People group profile · PG046980
The Northern Tlapanec of Mexico
The Northern Tlapanec of Mexico, numbering about 186,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a Me'phaa-speaking farming people of Guerrero's La Montana and Costa Chica highlands, self-identifying as Me'phaa rather than the older Nahuatl-derived name Tlapanec.
They are an indigenous people in the Central American Indigenous people cluster of the Latin American and Caribbean Peoples. Their primary religion is Folk Catholicism, and they primarily speak Acatepec Me'phaa.
Fast facts
- Country
- Mexico
- Population
- 186,000
- Affinity group
- American Peoples
- People cluster
- Central American Indigenous
- Primary language
- Acatepec Me'phaa (tpx)
- Primary religion
- Folk Catholicism
- 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
- Region
- Central America, Americas
- Location
- Guerrero: Acatepec, Ayutla, Zapotitlán, Atlixtac, and Quechultenango municipalities
Where they live
Gospel status
The Northern Tlapanec 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 Northern Tlapanec
- 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
Folk Catholicism · Christianity
95% adherents
Primary language
Acatepec Me'phaa · Otomanguean family
94% speak Acatepec Me'phaa
Gospel resources in Acatepec Me'phaa
- Bible available, published 2023
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources not available
- Bible stories not available
Films
- JESUS (Me'Phaa De Acatapec)
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Northern Tlapanec
- 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.
- Romans 10:14–15. Ask God to send messengers, so that people can hear, believe and call on the name of the Lord.
Tlapanec, Acatepec in other countries
The same people (ROP3 100034) is reported in 1 other country.
| People group | Country | Population | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Tlapanec | United States | 18,500 | Engaged yet Unreached |
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