People group profile · PG006676
The Bai Yi of China
The Bai Yi of China, numbering about 8,500 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a formerly enslaved Yi‑Han people group living along the Sichuan–Yunnan border. Freed in the 1950s, the Bai Yi are now an unreached community distinct from both the Bai and other Yi subgroups.
They are an indigenous people in the Other Tibeto-Burmese people cluster of the Tibetan Peoples. Their primary religion is Chinese Folk Religion, and they primarily speak Kua-nsi.
Fast facts
- Country
- China
- Population
- 8,500
- Affinity group
- Asian Pacific Rim Peoples
- People cluster
- Other Tibeto-Burmese
- Primary language
- Kua-nsi (ykn)
- Primary religion
- Chinese Folk Religion
- 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
- Also known as
- White Yi
- Region
- Eastern Asia, Asia
Where they live
Gospel status
The Bai Yi 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 Bai Yi
- 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
Chinese Folk Religion · Ethnoreligion
80% adherents
Primary language
Kua-nsi · Sino-Tibetan family
100% speak Kua-nsi
Gospel resources in Kua-nsi
- Bible not available
- JESUS Film not available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings not available
- Audio resources not available
- Bible stories not available
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Bai Yi
- 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.
- Romans 10:14–15. Ask God to send messengers, so that people can hear, believe and call on the name of the Lord.
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