Kachin in India

Kachin
Photo Source:  Anonymous 
Map Source:  People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project.
People Name: Kachin
Country: India
10/40 Window: Yes
Population: 44,000
World Population: 1,104,000
Primary Language: Jingpho
Primary Religion: Buddhism
Christian Adherents: 0.47 %
Evangelicals: 0.00 %
Scripture: Complete Bible
Online Audio NT: Yes
Jesus Film: Yes
Audio Recordings: Yes
People Cluster: Miri-Kachin
Affinity Bloc: Tibetan-Himalayan Peoples
Progress Level:

Introduction / History

The name "Singhpo" is a variation of "Jingpo." The Jingpo are a large ethnic group living in northern Myanmar and areas of western Yunnan Province in southwest China. The Jingpo in these two countries are predominantly Christians or animists, with very little Buddhist influence. The Kachin are better known as Singhpo. Their forefathers migrated from northern Myanmar in 1793, settling in the plains of Tirap District in Arunachal Pradesh after being brutalized by a local king. In more than two centuries since their arrival, the Singhpo have lost connection with their counterparts in other nations, and they have gradually developed distinct linguistic, cultural and religious traits.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Today the Kachin tribe primarily lives in Myanmar and China as well as in the Changlang and Lohit districts of the north-east Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. Their habitat is surrounded by dense forests. There is also a small, unspecified number of Katchin people live in the Margherita Subdivision of Tinsuria District in Assam State, as well as in the Lakhimpur and Sibsagar districts.

What Are Their Beliefs?

The Kachin are Theravada Buddhists, but they blend it with traditional religion. They worship spirits along with Gautama Buddha. Their traditional and Buddhist priests are known as disamba and chowsra, respectively. There are a very few Kachin Christian believers today.

What Are Their Needs?

The Katchin people might be open to hearing the life-changing gospel. But there are very few workers. There are, however, similar people groups in their area who can reach them for Christ.

Prayer Points

Pray for loving workers to go to the Kachin people, and for their hearts to be ready to receive their savior.

Pray for families of believers loving and serving others to grow reproducing churches.

Pray for a chain reaction of families reaching families that result in thousands of new disciples who share their faith with others.

Pray for grace and truth expanding into their entire society as all believers learn to love others.

Text Source:   Joshua Project