People group profile · PG041512
The Patel (Wagdi) of India
The Patel (Wagdi) of India, numbering about 638,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a historically agrarian, landholding, and entrepreneurial community of western India. Patel identity emerged from village leadership, agricultural ownership, and strong kinship networks. The Patel maintain a significant presence in business and politics.
They are an indigenous people in the Marathi-Konkani people cluster of the South Asian Peoples. Their primary religion is Hinduism, and they primarily speak Wagdi.
Fast facts
- Country
- India
- Population
- 638,000
- Affinity group
- South Asian Peoples
- People cluster
- Marathi-Konkani
- Primary language
- Wagdi (wbr)
- Primary religion
- Hinduism
- Strategic Progress Index ?
- Engaged yet Unreached
- Evangelical
- Less than 2%
- GSEC ?
- Less than 2% Evangelical, Dispersed CP Activity
- Lostness priority ?
- Pioneer Unreached People Group
- Region
- Southern Asia, Asia
- Location
- Andhra Pradesh: Jhabua; Gujarat: Panchmahals and Sabarkantha; Rajasthan: Banswara, Dungarpur, and south Udaipur districts
Where they live
Gospel status
The Patel (Wagdi) 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 Patel (Wagdi)
- 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
Gospel resources in Wagdi
- Bible available, published 2023
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
- JESUS (Wagdi)
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Patel (Wagdi)
- 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.
- 2 Timothy 2:2. Pray for faithful local leaders who will teach others, so that the church multiplies.
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