People group profile · PG048017
The Bhat (Maithili) of India
The Bhat (Maithili) of India, numbering about 20,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are an occupational community of India historically functioning as bards and genealogists who preserved lineage, history, and prestige for various communities in South Asia.
They are an indigenous people in the Other South Asian people cluster of the South Asian Peoples. Their primary religion is Hinduism, and they primarily speak Maithili.
Fast facts
- Country
- India
- Population
- 20,000
- Affinity group
- South Asian Peoples
- People cluster
- Other South Asian
- Primary language
- Maithili (mai)
- Primary religion
- Hinduism
- 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
- Southern Asia, Asia
Where they live
Gospel status
The Bhat (Maithili) 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 Bhat (Maithili)
- 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
86% adherents
Primary language
Maithili · Indo-European family
100% speak Maithili
Gospel resources in Maithili
- Bible available, published 2010
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories available
Films
Bibles
- Wycliffe Bible Tranlsators, Inc. · audio, text
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Bhat (Maithili)
- John 17:3. Pray that many will come to know the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom he has sent.
- 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.
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