People group profile · PG014650
The Mbanja of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Mbanja of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, numbering about 742,000 people, are Unengaged and Unreached. They are a Banda ethnolinguistic group indigenous to the northwestern corner of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
They are an indigenous people in the Sudanic people cluster of the Sub-Saharan African Peoples. Their primary religion is Roman Catholicism, and they primarily speak Mbandja.
Fast facts
- Country
- Congo, Democratic Republic of the
- Population
- 742,000
- Affinity group
- Sub-Saharan African Peoples
- People cluster
- Sudanic
- Primary language
- Mbandja (zmz)
- Primary religion
- Roman Catholicism
- Strategic Progress Index
- Unengaged and Unreached
- Evangelical
- Less than 2%
- GSEC
- Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
- Lostness priority
- Pioneer Unreached People Group
- Region
- Middle Africa, Africa
- Location
- Sud-Ubangi, Nord-Ubangi, and west Mongala provinces
Where they live
Gospel status
The Mbanja are Unengaged and Unreached, which means fewer than 2% are evangelical Christians, and there has been no reported church planting activity in the past two years. 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 Mbanja
- Pray that God would send workers to this people group
- Begin sowing the gospel and seek out people of peace
- Plant the first churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice
Primary religion
Roman Catholicism · Christianity
75% adherents
Primary language
Mbandja · Atlantic-Congo family
100% speak Mbandja
Gospel resources in Mbandja
- Bible available, published 2014
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
- JESUS (Mbandja)
Bibles
- 1997 Société Biblique de la République Démocratique du Congo · video, audio, text
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Mbanja
- 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.
- Ephesians 5:8. Pray that those walking in darkness will turn to the light and live as children of light.
Mbanza in other countries
The same people (ROP3 106463) is reported in 2 other countries.
| People group | Country | Population | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mbanza | Congo | 19,000 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Mbandza | Central African Republic | 2,400 | No Longer Unreached |
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