People group profile · PG012176
The Alawites of Syria
The Alawites of Syria, numbering about 2,345,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are an ethnoreligious community rooted in the coastal mountains of northwestern Syria whose Alawite faith developed from medieval Shi'i traditions.
They are an indigenous people in the Arab, Levant people cluster of the Arab Peoples. Their primary religion is Shia Islam, and they primarily speak Levantine Arabic.
Fast facts
- Country
- Syria
- Population
- 2,345,000
- Affinity group
- Northern African and Middle Eastern Peoples
- People cluster
- Arab, Levant
- Primary language
- Levantine Arabic (apc)
- 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
- Location
- Al Ladhiqiyah, Al Qunaytirah, As Suwayda’, Dara’a, and Tartus governorates; Hauran region; widespread along Mediterranean coast
Where they live
Gospel status
The Alawites 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 Alawites
- 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
99% adherents
Primary language
Levantine Arabic · Afro-Asiatic family
100% speak Levantine Arabic
Gospel resources in Levantine Arabic
- Bible available, published 1981
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
Bibles
- Sabeel Media · video, audio
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Alawites
- 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.
Alawite in other countries
The same people (ROP3 114499) is reported in 3 other countries.
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