People group profile · PG041346
The Meithei of India
The Meithei of India, numbering about 1,890,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a tribal ethnic group indigenous to the state of Manipur in northeast India and the Sylhet District of northeastern Bangladesh.
They are an indigenous people in the Manipuri people cluster of the Himalayan Peoples. Their primary religion is Hinduism, and they primarily speak Manipuri.
Fast facts
- Country
- India
- Population
- 1,890,000
- Affinity group
- South Asian Peoples
- People cluster
- Manipuri
- Primary language
- Manipuri (mni)
- Primary religion
- Hinduism
- Strategic Progress Index ?
- Engaged yet Unreached
- Evangelical
- Less than 2%
- GSEC ?
- Less than 2% Evangelical, Concentrated CP Activity
- Lostness priority ?
- Expanding Unreached People Group
- Region
- Southern Asia, Asia
- Location
- Assam: Cachar and Dima Hasao; Mainly Manipur state; Nagaland: Dimapur, Kohima, Peren, Phek; Mizoram: Aizwal and Kolasibi; possibly some in nearby states
Where they live
Gospel status
The Meithei 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 initial or concentrated church planting among them within the past two years.
- Congregations exist Yes
- Church planting in the last two years Concentrated Church Planting
Next steps for the Meithei
- 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
85% adherents
Primary language
Manipuri · Sino-Tibetan family
100% speak Manipuri
Gospel resources in Manipuri
- Bible available, published 2022
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
Bibles
- 2019 Bibles International · text
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Meithei
- 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.
- Ephesians 5:8. Pray that those walking in darkness will turn to the light and live as children of light.
Meithei in other countries
The same people is also reported in 3 other countries.
| People group | Country | Population | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manipuri | Bangladesh | 44,000 | No Longer Unreached |
| Manipuri | Myanmar | 28,500 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Meithei | United States | 150 | Unengaged and Unreached |
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