People group profile · PG041530
The Khoja of India
The Khoja of India, numbering about 523,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a mercantile people of Gujarat, Sindh, and Kutch descended from Lohana Hindus converted to Ismaili Islam by the Persian missionary Pir Sadr al-Din in the 1200s-1300s, later splitting into Sunni and Twelver Shia branches.
They are an indigenous people in the Gujarati people cluster of the South Asian Peoples. Their primary religion is Sunni Islam, and they primarily speak Urdu.
Fast facts
- Country
- India
- Population
- 523,000
- Affinity group
- South Asian Peoples
- People cluster
- Gujarati
- Primary language
- Urdu (urd)
- Primary religion
- Sunni Islam
- 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
- Gujarat: both shores of Gulf of Khambhat; Maharashtra: Nandubar and Nashil districts; Rajasthan: Jalor and Sirohi districts; Daman and Diu Union Territory
Where they live
Gospel status
The Khoja 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 No
- Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted
Next steps for the Khoja
- 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
Sunni Islam · Islam
99% adherents
Primary language
Urdu · Indo-European family
100% speak Urdu
Gospel resources in Urdu
- Bible available
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
- JESUS (Urdu)
- Magdalena (Urdu)
- The Savior (Urdu (Indian))
- The Savior (Urdu)
Bibles
- Easy-to-Read Version · audio, text
- Geo Version · audio, text
- Geo Version · audio, text
- Geo Version · audio, text
- Pakistan Bible Society · audio
- Revised · video
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Khoja
- 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.
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