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For a long time little was known
about the Chaungtha people of Myanmar. For a while there
seemed to be a connection to a town named Chaungtha, but in fact
there is no connection. The Chaungtha people of Myanmar are
one of the many hill tribes living in central Myanmar around the
area of Mandalay. The best estimate for population is 150,000
which make them a significant group of people to reach.
The primary occupations are rice
farming and agricultural related businesses, but they grow other
crops too. Although Chaungtha means "people of the valley" the
are are they live in is mountainous. Perhaps they got the name
because they congregate near the streams and rivers in the valleys.
It is common for Chaungtha people live in big extended family
dwellings.
The Chaungtha are primarily
Therevada Buddhists, but there is mixing with traditional religion.
Today they identify closely with the Burmese, and culturally there
are many similarities. As the Burmese government and army has
gained strong control over the central parts of Myanmar, the
Chaungtha have increasingly claimed to be Burmese to avoid trouble.
Currently there are a handful of
Christians (0.1% = <> 300) and of these perhaps 200 are evangelical,
although these numbers are not certain. There is strong
resistance to the gospel. Asia Harvest reports that 43% of Chaungtha
have heard the gospel but not believed. If this is true, it is
hard to imagine that the gospel they have heard has been
communicated in a way they can understand and accept.
Pray for a good people survey
(sponsor one for $500,
contact us!) to be completed soon. Pray for a church
planters that can go to this area and start churches (we know of a
few willing who have some experience in this area! They only need
resources and even $100 a month will SEND them!
Contact us!).
Pray for divine connections between Christians and Chaungtha people
that will lead to redemptive relationships. Pray for wisdom
for the bearers of the gospel, pray they will be able to communicate
effectively the words of life. Pray for a Holy Spirit
outpouring over the whole area around Mandalay.
Population: 150,000+ ---
Religion: Buddhist --- Language: Chaungtha
Christian: 0.10% --- Evangelical: 0.07% --- Bible: None
--- Resources: None
Resource Links:
Joshua Project,
Asia Harvest,
Global Prayer Digest |
