People group profile · PG041438
The Saurastra of India
The Saurastra of India, numbering about 372,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a silk-trading and weaving community of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry named for the Saurashtra region of Gujarat, from which they migrated fleeing persecution. Silk-weaving and trade remain their principal occupations.
They are an indigenous people in the Gujarati people cluster of the South Asian Peoples. Their primary religion is Hinduism, and they primarily speak Saurashtra.
Fast facts
- Country
- India
- Population
- 372,000
- Affinity group
- South Asian Peoples
- People cluster
- Gujarati
- Primary language
- Saurashtra (saz)
- Primary religion
- Hinduism
- Strategic Progress Index ?
- Engaged yet Unreached
- Evangelical
- Less than 2%
- GSEC ?
- Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
- Lostness priority ?
- Pioneer Unreached People Group
- Region
- Southern Asia, Asia
- Location
- Tamil Nadu: North Arcot, Chengai-Annai, Dindugul, Madurai, Ramanathapuram, Salem, Thanjavur, Tiruchchirappalli, and Tirunelveli districts; Chennai, Deccan, Madurai, Salem, and Thanjavur cities; Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka states
Where they live
Gospel status
The Saurastra 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 Saurastra
- 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
Saurashtra · Indo-European family
100% speak Saurashtra
Gospel resources in Saurashtra
- Bible available, published 2023
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
- Magdalena (Saurashtra)
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Saurastra
- 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.
- Matthew 9:37–38. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest field.
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