People group profile · PG007244
The Lama of China
The Lama of China, numbering about 85,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a Bai dialect-speaking people descended from the ancient Bo, a Tibeto-Burman offshoot of the Qiang who helped found the Nanzhao kingdom and later the Bai-ruled Dali Kingdom in 937 AD, centered on Erhai Lake until the Mongol conquest of 1253.
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 Lama Bai.
Fast facts
- Country
- China
- Population
- 85,000
- Affinity group
- Asian Pacific Rim Peoples
- People cluster
- Other Tibeto-Burmese
- Primary language
- Lama Bai (lay)
- 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 ?
- Expanding Unreached People Group
- Region
- Eastern Asia, Asia
Where they live
Gospel status
The Lama 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 Lama
- 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
87% adherents
Primary language
Lama Bai · Bookkeeping family
100% speak Lama Bai
Gospel resources in Lama Bai
- Bible available, published 2023
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings not available
- Audio resources not available
- Bible stories available
Films
- JESUS (Bai Lama)
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Lama
- 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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