indigenous group belonging to the wider New Guinea people cluster and speak the Simbari language, part of the Trans–New Guinea family. Their homeland is characterized by rugged terrain, forested valleys, and long?established patterns of settlement shaped by gardening, hunting, and close ties to the land.

What Are Their Lives Like?

The Simbari have traditionally supported themselves through horticulture, cultivating crops in mountain gardens and supplementing their diet through hunting and gathering. Their settlements are often situated in highland valleys, where extended families work together and maintain close social ties. Community life typically includes cooperation in agricultural tasks, shared responsibilities within clan networks, and long?held knowledge of local plants, wildlife, and weather patterns. Such rural communities in PNG are often shaped by both traditional practices and increasing contact with outside institutions such as schools, clinics, and mission stations.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Christianity is the primary religious identity among the Simbari people. Many identify with Christian traditions and participate in church life to varying degrees.

Historically, the Simbari held traditional beliefs connected to the natural world and ancestral customs, though these varied by community and have changed over time. Because explicit details of older practices are not appropriate to present and are not aligned with the intent of this profile, they are not described here. Today, Christian influence is strong, and many families increasingly orient their lives around biblical teaching, worship, and fellowship.

What Are Their Needs?

The Simbari share many needs common to rural PNG communities, including reliable access to education, Scripture engagement, and ongoing discipleship. Strengthening family life, encouraging local leadership, and providing opportunities for continued spiritual growth are important for long?term health of the local church.

Practical needs may include improved access to healthcare, literacy training, and support for sustainable livelihoods, all of which can help communities flourish while providing greater stability for believers and their families.

Prayer Points

Pray that Simbari believers will grow in their understanding of God's word and walk faithfully with Christ.
Pray for families to be strengthened and for marriages and households to reflect Christlike love and patience.
Pray for local church leaders to be encouraged, equipped, and rooted in scripture as they shepherd their communities.
Pray for young people to embrace the gospel with joy and to develop a vision for serving Christ among their own people and others in Asia.
Pray that the witness of believers will remain strong and that many more will come to know the hope found only in Jesus.

Text Source:   Joshua Project