People group profile · PG017520
The Chayahuita of Peru
The Chayahuita of Peru, numbering about 21,500 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are a Cahuapanan people of Peru's Loreto region who call themselves Shawi, bounded historically by the Maranon, Huallaga, and Cahuapanas rivers, who shifted from inland forest dwelling to riverine settlement after Jesuit colonial contact.
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 Chayahuita.
Fast facts
- Country
- Peru
- Population
- 21,500
- Affinity group
- American Peoples
- People cluster
- South American Indigenous
- Primary language
- Chayahuita (cbt)
- Primary religion
- Animism
- Strategic Progress Index
- No Longer Unreached
- Evangelical
- 5% or Greater but Less than 10%
- GSEC
- 5% or Greater but Less than 10% Evangelical
- Lostness priority
- Marginally Reached People Group
- Region
- South America, Americas
- Location
- Loreto and San Martin regions: Cahuapanas, Paranapura, Shanusi, and Sillay rivers
Where they live
Gospel status
The Chayahuita are No Longer Unreached, which means 2% or more are evangelical Christians. In GSEC terms, this people group is greater than or equal to 5% evangelical.
- Congregations exist Yes
- Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted
Next steps for the Chayahuita
- Pray for the churches among this group to grow in faithfulness and maturity
- Equip believers to reach the unreached peoples around them
- Send out laborers from this people to the nations
Primary religion
Animism · Ethnoreligion
60% adherents
Primary language
Chayahuita · Cahuapanan family
65% speak Chayahuita
Gospel resources in Chayahuita
- Bible available, published 2021
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
- JESUS (Shawi (Chayahuita))
Bibles
- 2011, Wycliffe Bible Translators, Inc. · video, audio, text
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Chayahuita
- 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.
- 2 Timothy 2:2. Pray for faithful local leaders who will teach others, so that the church multiplies.
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