People group profile · PG009412
The Pao Karen of Myanmar
The Pao Karen of Myanmar, numbering about 878,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are an ethnolinguistic subgroup of the Karen, an ethnic group indigenous to Kayin State in southeastern Myanmar.
They are an indigenous people in the Karen people cluster of the Southeast Asian Peoples. Their primary religion is Theravada Buddhism, and they primarily speak Pa'o Karen.
Fast facts
- Country
- Myanmar
- Population
- 878,000
- Affinity group
- Asian Pacific Rim Peoples
- People cluster
- Karen
- Primary language
- Pa'o Karen (blk)
- Primary religion
- Theravada Buddhism
- 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
- South-Eastern Asia, Asia
Where they live
Gospel status
The Pao Karen 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 Pao Karen
- 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
Theravada Buddhism · Buddhism
99% adherents
Primary language
Pa'o Karen · Sino-Tibetan family
95% speak Pa'o Karen
Gospel resources in Pa'o Karen
- Bible available, published 2009
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
- JESUS (Pa'O)
Bibles
- Common Language Version · text
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Pao Karen
- 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.
Karen, Pa'o in other countries
The same people (ROP3 101515) is reported in 1 other country.
| People group | Country | Population | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Karen | Thailand | 850 | No Longer Unreached |
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