People group profile · PG012888
The Lingala of Central African Republic
The Lingala of Central African Republic, numbering about 19,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a Lingala-speaking community in the Central African Republic, largely linked to Congolese migration, that preserves the language and cultural traditions of the Congo River region.
They are a diaspora people in the Bantu, Central-Congo people cluster of the Sub-Saharan African Peoples. Their primary religion is Protestantism, and they primarily speak Lingala.
Fast facts
- Country
- Central African Republic
- Population
- 19,000
- Affinity group
- Sub-Saharan African Peoples
- People cluster
- Bantu, Central-Congo
- Primary language
- Lingala (lin)
- Primary religion
- Protestantism
- Strategic Progress Index
- Engaged yet Unreached
- Evangelical
- Less than 2%
- GSEC
- Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
- Lostness priority
- Pioneer Unreached People Group
- Region
- Middle Africa, Africa
Where they live
Gospel status
The Lingala 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 Lingala
- 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
Protestantism · Christianity
Primary language
Lingala · Atlantic-Congo family
100% speak Lingala
Gospel resources in Lingala
- Bible available
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
Bibles
- 1982 Boyokant Ya Sika · audio
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Lingala
- 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.
Lingala in other countries
The same people (ROP3 105785) is reported in 8 other countries.
| People group | Country | Population | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lingala | Congo, Democratic Republic of the | 4,300,000 | No Longer Unreached |
| Lingala | Angola | 200,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Lingala | Congo | 189,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Lingala | South Sudan | 49,000 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Congolese | United States | 38,000 | No Longer Unreached |
| Congolese | Uganda | 27,500 | No Longer Unreached |
| Congolese | Belgium | 15,500 | No Longer Unreached |
| Lingala | Canada | 3,500 | No Longer Unreached |
Know something we don't? Submit updates to IMB Global Research.