The Champa people live in northern India and northeast Pakistan in the high mountains. The Nghari Tibetans in China are also called Changtang Tibetans, after the massive plain of the same name. The primary occupation of the Changpa is nomadic animal husbandry.
At one time, the Changpa were considered a sub-group of the Ladakhi people, but their customs and ethnicity are different from those of the Ladakhi. Balti is the first language of the Changpa of Pakistan. Bible portions and the JESUS Film are available in Balti. There are few if any believers among the Changpa of Pakistan.

The area inhabited by the Changpa in Jammu and Kashmir is cold. Living at an average altitude of 4,000 to 5,000 meters (13,000 to 16,000 ft.) above sea level, the Changpa's homeland is ravaged by snowstorms and avalanches during the long winter months.
The Changpa come down the mountains to trade at the Changthang Nyoma market. They send some of their boys to be educated in Tibetan schools. Having a Buddhist monk in the family is considered an honor.
The diet of the Changpa people consists of barley and the meat of yak and horses. They often eat dried cheese and meat boiled with barley flour and seasoned with chilies. The Changpa trade their surplus animal products to buy grain and things they cannot make for themselves like tools and cell phones.
Most Changpa people are nomadic pastoralists. They raise sheep, goats, yaks, and horses. They are particularly noted for the cashmere wool they produce. The Changpa can be identified by their conical yak-skin tents. The Changpa who live nomadic lives are known as Phalpa, while those who have settled down in fixed locations are called Fangpa.
Illteracy is an issue for the Champa. Since many Changpa are nomadic it is difficult for their children to attend school. Even if a school is nearby, the children frequently quit school early to help their parents make a living. The Changpa marry within their group. Marriage to one spouse is the norm. Some children die before the age of ten because the Changpa do not have regular access to modern medicine.

All Changpa families profess Tibetan Buddhism as their religion. Buddhism occupies a central place in their culture. Each tent invariably accommodates the family deity, Donaq, and a picture of their spiritual head, the Dalai Lama. The bon (shamanistic) practices are conspicuous among the Changpa despite the efforts of the Buddhists to erase it. Another source states, Buddhism rests quite lightly on them, as they have more faith in their traditional beliefs and practices. In this form of primitive religion, a carryover from the early bon religion, the spirits and serpents are considered very important. They believe the world of spirits and serpents are both complex and fearful. They blame evil spirits for unwelcome events like harsh weather, or death. Their supreme spirit is known as Changmen, who controls about 360 spirits in the Changthang area.
The Champa could surely be ranked among the most unreached people groups in the world. Because of their remarkably isolated existence, very few have ever been exposed to the gospel, which has failed to penetrate their remote part of the world.

The Champa people need to accept the embrace of the savior so they can enjoy spiritually meaningful lives. The Changpa would benefit by obtaining portable solar cells. Another need they have is access to modern medicine.

Pray for the authority of Christ to bind hindering spiritual forces to lead the Changpa of Pakistan from darkness to light.
Pray for signs and wonders among the Changpa and for great breakthroughs with a rapid multiplication of disciples and house churches.
Pray for workers who are driven by the love of the Holy Spirit to go to the Changpa.
Pray for an unstoppable movement to Christ among the Changpa in this decade.

Scripture Prayers for the Changpa in Pakistan.

Peoples of the Buddhist World, Asia Harvest, Copyrighted © Used with permission