People group profile · PG016278
The Saija of Colombia
The Saija of Colombia, numbering about 4,500 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are an Emberá subgroup of Colombia's Pacific rainforest region whose communities are closely related to other Chocoan-speaking Emberá peoples and maintain a distinct Saija identity associated with the Epena language.
They are an indigenous people in the South American Indigenous people cluster of the Latin American and Caribbean Peoples. Their primary religion is Ethnoreligion, and they primarily speak Epena.
Fast facts
- Country
- Colombia
- Population
- 4,500
- Affinity group
- American Peoples
- People cluster
- South American Indigenous
- Primary language
- Epena (sja)
- Primary religion
- Ethnoreligion
- 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
- South America, Americas
- Location
- Cauca, Nariño, and Valle del Cauca departments: 2 separate areas on South Pacific coast
Where they live
Gospel status
The Saija 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 Saija
- 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
60% adherents
Primary language
Epena · Chocoan family
80% speak Epena
Gospel resources in Epena
- Bible available, published 2015
- JESUS Film not available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Bibles
- 2005 Bible League International · video, audio, text
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Saija
- 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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