People group profile · PG024708
The Chuj of Guatemala
The Chuj of Guatemala, numbering about 101,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are an Indigenous Maya people of northwestern Guatemala, speakers of the Chuj language, whose identity is rooted in the highlands of Huehuetenango and long-standing cultural traditions linked to the Maya civilization.
They are an indigenous people in the Maya people cluster of the Latin American and Caribbean Peoples. Their primary religion is Folk Catholicism, and they primarily speak Chuj.
Fast facts
- Country
- Guatemala
- Population
- 101,000
- Affinity group
- American Peoples
- People cluster
- Maya
- Primary language
- Chuj (cac)
- Primary religion
- Folk Catholicism
- 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
- Central America, Americas
- Location
- Huehuetenango department: central western Coatán river area, including Nentón
Where they live
Gospel status
The Chuj 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 Chuj
- 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
Folk Catholicism · Christianity
88% adherents
Primary language
Chuj · Mayan family
64% speak Chuj
Gospel resources in Chuj
- Bible available, published 2007
- JESUS Film not available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Bibles
- 1993 Sociedad Bíblica de Guatemala · video, audio
- 1999 Bible Society of Guatemala · audio
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Chuj
- 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.
Chuj, San Mateo Ixtatan in other countries
The same people (ROP3 108618) is reported in 2 other countries.
| People group | Country | Population | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chuj | Mexico | 3,900 | No Longer Unreached |
| Chuj | United States | 450 | No Longer Unreached |
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