Lausanne World Pulse – Urban Articles – A Focus on South Asia: 2,899 Least-Reached People Groups Remain
September 2006
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Overview
“Variety is the spice of life,” and there is certainly much variety in one of the world’s spiciest regions South Asia. In these seven countries live almost three thousand least-reached people groups. Islam controls the hearts of many of the peoples of Bangladesh. Buddhism was born in India, spread to Nepal, China, Bhutan and Southeast Asia, but it was embraced mainly in East Asia. Hinduism, that diverse cluster of traditional religions, has nearly one billion adherents in India and Nepal. The high caste Brahmins may be harder to reach for Christ than any Muslim people, while lower caste peoples turn to the Lord by the thousands. Some of the peoples of southern and northeastern India are Christian, but only two percent have embraced Christ. Over 920 million people in some two thousand people groups remain to be reached in India alone. Christians from these nations are making heroic efforts to reach this region for Christ and God is at work.
Prayer Points
- Light. Pray that the Holy Spirit would cause the least-reached peoples to become dissatisfied with their traditional religions and would make them hungry for the bread of life.
- Laborers. Pray that the Lord would call people who are willing to go to the most remote groups to share the love of Jesus.
- Linguists. Pray for God to raise up qualified linguists to translate the Bible into those languages with no scriptures, in a format that will be used for new believers to be grounded in God’s word.
- Local Church. Ask the Lord to raise up a strong local church among every least-reached people group.
- Leaders. Pray that God will open the hearts of governmental leaders at every level to the truth.
- Radio and Audio Ministries. Pray for God to empower audio ministries such as Words of Hope, Gospel Recordings, Faith Comes by Hearing and Audio Scriptures to proclaim the gospel in relevant ways. Pray particularly for those which connect with people not reached in any other way.
- Itinerate Evangelists. Thank God for the itinerate evangelists and pray for God to raise up many more. Pray they live the message, as they are his voice to bring good news and hope to those living in spiritual darkness.
- Missionary Senders. Pray for more laborers to be raised up as new believers. Pray they are compelled by God’s love to go to others who still have not heard and share Jesus as the way, the truth and the life. Pray for God to meet all their needs according to his riches.
- Outcasts. Pray for the Lambadi-speaking Banjara, and other groups who are considered outcasts of society but who are precious and beloved by Jesus. Pray they will know his love and acceptance and find hope and healing in him.
- People of Peace. Pray for God to direct workers to those who had their hearts prepared to hear and receive the gospel. Ask God to give messengers courage to share and disciple others.
Links
Resources to pray and mobilize prayer and outreach
Discover Southeast Asia
Pray for the peoples of South Asia. Read a testimony from Nepal here.
Obtain daily prayer guides for peoples of this region