People group profile · PG007258
The Bendi Li of China
The Bendi Li of China, numbering about 97,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are an indigenous Hlai-speaking subgroup of the Li people of Hainan Island, China, who maintain a distinct cultural identity shaped by the island's central highlands, traditional agriculture, and folk-religious traditions.
They are an indigenous people in the Li people cluster of the Southeast Asian Peoples. Their primary religion is Chinese Folk Religion, and they primarily speak Hlai.
Fast facts
- Country
- China
- Population
- 97,000
- Affinity group
- Asian Pacific Rim Peoples
- People cluster
- Li
- Primary language
- Hlai (lic)
- 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
- Region
- Eastern Asia, Asia
Where they live
Gospel status
The Bendi Li 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 Bendi Li
- 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
25% adherents
Primary language
Hlai · Tai-Kadai family
100% speak Hlai
Gospel resources in Hlai
- Bible available, published 2015
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources not available
- Bible stories available
Films
- JESUS (Hlai, Has)
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Bendi Li
- 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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