People group profile · PG014582
The Kela of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Kela of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, numbering about 1,005,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are an ethnolinguistic community of Democratic Republic of the Congo.
They are an indigenous people in the Bantu, Central-Congo people cluster of the Sub-Saharan African Peoples. Their primary religion is Roman Catholicism, and they primarily speak Kela (Democratic Republic of Congo).

Fast facts
- Country
- Congo, Democratic Republic of the
- Population
- 1,005,000
- Affinity group
- Sub-Saharan African Peoples
- People cluster
- Bantu, Central-Congo
- Primary language
- Kela (Democratic Republic of Congo) (kel)
- Primary religion
- Roman Catholicism
- 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 Kela 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 Kela
- 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
Roman Catholicism · Christianity
80% adherents
Primary language
Kela (Democratic Republic of Congo) · Mayan family
100% speak Kela (Democratic Republic of Congo)
Gospel resources in Kela (Democratic Republic of Congo)
- Bible available, published 1940
- JESUS Film not available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources not available
- Bible stories not available
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Kela
- 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.
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