People group profile · PG011654
The Wellaga of Ethiopia
The Wellaga of Ethiopia, numbering about 6,965,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a major branch of the Oromo people who live primarily in western Ethiopia's Oromia Region, historically in the former Welega (Wollega) Province.
They are an indigenous people in the Oromo people cluster of the Horn of Africa Peoples. Their primary religion is Tewahedo Orthodox Christianity, and they primarily speak West Central Oromo.
Fast facts
- Country
- Ethiopia
- Population
- 6,965,000
- Affinity group
- Northern African and Middle Eastern Peoples
- People cluster
- Oromo
- Primary language
- West Central Oromo (gaz)
- Primary religion
- Tewahedo Orthodox Christianity
- Strategic Progress Index
- Engaged yet Unreached
- Evangelical
- No Known Evangelicals
- GSEC
- Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
- Lostness priority
- Frontier Unreached People Group
- Region
- Eastern Africa, Africa
- Location
- Widespread
Where they live
Gospel status
The Wellaga 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 No
- Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted
Next steps for the Wellaga
- 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
Tewahedo Orthodox Christianity · Christianity
57% adherents
Primary language
West Central Oromo · Afro-Asiatic family
100% speak West Central Oromo
Gospel resources in West Central Oromo
- Bible available, published 1998
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
- JESUS (Oromo, West-Central)
- Magdalena (Oromo, West-Central)
- The Savior (Oromo, West-Central)
Bibles
- 1993 Bible Society of Ethiopia · video, audio, text
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Wellaga
- 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.
- Matthew 9:37–38. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest field.
Oromo, Wallega in other countries
The same people (ROP3 110644) is reported in 1 other country.
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