People group profile · PG046251
The Patel (Varhadi-Nagpuri) of India
The Patel (Varhadi-Nagpuri) of India, numbering about 468,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a historically agrarian, landholding, and entrepreneurial community of western India. Patel identity emerged from village leadership, agricultural ownership, and strong kinship networks. The Patel maintain a significant presence in business and politics.
They are an indigenous people in the Marathi-Konkani people cluster of the South Asian Peoples. Their primary religion is Hinduism, and they primarily speak Varhadi-Nagpuri.
Fast facts
- Country
- India
- Population
- 468,000
- Affinity group
- South Asian Peoples
- People cluster
- Marathi-Konkani
- Primary language
- Varhadi-Nagpuri (vah)
- Primary religion
- Hinduism
- Strategic Progress Index ?
- Engaged yet Unreached
- Evangelical
- Less than 2%
- GSEC ?
- Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
- Lostness priority ?
- Frontier Unreached People Group
- Region
- Southern Asia, Asia
- Location
- Mainly Goa and Karnataka states; Andhra Pradesh: Anantapur; Maharashtra: Latur district; Tamil Nadu and Kerala states; small border areas of last 4 states
Where they live
Gospel status
The Patel (Varhadi-Nagpuri) 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 Patel (Varhadi-Nagpuri)
- 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
99% adherents
Primary language
Varhadi-Nagpuri · Indo-European family
100% speak Varhadi-Nagpuri
Gospel resources in Varhadi-Nagpuri
- Bible available, published 2022
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories available
Films
- JESUS (Varhadi-Nagpuri)
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Patel (Varhadi-Nagpuri)
- Psalm 27:1. Pray that new believers will be strengthened in the face of persecution, with the Lord as their stronghold.
- 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.
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