Western Yi in China

Overview

"No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth
and in your heart so you may obey it." Deuteronomy 30:14

Although the Western Yi have virtually no access to the written Word of God found in the Bible, it seems that God has hidden evidences of Himself within their own cultural heritage. For example, there are many stories surrounding the famous Yi Torch Festival. One of these explains the Festival as the celebration of a sacrificial payment made to the god-king of heaven. According to this legend, the god-king of heaven took the life of his rent-collector in the stead of the people of earth.* The identity of this rent-collector is unknown to the Yi people, yet they pay tribute to him through the Torch Festival. Does this story not contain echoes of the glorious gospel of Christ? In this sense, the Word is near to them, as Deuteronomy 30:14 says.

What remains, however, is for someone "to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things" (Ephesians 3:9). The Word of God has been made flesh and has made His dwelling among men. How long will the Western Yi have to live without this knowledge?

Pray the Lord of the Harvest to send laborers into this ripe harvest. 

Facts

Western Yi in China
1.4 million
Alternate names
Over 20 distinct people groups included in Western Yi.  The largest are Mishaba Laluo and the Western Lolo.
Christian adherent
0.01%
Unevangelized
65%
Religion
Traditional folk religion.
Language
Yi
Primary development concern
Alcoholism, food shortage.
Population: 
1400000
Religion: 
Ethnoreligionist
Unevangelized: 
65.0%
Christian Adherent: 
0.0%
country: 
China

Evangelization

Number of agencies: Several

Prayer

  • Pray that God will prepare the hearts of the Western Yi to seek and recognize the one true God
  • Pray that neighboring peoples who are believers will share Christ with the Western Yi
  • Ask the Lord to call Chinese believers and foreigners who are willing to go to live among the Western Yi for long term to pray and reveal Christ in various types of service
  • Pray that God will strengthen and encourage the small number of believers who live among the Western Yi.
  • Ask God to raise up qualified linguists to complete translation of the Bible into Yi.
  • Ask God to guide, develop, and empower a strong local church among the Western Yi.