People group profile · PG041243
The Gond (Chhattisgarhi) of India
The Gond (Chhattisgarhi) of India, numbering about 7,650,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a large tribal people of central India whose identity is rooted in forest landscapes, clan organization, indigenous religious traditions, historical kingdoms, and a strong cultural heritage expressed through art, music, dance, and oral tradition.
They are an indigenous people in the Marathi-Konkani people cluster of the South Asian Peoples. Their primary religion is Animism, and they primarily speak Chhattisgarhi.
Fast facts
- Country
- India
- Population
- 7,650,000
- Affinity group
- South Asian Peoples
- People cluster
- Marathi-Konkani
- Primary language
- Chhattisgarhi (hne)
- Primary religion
- Animism
- Strategic Progress Index
- Engaged yet Unreached
- Evangelical
- Less than 2%
- GSEC
- Less than 2% Evangelical, Dispersed CP Activity
- Lostness priority
- Expanding Unreached People Group
- Region
- Southern Asia, Asia
- Location
- Chhattisgarh: north central; Jharkhand: Simdega; Madhya Pradesh: Anuppur and Shahdol (Baigani dialect) districts; Maharashtra: border areas; Odisha: Sundargarh
Where they live
Gospel status
The Gond (Chhattisgarhi) 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 but there has been dispersed church planting among them within the past two years.
- Congregations exist Yes
- Church planting in the last two years Dispersed Church Planting
Next steps for the Gond (Chhattisgarhi)
- 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
99% adherents
Primary language
Chhattisgarhi · Indo-European family
100% speak Chhattisgarhi
Gospel resources in Chhattisgarhi
- Bible available, published 2024
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories available
Films
Bibles
- 2012 Bharatiya General Conference Mennonite Church · audio, text
- Bible Society of India · video
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Gond (Chhattisgarhi)
- Psalm 27:1. Pray that new believers will be strengthened in the face of persecution, with the Lord as their stronghold.
- Romans 12:4–5. Pray that believers from many cultures will work together as one body so that the church is built up.
- Revelation 7:9. Pray for the day when people from this group stand before the throne with every nation, tribe, people and language.
- John 17:3. Pray that many will come to know the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom he has sent.
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