Pray For…The Gond of India

Stats
•Population – 11,396,232
•Percentage of Evangelicals – Unknown
•Language Spoken – Northern Gondi
•Major Religion – Ethno-Religion
•Human Development Rank of India – 134
•Persecution Index of India – 26
•Global Evangelical Status – Level 3, Less than 2% Evangelical. Widespread church planting within past 2 years.

Once the rulers of India long ago, now the Gond people are agriculturalists and on occasion herders of goats and cattle. The Gond are a large people group that stretches across India. They live simple lives. However, the Gond live in fear of spirits in the forest who they believe constantly attempt to harm them. Sacrifices are made to these spirits for their crops, harvest, and their health. Signs of these sacrifices can usually be seen when approaching Gondi villages. Many older Gond are illiterate and therefore are sometimes taken advantage of at market. But the Indian government has made it a point to ensure that subsequent generations have proper education. Out of the over 11 million Gondi people, it is unclear how many are Christ-followers. But the Lord has been working amongst the God, and there has been a number of people turning to Christ from within the Gond. Some of them are even training to become missionaries to their own people. (Sources: IMB Global Research, Open Doors, Joshua Project, Window to the World)

•Pray for the Gospel to release the Gond people from their fear, oppression and superstition.
•Pray for God to continue to bring people to saving faith in Christ from among the Gond.
•Ask God to strengthen believers among the Gond so they would glorify Christ and have courage to persevere in the faith.
•Pray that God would supply every need of Gondi church planters as they proclaim the Gospel of Christ.