People group profile · PG050546
The Oy Layao of Laos
The Oy Layao of Laos, numbering about 5,600 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a Layao subgroup of the Oy people of Laos who belong to the broader Mon-Khmer tradition and maintain a distinct identity within the Oy-speaking communities of southern Laos.
They are an indigenous people in the Mon-Khmer people cluster of the Southeast Asian Peoples. Their primary religion is Animism, and they primarily speak Oy.
Fast facts
- Country
- Laos
- Population
- 5,600
- Affinity group
- Asian Pacific Rim Peoples
- People cluster
- Mon-Khmer
- Primary language
- Oy (oyb)
- Primary religion
- Animism
- Strategic Progress Index
- Engaged yet Unreached
- Evangelical
- Less than 2%
- GSEC
- Less than 2% Evangelical, Concentrated CP Activity
- Lostness priority
- Pioneer Unreached People Group
- Also known as
- Layao, Maeriyay
- Region
- South-Eastern Asia, Asia
- Location
- Attapeu province, Samakkhixay district: 3 villages
Where they live
Gospel status
The Oy Layao 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 but there has been initial or concentrated church planting among them within the past two years.
- Congregations exist Yes
- Church planting in the last two years Concentrated Church Planting
Next steps for the Oy Layao
- 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
Animism · Ethnoreligion
99% adherents
Primary language
Oy · Austroasiatic family
50% speak Oy
Gospel resources in Oy
- Bible not available
- JESUS Film not available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Oy Layao
- 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.
- 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.
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