People group profile · PG006218
The Helambu Sherpa of Nepal
The Helambu Sherpa of Nepal, numbering about 11,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a Tibetan-descended people who migrated from Kyirong to Helambu 4-5 centuries ago, settling mid-altitude ridges between 2,000 and 3,500 meters rather than the high valleys favored by Sherpas, practicing Nyingma Buddhism blended with ancestral animism.
They are an indigenous people in the Tibetan people cluster of the Tibetan Peoples. Their primary religion is Tibetan Buddhism, and they primarily speak Hyolmo.
Fast facts
- Country
- Nepal
- Population
- 11,000
- Affinity group
- Asian Pacific Rim Peoples
- People cluster
- Tibetan
- Primary language
- Hyolmo (scp)
- Primary religion
- Tibetan Buddhism
- Strategic Progress Index ?
- Engaged yet Unreached
- Evangelical
- Less than 2%
- GSEC ?
- Less than 2% Evangelical, Concentrated CP Activity
- Lostness priority ?
- Pioneer Unreached People Group
- Region
- Southern Asia, Asia
- Location
- Bagmati province: Nuwakot district, Dupcheshwar municipality and Langtang National Park; Rasuwa district, Gosaikunda municipality; Sindhupalchok district, Helambu and Panchpokhari Thangpal municipalities; Gandaki province: Lamjung district, Besishahar mu
Where they live
Gospel status
The Helambu Sherpa 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 but there has been initial or concentrated church planting among them within the past two years.
- Congregations exist Yes
- Church planting in the last two years Concentrated Church Planting
Next steps for the Helambu Sherpa
- 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
90% adherents
Primary language
Hyolmo · Sino-Tibetan family
71% speak Hyolmo
Gospel resources in Hyolmo
- Bible available, published 2022
- 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 Helambu Sherpa
- 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.
- 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.
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