People group profile · PG000862
The Gagauzes of Moldova
The Gagauzes of Moldova, numbering about 147,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a Turkic-speaking people who are predominantly Eastern Orthodox Christians, a combination that makes them quite distinctive among the world's Turkic peoples, most of whom are traditionally Muslim.
They are an indigenous people in the Turkic people cluster of the Turkic Peoples. Their primary religion is Eastern Orthodox Christianity, and they primarily speak Gagauz.
Fast facts
- Country
- Moldova
- Population
- 147,000
- Affinity group
- European Peoples
- People cluster
- Turkic
- Primary language
- Gagauz (gag)
- Primary religion
- Eastern Orthodox Christianity
- Strategic Progress Index
- Engaged yet Unreached
- Evangelical
- Less than 2%
- GSEC
- Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
- Lostness priority
- Expanding Unreached People Group
- Region
- Eastern Europe, Europe
- Location
- Basarabeasca, Cahul, Cantemir, Cimislia, Criuleni, Gagauzia, Leova, and Taraclia districts; Chisinau City
Where they live
Gospel status
The Gagauzes are Engaged yet Unreached, which means fewer than 2% are evangelical Christians, but there are sustained efforts to establish self-sustaining churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice. In GSEC terms, this people group is less than 2% evangelical, some evangelical resources are available, but there has been no active church planting among them within the past two years.
- Congregations exist Yes
- Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted
Next steps for the Gagauzes
- 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
Primary religion
Eastern Orthodox Christianity · Christianity
98% adherents
Primary language
Gagauz · Turkic family
100% speak Gagauz
Gospel resources in Gagauz
- Bible available, published 2020
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings not available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
- JESUS (Gagauz)
Bibles
- Institute for Bible Translation, Moscow · video, audio, text
- Institute for Bible Translation, Moscow · video, audio, text
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Gagauzes
- 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.
Gagauz in other countries
The same people (ROP3 103132) is reported in 3 other countries.
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