People group profile · PG014631
The Luba-Hemba of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Luba-Hemba of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, numbering about 410,000 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-Luba people cluster of the Sub-Saharan African Peoples. Their primary religion is Roman Catholicism, and they primarily speak Hemba.
Fast facts
- Country
- Congo, Democratic Republic of the
- Population
- 410,000
- Affinity group
- Sub-Saharan African Peoples
- People cluster
- Bantu, Central-Luba
- Primary language
- Hemba (hem)
- 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
- Expanding Unreached People Group
- Region
- Middle Africa, Africa
Where they live
Gospel status
The Luba-Hemba 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 Luba-Hemba
- 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
58% adherents
Primary language
Hemba · Atlantic-Congo family
100% speak Hemba
Gospel resources in Hemba
- Bible available, published 2003
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings not available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories available
Films
- JESUS (Hemba)
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Luba-Hemba
- Revelation 7:9. Pray for the day when people from this group stand before the throne with every nation, tribe, people and language.
- John 17:3. Pray that many will come to know the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom he has sent.
- Psalm 27:1. Pray that new believers will be strengthened in the face of persecution, with the Lord as their stronghold.
- Romans 12:4–5. Pray that believers from many cultures will work together as one body so that the church is built up.
Know something we don't? Submit updates to IMB Global Research.