People group profile · PG041308
The Syrian Christians of India
The Syrian Christians of India, numbering about 4,540,000 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are an ancient Christian community centered in Kerala. They are also known as Nasranis. They trace their origins to the tradition that Thomas the Apostle arrived on the Malabar Coast around AD 52 and established Christian communities there.
They are an indigenous people in the South Asian Christian people cluster of the South Asian Peoples. Their primary religion is Syriac Orthodox Christianity, and they primarily speak Malayalam.
Fast facts
- Country
- India
- Population
- 4,540,000
- Affinity group
- South Asian Peoples
- People cluster
- South Asian Christian
- Primary language
- Malayalam (mal)
- Primary religion
- Syriac Orthodox Christianity
- Strategic Progress Index
- No Longer Unreached
- Evangelical
- 40% or Greater but Less than 50%
- GSEC
- 10% or Greater Evangelical
- Lostness priority
- Significantly Reached People Group
- Also known as
- Saint Thomas Christians, Nasranis
- Region
- Southern Asia, Asia
- Location
- Karnataka: Dakshina Kannada, Kodagu, and Mysore districts; Kerala and Lakshadweep states; Puducherry: Mahe; Tamil Nadu: Colimbatore, The Nilgiris, and Tirunelveli districts
Where they live
Gospel status
The Syrian Christians are No Longer Unreached, which means 2% or more are evangelical Christians. In GSEC terms, this people group is greater than or equal to 10% evangelical.
- Congregations exist Yes
- Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted
Next steps for the Syrian Christians
- 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
Syriac Orthodox Christianity · Christianity
70% adherents
Primary language
Malayalam · Dravidian family
100% speak Malayalam
Gospel resources in Malayalam
- Bible available, published 2022
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
Bibles
- Bible League International · audio, text
- Holy Bible, Malayalam Contemporary Version - LUMO Christmas Film · video
- Holy Bible, Malayalam Contemporary Version - LUMO Easter Film · video
- Holy Bible, Malayalam Contemporary Version ™ · video
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Syrian Christians
- 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.
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