People group profile · PG011624
The Nao of Ethiopia
The Nao of Ethiopia, numbering about 16,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a tiny ethnic group of Ethiopia.
They are an indigenous people in the Omotic people cluster of the Horn of Africa Peoples. Their primary religion is Animism, and they primarily speak Nayi.
Fast facts
- Country
- Ethiopia
- Population
- 16,000
- Affinity group
- Northern African and Middle Eastern Peoples
- People cluster
- Omotic
- Primary language
- Nayi (noz)
- Primary religion
- Animism
- 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 Africa, Africa
- Location
- Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ region: scattered in Decha and Shoa Bench districts, Dulkuma village; Sheko district, Aybera, Jomdos, and Kosa villages
Where they live
Gospel status
The Nao 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 Nao
- 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
Animism · Ethnoreligion
60% adherents
Primary language
Nayi · Dizoid family
60% speak Nayi
Gospel resources in Nayi
- Bible not available
- JESUS Film not available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Nao
- 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.
- 2 Timothy 2:2. Pray for faithful local leaders who will teach others, so that the church multiplies.
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