People group profile · PG000110
The Aanaar Saami of Finland
The Aanaar Saami of Finland, numbering about 750 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are an indigenous Sámi people whose homeland centers on Lake Inari in northern Finland, distinguished as the only Sámi group traditionally living entirely within Finland and maintaining a distinct Inari Sámi identity.
They are an indigenous people in the Finno-Ugric, Saami people cluster of the Eurasian Peoples. Their primary religion is Protestantism, and they primarily speak Finnish.
Fast facts
- Country
- Finland
- Population
- 750
- Affinity group
- European Peoples
- People cluster
- Finno-Ugric, Saami
- Primary language
- Finnish (fin)
- Primary religion
- Protestantism
- Strategic Progress Index
- No Longer Unreached
- Evangelical
- 10% or Greater but Less than 15%
- GSEC
- 10% or Greater Evangelical
- Lostness priority
- Moderately Reached People Group
- Also known as
- Aanaar Sami, Anarâškielâ, Inari Saami, Aanaar Sámi
- Region
- Northern Europe, Europe
- Location
- Lapland region: mostly Utsjoki border town area between Lake Inari and Norway border
Where they live
Gospel status
The Aanaar Saami are No Longer Unreached, which means 2% or more are evangelical Christians. In GSEC terms, this people group is greater than or equal to 10% evangelical.
- Congregations exist Yes
- Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted
Next steps for the Aanaar Saami
- Pray for the churches among this group to grow in faithfulness and maturity
- Equip believers to reach the unreached peoples around them
- Send out laborers from this people to the nations
Primary religion
Protestantism · Christianity
74% adherents
Primary language
Finnish · Uralic family
100% speak Finnish
Gospel resources in Finnish
- Bible available, published 1995
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
- JESUS (Finnish)
Bibles
- 1938 Suomennos · audio, text
- 1992 The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland · video, text
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Aanaar Saami
- 2 Timothy 2:2. Pray for faithful local leaders who will teach others, so that the church multiplies.
- Ephesians 5:8. Pray that those walking in darkness will turn to the light and live as children of light.
- Romans 10:14–15. Ask God to send messengers, so that people can hear, believe and call on the name of the Lord.
- Matthew 9:37–38. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest field.
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