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Compelled to pray
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Pray for people groups we reach
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Compelled to pray • Pray for people groups we reach •
Beja, Hadendoa
Sudan
FRONTIER PEOPLE
People Group
Beja, Hadendoa
Location
Sudan
Population
848,000
Primary Religion
Islam
Language
Bedawiyet
Christian Adherents
0-0.1%
Gospel Access
For generations, the Beja, Hadendoa people have lived with little to no access to the message of Jesus. Scattered across eastern Sudan’s deserts and hills, this nomadic people group maintains a pastoral lifestyle far from urban infrastructure. Their communities are often difficult to reach, and spiritual barriers remain high.
But a breakthrough has come.
Before Sudan’s current civil conflict began, Compel partners began training a group of indigenous believers with a shared burden to reach the Beja. These men and women were equipped to engage with Muslims, build trust across cultural and religious lines, and share the Gospel in ways that resonate with their neighbors. As the war escalated, our team was no longer able to be with them in person—but they have remained faithful to what they learned and to the mission they embraced.
Just last week, we received the joyful news that the first known Beja person has come to Christ through their witness.
This moment is historic. The Hadendoa are deeply rooted in Islam, and there is almost no access to Christian resources in their heart language. Bedawiyet lacks a full New Testament, and many Beja communities are non-literate, which limits engagement with printed Scripture. But tools like audio Bibles, oral storytelling, and the faithful presence of local believers are opening hearts.
We give thanks to God for this new beginning—and we pray it would be the first of many.
Who Are the Beja, Hadendoa?
The Beja are an ancient Cushitic people with roots stretching back thousands of years in northeastern Africa. The Hadendoa are one of the most prominent Beja subgroups, historically known for their fierce independence, strong cultural identity, and pastoral lifestyle. Many continue to herd camels, goats, and sheep across the eastern highlands and deserts of Sudan.
The Hadendoa speak Bedawiyet, a language central to their ethnic identity, though most also use Sudanese Arabic for broader communication. Islam is deeply interwoven with their sense of community, family, and honor. While nominal expressions of faith are common, many Hadendoa also hold traditional beliefs and maintain spiritual customs passed down through generations.
Modern challenges—including drought, poverty, political marginalization, and war—have added strain to this already resilient community. Yet even now, amid displacement and instability, doors are beginning to open for the Gospel through trusted local relationships and wholistic approaches to mission.
Prayer Points
1. Praise God for New Life: Give thanks for the first known Beja follower of Christ. Pray for this new believer’s spiritual growth, protection, and boldness to share with others.
2. Strengthen the Indigenous Church: Lift up the local believers who continue to minister faithfully amid conflict and uncertainty. Pray that God would multiply their courage, unity, and wisdom as they reach across cultural and religious lines.
3. Break Through Barriers: Ask the Lord to soften spiritual resistance among the Hadendoa. Pray for dreams, conversations, and relationships that would prepare hearts to receive the message of Jesus.
4. Increase Gospel Access: Pray for more Scripture resources in Bedawiyet and the expansion of oral tools, story-based discipleship, and audio materials to reach non-literate communities.
5. Raise Up Laborers: Pray for more workers—both local and global—who will commit to long-term, culturally sensitive engagement with the Beja people. Ask the Lord to send those with vision, humility, and perseverance.
Attribution: PoProstuJoanna, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Anchor Verse
“The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore, pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” — Luke 10:2
