People group profile · PG048823
The Belarusians of the Russian Federation
The Belarusians of the Russian Federation, numbering about 789,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are an East Slavic people of the East European Plain, speakers of Belarusian alongside dominant Russian, predominantly Eastern Orthodox with a Catholic minority, shaped by Commonwealth and Soviet rule and rural Polesian marshland traditions.
They are a diaspora people in the Slav, Eastern people cluster of the Eurasian Peoples. Their primary religion is Eastern Orthodox Christianity, and they primarily speak Belarusian.
Fast facts
- Country
- Russian Federation
- Population
- 789,000
- Affinity group
- European Peoples
- People cluster
- Slav, Eastern
- Primary language
- Belarusian (bel)
- Primary religion
- Eastern Orthodox Christianity
- 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
- Eastern Europe, Europe
Where they live
Gospel status
The Belarusians 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 Belarusians
- 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
Eastern Orthodox Christianity · Christianity
55% adherents
Primary language
Belarusian · Indo-European family
100% speak Belarusian
Gospel resources in Belarusian
- Bible available
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
Bibles
- 2003 Bible Society in the Republic of Belarus · video, audio
- JFC Version · text
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Belarusians
- 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.
- 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.
Belarusian in other countries
The same people (ROP3 101833) is reported in 11 other countries.
| People group | Country | Population | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belarusians | Belarus | 7,870,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Belarusians | United States | 52,500 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Belarusians | Poland | 47,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Belarusians | Germany | 23,500 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Belarusians | Canada | 19,500 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Belarusians | Estonia | 19,500 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Belarusians | Uzbekistan | 18,500 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Belarusians | Azerbaijan | 7,000 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Belarusians | Argentina | 4,700 | No Longer Unreached |
| Belarusians | Turkmenistan | 4,600 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Belarusians | Tajikistan | 4,300 | Unengaged and Unreached |
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