People group profile · PG006694
The Bonan of China
The Bonan of China, numbering about 14,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a small, officially recognized ethnic minority of northwestern China, known for their Mongolic language, Islamic faith, and silk‑road frontier history.
They are an indigenous people in the Mongolian people cluster of the East Asian Peoples. Their primary religion is Sunni Islam, and they primarily speak Bonan.
Fast facts
- Country
- China
- Population
- 14,000
- Affinity group
- Asian Pacific Rim Peoples
- People cluster
- Mongolian
- Primary language
- Bonan (peh)
- Primary religion
- Sunni Islam
- Strategic Progress Index ?
- Engaged yet Unreached
- Evangelical
- No Known Evangelicals
- GSEC ?
- Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
- Lostness priority ?
- Frontier Unreached People Group
- Region
- Eastern Asia, Asia
- Location
- Primarily Gansu Province, especially Jishishan Bonan, Dongxiang & Salar Autonomous County
Where they live
Gospel status
The Bonan 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 No
- Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted
Next steps for the Bonan
- 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
Sunni Islam · Islam
90% adherents
Primary language
Bonan · Mongolic-Khitan family
70% speak Bonan
Gospel resources in Bonan
- 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 Bonan
- 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.
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