People group profile · PG043680
The Central Alaskan Yupik of the United States
The Central Alaskan Yupik of the United States, numbering about 29,500 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are the largest Indigenous Alaska Native people group and the largest Yupik subgroup, with a deep cultural, linguistic, and historical presence in western and southwestern Alaska.
They are an indigenous people in the Arctic Peoples people cluster of the North American Peoples. Their primary religion is Protestantism, and they primarily speak Central Yupik.
Fast facts
- Country
- United States
- Population
- 29,500
- Affinity group
- American Peoples
- People cluster
- Arctic Peoples
- Primary language
- Central Yupik (esu)
- Primary religion
- Protestantism
- Strategic Progress Index ?
- Engaged yet Unreached
- Evangelical
- Less than 2%
- GSEC ?
- Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
- Lostness priority ?
- Expanding Unreached People Group
- Also known as
- Alaskan Yup'ik, Yup'ik
- Region
- Northern America, Americas
- Location
- Alaska: Delta area, Nunivak Island, Unalakleet to Bristol Bay coast to Unalakleet on Norton Sound; inland along Kuskokwim, Nushagak, and Yukon rivers; Chevak (Cup’ik dialect)
Where they live
Gospel status
The Central Alaskan Yupik 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 Central Alaskan Yupik
- 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
Protestantism · Christianity
Primary language
Central Yupik · Eskimo-Aleut family
40% speak Central Yupik
Gospel resources in Central Yupik
- Bible available, published 2015
- JESUS Film not available
- Radio programs not 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 Central Alaskan Yupik
- 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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