People group profile · PG000927
The Mordvins of the Russian Federation
The Mordvins of the Russian Federation, numbering about 333,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a Volga Finnic people of the middle Volga region of Russia, composed mainly of the Erzya and Moksha. Their culture reflects Uralic roots and centuries of interaction with Russian and Turkic peoples, and they are predominantly Eastern Orthodox.
They are an indigenous people in the Finno-Ugric people cluster of the Eurasian Peoples. Their primary religion is Eastern Orthodox Christianity, and they primarily speak Erzya.
Fast facts
- Country
- Russian Federation
- Population
- 333,000
- Affinity group
- European Peoples
- People cluster
- Finno-Ugric
- Primary language
- Erzya (myv)
- 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
- Pioneer Unreached People Group
- Region
- Eastern Europe, Europe
Where they live
Gospel status
The Mordvins 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 Mordvins
- 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
85% adherents
Primary language
Erzya · Uralic family
80% speak Erzya
Gospel resources in Erzya
- Bible available, published 2006
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings not available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
- JESUS (Erzya)
Bibles
- Institute for Bible Translation · video, audio, text
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Mordvins
- Revelation 7:9. Pray for the day when people from this group stand before the throne with every nation, tribe, people and language.
- John 17:3. Pray that many will come to know the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom he has sent.
- Psalm 27:1. Pray that new believers will be strengthened in the face of persecution, with the Lord as their stronghold.
- Romans 12:4–5. Pray that believers from many cultures will work together as one body so that the church is built up.
Mordvin-Erzya in other countries
The same people (ROP3 106791) is reported in 3 other countries.
| People group | Country | Population | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mordvins | Kazakhstan | 21,500 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Mordvins | Uzbekistan | 15,000 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Mordvins | Turkmenistan | 2,400 | Unengaged and Unreached |
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