People group profile · PG041918
The Chenchu of India
The Chenchu of India, numbering about 74,000 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are a Telugu-speaking Scheduled Tribe of Andhra Pradesh whose name is said to derive from chettu, "tree," reflecting their forest life. They traditionally gathered honey and tubers, and many now work in agriculture.
They are an indigenous people in the South Asian Tribal people cluster of the South Asian Peoples. Their primary religion is Folk Hinduism, and they primarily speak Chenchu.

Fast facts
- Country
- India
- Population
- 74,000
- Affinity group
- South Asian Peoples
- People cluster
- South Asian Tribal
- Primary language
- Chenchu (cde)
- Primary religion
- Folk Hinduism
- Strategic Progress Index ?
- No Longer Unreached
- Evangelical
- 2% or Greater but Less than 5%
- GSEC ?
- 2% or Greater but Less than 5% Evangelical
- Lostness priority ?
- Marginally Reached People Group
- Region
- Southern Asia, Asia
- Location
- Andhra Pradesh: Mahbubnagar, Prakasam, Kurnool, and Guntur districts; also Karnataka, Odisha
Where they live
Gospel status
The Chenchu are No Longer Unreached, which means 2% or more are evangelical Christians. In GSEC terms, this people group is greater than or equal to 2% evangelical.
- Congregations exist Yes
- Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted
Next steps for the Chenchu
- Pray for the churches among this group to grow in faithfulness and maturity
- Equip believers to reach the unreached peoples around them
- Send out laborers from this people to the nations
Primary religion
Folk Hinduism · Hinduism
93% adherents
Primary language
Chenchu · Dravidian family
100% speak Chenchu
Gospel resources in Chenchu
- Bible not available
- JESUS Film not available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources not available
- Bible stories available
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Chenchu
- 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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