People group profile · PG011297
The Bahraini Shia Arabs of Bahrain
The Bahraini Shia Arabs of Bahrain, numbering about 741,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are an indigenous Arab ethnolinguistic community of Bahrain who speak Baharna Arabic and maintain a distinct identity shaped by Shia Islam, Gulf maritime heritage, village traditions, and deep historical roots in Eastern Arabia.
They are an indigenous people in the Arab, Arabian people cluster of the Arab Peoples. Their primary religion is Shia Islam, and they primarily speak Baharna Arabic.
Fast facts
- Country
- Bahrain
- Population
- 741,000
- Affinity group
- Northern African and Middle Eastern Peoples
- People cluster
- Arab, Arabian
- Primary language
- Baharna Arabic (abv)
- Primary religion
- Shia Islam
- Strategic Progress Index
- Engaged yet Unreached
- Evangelical
- Less than 2%
- GSEC
- Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
- Lostness priority
- Frontier Unreached People Group
- Region
- Western Asia, Asia
Where they live
Gospel status
The Bahraini Shia Arabs 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 Bahraini Shia Arabs
- 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
Shia Islam · Islam
84% adherents
Primary language
Baharna Arabic · Afro-Asiatic family
100% speak Baharna Arabic
Gospel resources in Baharna Arabic
- Bible 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 Bahraini Shia Arabs
- John 17:3. Pray that many will come to know the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom he has sent.
- Psalm 27:1. Pray that new believers will be strengthened in the face of persecution, with the Lord as their stronghold.
- Romans 12:4–5. Pray that believers from many cultures will work together as one body so that the church is built up.
- Revelation 7:9. Pray for the day when people from this group stand before the throne with every nation, tribe, people and language.
Arab, Bahraini, Shia in other countries
The same people (ROP3 100772) is reported in 1 other country.
| People group | Country | Population | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bahraini Shia Arabs | Oman | 20,500 | Unengaged and Unreached |
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