People group profile · PG041404
The Sainthwar of India
The Sainthwar of India, numbering about 1,160,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a community of Gorakhpur, Deoria, and Azamgarh districts, Uttar Pradesh, claiming descent from Lakshman's son Chandraketu. Agriculture remains their occupation, and some follow Buddhism or Jainism.
They are an indigenous people in the Rajput people cluster of the South Asian Peoples. Their primary religion is Hinduism, and they primarily speak Bhojpuri.
Fast facts
- Country
- India
- Population
- 1,160,000
- Affinity group
- South Asian Peoples
- People cluster
- Rajput
- Primary language
- Bhojpuri (bho)
- Primary religion
- Hinduism
- Strategic Progress Index
- Engaged yet 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
- Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Karnataka, and Madhya Pradesh states; Maharashtra: Belgaum, Bidar, and Karnataka districts
Where they live
Gospel status
The Sainthwar 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 Sainthwar
- 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
99% adherents
Primary language
Bhojpuri · Indo-European family
100% speak Bhojpuri
Gospel resources in Bhojpuri
- Bible available, published 2007
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories available
Films
Bibles
- Revised Old Version · audio
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Sainthwar
- 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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