People group profile · PG047003
The Eastern Phula Yi of China
The Eastern Phula Yi of China, numbering about 303,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a Phula-related Yi people of southeastern Yunnan whose identity is rooted in the Eastern Phula branch of the Yi ethnolinguistic world and shaped by centuries of settlement among the diverse highland communities of the Red River region.
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 Phola.
Fast facts
- Country
- China
- Population
- 303,000
- Affinity group
- Asian Pacific Rim Peoples
- People cluster
- Other Tibeto-Burmese
- Primary language
- Phola (ypg)
- 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
- Frontier Unreached People Group
- Region
- Eastern Asia, Asia
Where they live
Gospel status
The Eastern Phula 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 Eastern Phula 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
Primary language
Phola · Sino-Tibetan family
100% speak Phola
Gospel resources in Phola
- Bible not available
- JESUS Film not available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings not 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 Eastern Phula Yi
- 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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