People group profile · PG016230
The Chimila of Colombia
The Chimila of Colombia, numbering about 2,500 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are an Indigenous Chibchan-speaking people of the Caribbean lowlands between the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and the Magdalena River who maintain a distinct Ette Ennaka identity shaped by centuries of resistance, displacement, and cultural persistence.
They are an indigenous people in the South American Indigenous people cluster of the Latin American and Caribbean Peoples. Their primary religion is Animism, and they primarily speak Chimila.
Fast facts
- Country
- Colombia
- Population
- 2,500
- Affinity group
- American Peoples
- People cluster
- South American Indigenous
- Primary language
- Chimila (cbg)
- Primary religion
- Animism
- 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
- South America, Americas
- Location
- Cesar department: Valle du Par minicipality; La Guajira department: La Jagua del Pilar and Urumita municipalities; Magdalena department: lowlands south and west of Fundación
Where they live
Gospel status
The Chimila 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 No
- Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted
Next steps for the Chimila
- 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
Animism · Ethnoreligion
55% adherents
Primary language
Chimila · Chibchan family
100% speak Chimila
Gospel resources in Chimila
- Bible available, published 2009
- 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 Chimila
- 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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