People group profile · PG043730
The Nisu Yi of China
The Nisu Yi of China, numbering about 1,435,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a Yi people of Yunnan whose identity is rooted in the Nisu branch of the Yi ethnolinguistic world and shaped by centuries of settlement in the highlands of southwest China.
They are an indigenous people in the Other Tibeto-Burmese people cluster of the Tibetan Peoples. Their primary religion is Chinese Folk Religion, and they primarily speak Eastern Nisu.
Fast facts
- Country
- China
- Population
- 1,435,000
- Affinity group
- Asian Pacific Rim Peoples
- People cluster
- Other Tibeto-Burmese
- Primary language
- Eastern Nisu (nos)
- Primary religion
- Chinese Folk Religion
- 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
- Eastern Asia, Asia
Where they live
Gospel status
The Nisu Yi 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 Nisu Yi
- 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
Chinese Folk Religion · Ethnoreligion
93% adherents
Primary language
Eastern Nisu · Sino-Tibetan family
70% speak Eastern Nisu
Gospel resources in Eastern Nisu
- Bible not available
- JESUS Film not available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources not available
- Bible stories not available
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Nisu Yi
- 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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