People group profile · PG042701
The Mensa of Eritrea
The Mensa of Eritrea, numbering about 44,000 people, are Unengaged and Unreached. They are a Tigre-speaking people of Eritrea's Mensa region, historically organized under the Bet Asgede tribute system of Kebessa lords, with the region's originally Christian population gradually converting to Islam under Muslim rulers during the 19th century.
They are an indigenous people in the Ethio-Semitic people cluster of the Horn of Africa Peoples. Their primary religion is Sunni Islam, and they primarily speak Tigre.
Fast facts
- Country
- Eritrea
- Population
- 44,000
- Affinity group
- Northern African and Middle Eastern Peoples
- People cluster
- Ethio-Semitic
- Primary language
- Tigre (tig)
- Primary religion
- Sunni Islam
- Strategic Progress Index ?
- Unengaged and Unreached
- Evangelical
- No Known Evangelicals
- GSEC ?
- Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
- Lostness priority ?
- Frontier Unreached People Group
- Region
- Eastern Africa, Africa
- Location
- Anseba, Gash-Barka, and Northern Red Sea regions. Widespread except in Southern Red Sea region
Where they live
Gospel status
The Mensa are Unengaged and Unreached, which means fewer than 2% are evangelical Christians, and there has been no reported church planting activity in the past two years. 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 Mensa
- Pray that God would send workers to this people group
- Begin sowing the gospel and seek out people of peace
- Plant the first churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice
Primary religion
Sunni Islam · Islam
Primary language
Tigre · Afro-Asiatic family
100% speak Tigre
Gospel resources in Tigre
- Bible available, published 1988
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Mensa
- Romans 12:4–5. Pray that believers from many cultures will work together as one body so that the church is built up.
- Revelation 7:9. Pray for the day when people from this group stand before the throne with every nation, tribe, people and language.
- John 17:3. Pray that many will come to know the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom he has sent.
- Psalm 27:1. Pray that new believers will be strengthened in the face of persecution, with the Lord as their stronghold.
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