People group profile · PG048830
The Veps of the Russian Federation
The Veps of the Russian Federation, numbering about 6,000 people, are Unengaged and Unreached. They are a Baltic Finnic people of northwestern Russia living between Lakes Ladoga, Onega, and Beloye. They speak the endangered Veps language, a Finnic language related to Karelian and Finnish, and are predominantly Eastern Orthodox.
They are an indigenous people in the Finno-Ugric people cluster of the Eurasian Peoples. Their primary religion is Eastern Orthodox Christianity, and they primarily speak Russian.
Fast facts
- Country
- Russian Federation
- Population
- 6,000
- Affinity group
- European Peoples
- People cluster
- Finno-Ugric
- Primary language
- Russian (rus)
- Primary religion
- Eastern Orthodox Christianity
- Strategic Progress Index
- Unengaged and Unreached
- Evangelical
- Less than 2%
- GSEC
- Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
- Lostness priority
- Expanding Unreached People Group
- Also known as
- Vepsläižed
- Region
- Eastern Europe, Europe
- Location
- in Republic of Karelia, Leningrad Oblast, and Vologda Oblast
Where they live
Gospel status
The Veps are Unengaged and Unreached, which means fewer than 2% are evangelical Christians, and there has been no reported church planting activity in the past two years. 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 Veps
- Pray that God would send workers to this people group
- Begin sowing the gospel and seek out people of peace
- Plant the first churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice
Primary religion
Eastern Orthodox Christianity · Christianity
55% adherents
Primary language
Russian · Indo-European family
100% speak Russian
Gospel resources in Russian
- Bible available, published 2023
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
- Magdalena (Russian)
- Magdalena (Central Asian Russian)
- The Savior (Central Asian Russian)
- The Savior (Russian)
Bibles
- 1876 Synodal Bible, Light of the East Mission Anniversary Bible · video, audio, text
- 2014 Bible League International · text
- Holy Bible, New Russian Translation · video
- Holy Synod Version · audio
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Veps
- 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.
- Matthew 9:37–38. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest field.
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