Other Frontier People Groups over 10,000,000

Praise God for the discovery of self-sustaining movements to Jesus and more known believers in four of the original 31 Largest Frontier People Groups–the two Hausa groups, the Fulani of Nigeria, the Bengali Muslims and the Azerbaijani of Iran. Praise God that these UPGs are no longer considered Frontier People Groups without any progress of the Good News! However, there are still 38 FPGs that have grown above 10 million; included are short profiles of an additional five groups as they are also significant groups that need prayer.

Lohar in India (LOW-har)

There are more than 11 million Hindu Lohar people in India, as well as           
Muslim and Sikh Lohar groups. Traditionally, the Lohar people of India
were nomadic metal-smiths who traveled around to sell their goods.
Formerly high-caste weapon makers of the Mewar Kingdom in India, they
became poor nomads when the kingdom fell in 1568. Lohar see
themselves as descendants of the god Vishwakarma, whom they
worship. Many Hindu Lohar people live in the Indian state of Rajasthan
and speak Hindi. Although their trade is not “unclean” like that of
outcaste groups, it is hard for them to break into the modern workforce
in new trades. Their nomadic lifestyle has made education difficult.

Pray for the Lohar whose trade is being pushed out by factory-made metal goods
widely available. Pray for God to send His love to them through believers who can
help them with their economic problems. Ask Jesus to bless and heal their families,
making them a light to many others.

Hijazi Arab in Saudi Arabia (hee-JAH-zee)

On the Saudi Arabian side of the Red Sea live more than 11 million Hijazi Arabic speakers, a form of Arabic most common in Medina and Mecca, but which differs significantly from Modern Standard Arabic. Although in Saudi Arabia they are difficult to get to know, over 300,000 Hijazi- speaking Arabs work in the United Arab Emirates.

Pray for them to have oral and written scriptures in their heart language. Ask God to
reveal to them His love through Isa al Masih (Jesus the Messiah) and draw them to
the Qur’anic passages that honor His virgin birth and healing ministry. Also pray that
God’s Spirit would pour out His blessing onto those seeking Him through pilgrimages
to Medina and Mecca, giving them dreams and visions of the Messiah. Pray for
witnesses to be able to share their testimonies with the ones working in the UAE.

God’s blessing to find Him: Stand at the crossing and consider the ancient path,
for it is good and leads to Me. Walk on this path
and you will find rest for your souls. (Jer.6:16)

Tajik in Afghanistan (TAH-jeek)

The Tajiks live in Tajikistan with a quarter of their population also in
Afghanistan. Like most Afghan peoples, they are Sunni Muslims, though
they retain some folk or animistic practices. Tajik families are hospitable,
large and close-knit, with city-dwellers retaining close ties with their rural
relatives. The recent political crisis in Afghanistan makes faith in Jesus
and relief for refugees more difficult.

Pray for courage for any believers to share God’s unconditional love with the Tajiks,
especially those displaced from their homes. Pray for access to Scripture and fervent
faith that will yield Tajik disciples who make disciples, spreading throughout the land.
Pray for families living in this time of war, famine and unstable leadership to find
healing in the Prince of Peace. Ask God to touch the hearts of leaders in Afghanistan,
bringing them to Himself along with food and peace for the people of Afghanistan.

Mappila in India (MAH-pee-lah)

Over 10 million Mappila Muslims live in India, mostly in the southern state of Kerala and its offshore islands. They were won to the Muslim faith by Sunni Muslim seafarers involved in the spice trade and Muslim missionaries. They are mostly part of the Salafi sect of Sunni Islam. Though they consider themselves a separate Muslim people, they do speak the state language, Malayalam, like the Mar Thoma Christian Mappilas, an ancient sect won to Christ by the disciple Thomas in the 1st century.

Please pray for the Kurdish families and communities to know the love that God has for them. Pray for scriptures to reach them in ways they can understand, oral and written. Also pray that the Lord would strengthen any believers and sprout the seeds planted by 200+ years of outreach to them. Ask God to touch the hearts of their leaders and the youth that are concerned about the dissolving of their society, so they would find Jesus instead of violence.

Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. (Mk.16:15)