People group profile · PG001229
The Khen of Bhutan
The Khen of Bhutan, numbering about 66,500 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are an indigenous people of south-central Bhutan's Zhemgang region with roots stretching back over 4,000 years, whose unification was marked by the 1655 construction of Zhemgang Dzong, and who maintain trade relations with the neighboring Bumthang yak herders.
They are an indigenous people in the Bhutanese people cluster of the Tibetan Peoples. Their primary religion is Tibetan Buddhism, and they primarily speak Khengkha.
Fast facts
- Country
- Bhutan
- Population
- 66,500
- Affinity group
- South Asian Peoples
- People cluster
- Bhutanese
- Primary language
- Khengkha (xkf)
- Primary religion
- Tibetan Buddhism
- Strategic Progress Index
- Engaged yet Unreached
- Evangelical
- Less than 2%
- GSEC
- Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
- Lostness priority
- Frontier Unreached People Group
- Region
- Southern Asia, Asia
- Location
- Mongar district: southwest; eastern Sarpang and southeast Trongsa districts: smaller areas; Zhemgang district: widespread
Where they live
Gospel status
The Khen 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 Khen
- 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
Tibetan Buddhism · Buddhism
99% adherents
Primary language
Khengkha · Sino-Tibetan family
100% speak Khengkha
Gospel resources in Khengkha
- Bible available, published 2016
- JESUS Film not available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Khen
- Romans 12:4–5. Pray that believers from many cultures will work together as one body so that the church is built up.
- 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.
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