People group profile · PG024188
The Mandaeans of Iran
The Mandaeans of Iran, numbering about 11,500 people, are Unengaged and Unreached. They are an ancient ethnoreligious group whose religion, Mandaeism, is considered one of the last surviving Gnostic faiths.
They are an indigenous people in the Assyrian people cluster of the Arab Peoples. Their primary religion is Mandaeism, and they primarily speak Iranian Persian.
Fast facts
- Country
- Iran
- Population
- 11,500
- Affinity group
- Northern African and Middle Eastern Peoples
- People cluster
- Assyrian
- Primary language
- Iranian Persian (pes)
- Primary religion
- Mandaeism
- Strategic Progress Index
- Unengaged and Unreached
- Evangelical
- Less than 2%
- GSEC
- Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
- Lostness priority
- Frontier Unreached People Group
- Region
- Southern Asia, Asia
- Location
- Khuzestan province: Hoveiseh, other towns
Where they live
Gospel status
The Mandaeans 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 No
- Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted
Next steps for the Mandaeans
- 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
Mandaeism · Other
100% adherents
Primary language
Iranian Persian · Indo-European family
100% speak Iranian Persian
Gospel resources in Iranian Persian
- Bible available, published 2020
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
- JESUS (Farsi, Western)
- Magdalena (Farsi, Western)
- The Savior (Farsi, Western)
Bibles
- New Millenium Version 2009 · audio
- New Millenium Version 2014 · video, text
- Today's Persian Version · audio, text
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Mandaeans
- 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.
- Romans 10:14–15. Ask God to send messengers, so that people can hear, believe and call on the name of the Lord.
Mandaean in other countries
The same people (ROP3 106221) is reported in 2 other countries.
| People group | Country | Population | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mandaeans | Iraq | 36,000 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Mandaeans | United States | 1,100 | Unengaged and Unreached |
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