Beja

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[edit] Who are the People Cluster Beja?

  • The Beja are an Ancient people who have lived in the region South and East of Aswan and into the Red Sea Hills for at least two thousand years and probably even much longer. It is estimated that there are between 2-3 million Beja today, but a proper survey has never been done. Today Beja territory is distributed between three countries: Egypt, Sudan, and Eritrea, with the largest population of Beja living in Sudan.

[edit] Affinity Bloc

[edit] Spiritual Condition

  • Only a handful of Christian believers: totaling not more than 25. Small churches of other ethnic tribes or languages exist in larger cities. Doubtful that Beja attend.

+ Beja are counted as Muslim – with varying degrees of devoutness and knowledge of Islam. Koranic teaching is common, but limited since most Beja are poorly educated. Nomadic lifestyle makes it difficult to sustain a strong msulim devotion. Many folk beliefs are mixed in - for instance, many mothers will shave their children's hair in odd patterns, the resulting ugliness is designed to make the child less attractive to an evil spirit who might inhabit the child.

  • Some Beja are keen Muslims, and at least one Beja cultural group has raised money to enable young men to become Islamic teachers.
  • The central Sudan government has been accused by Beja many times for ignoring their plight. While both are generally Muslim, ethnic identity creates conflict, since the Beja resist Arabization efforts. Naturally the central government doesn't want to support tribal pride - this has lead to rebel fighting in the east since independence in 1956. With muslims fighting muslims, some Beja are doubting the unity of the Islamic ummah.
  • Many see Christians and the church as their allies and can view Sudanese Arabs as their enemies. In the north, Beja living in Egypt have become assimilated, and may deny even their own ancestry and culture.
  • Very few Beja have ever heard the Gospel.

[edit] Port Sudan

  • Port Sudan is predominantly Beja and has been for many years. Goods come and go to and from Sudan from this major port.

It's also not uncommon to see Beja men coming in from the outskirts of town or from deep within the desert with their bushy hair to keep the sun off them, wearing their Beja sword slung over their shoulder ready to defend themselves from both desert animals and any enemies they might encounter. Wearing as well an amulet - leather pouch worn as a necklace or around the upper arm - with a verse from the Koran inside protecting them from scorpion stings or snake bites.

  • The women of Port Sudan are beautifully clothed in single coloured "tobes" draping their bodies, even sometimes covering their mouth and nose. These Beja women are experts at hospitality - preparing food and jebana at a moment's notice when unannounced guests arrive. Port Sudan has a real flavour to it with the Red Sea in plain view and camels roaming about, amidst the taxis and other vehicles. Still nomads at heart, even if they perhaps have become city dwellers, Beja men travel across borders buying, selling or trading goods as well as herding animals from Port Sudan to towns and villages in Egypt and Eritrea.

[edit] Prayer Requests

Please pray that God would be calling foreigners as well as local believers with a heart for living in this Beja town and being a light shining on those many Beja who have never heard of God's great gospel.
Please also pray that God would be softening the hearts of Beja so that when they heart the Good News, they will be ready to accept by faith all that God has for them.
Please pray that the translated part of the New Testament will be used. (Rom. 10:17)

[edit] Beja, Bedawi

  • The Beja are a pastoral tribe who have made their home in the desert between the Nile River and the Red Sea for over 4,000 years. The Beja do not refer to themselves as Beja, but call themselves by the land in which they are living. The Beja consider life good if they have numerous livestock and green, well-watered pastures. Nearly all Beja live in rural areas.

[edit] Ministry Obstacles

  • The Beja tribe lives in rural areas in a region that is difficult for outsiders to enter, and they are somewhat nomadic.

[edit] Outreach Ideas

  • Christians need to find ways to help the Beja with material and physical needs, caring out of genuine concern for their well-being.

[edit] Pray for the followers of Christ

  • There are few if any followers of Jesus among this large tribe, but pray for those the Lord will soon call to Himself. Pray the Lord is even now preparing pastors and teachers to help them become established in the faith. Pray for Scripture availability, and for other needed resources.

[edit] Pray for the entire people group

  • Pray the Beja tribe will be able to provide adequately for their families as they live in a harsh area of the world. Pray for good water, sufficient food, and peace with their neighbors.

[edit] Least Reached

The Beja is one of the top 10 least reached people according to the Joshua Projects list. Let us pray and encourage others to pray. When we pray believe that God has a plan for reaching the Beja and that He is already working out that plan. Pray for supernatural breakthroughs in the work done among the Beja.

[edit] External Link

Retrieved from "http://www.missionmanual.org/wiki/Beja"
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