People group profile · PG012048
The Sopi of South Sudan
The Sopi of South Sudan, numbering about 3,100 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a linguistic subgroup of the Jur Beli (also referred to simply as Beli) people of South Sudan. The Beli are sedentary agriculturalists.
They are an indigenous people in the Sudanic people cluster of the Sub-Saharan African Peoples. Their primary religion is Sunni Islam, and they primarily speak Beli (South Sudan).
Fast facts
- Country
- South Sudan
- Population
- 3,100
- Affinity group
- Sub-Saharan African Peoples
- People cluster
- Sudanic
- Primary language
- Beli (South Sudan) (blm)
- Primary religion
- Sunni Islam
- Strategic Progress Index
- Engaged yet Unreached
- Evangelical
- Less than 2%
- GSEC
- Less than 2% Evangelical, Concentrated CP Activity
- Lostness priority
- Expanding Unreached People Group
- Region
- Northern Africa, Africa
- Location
- Central Equatoria
Where they live
Gospel status
The Sopi 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 but there has been initial or concentrated church planting among them within the past two years.
- Congregations exist Yes
- Church planting in the last two years Concentrated Church Planting
Next steps for the Sopi
- 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
Sunni Islam · Islam
Primary language
Beli (South Sudan) · Central Sudanic family
100% speak Beli (South Sudan)
Gospel resources in Beli (South Sudan)
- Bible available, published 2013
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources not available
- Bible stories not available
Films
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Sopi
- 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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