MACON CHARLESTON - NC Baptist: Home · PDF fileMACON CHARLESTON AUGUSTA KY ... Sunni Islam and show a genuine ... subgroups who embrace either Christianity or Islam. Many of the Telugu

MACON CHARLESTON

AUGUSTA

LEXINGTON

KY

GA SCTN

WVVA

M E T R O C H A R L O T T E

M E T R O C H A R L O T T E

C h e c k o u t t h e p e o p l e g r o u p m a p o f M e t r o C h a r l o t t e : n c b a p t i s t . o r g / p r a y e r m a p

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1. ARAB-LEVANT2. ERITREAN3. GUJARATI4. HINDI5. INDONESIAN 6. MALINKE-BAMBARA7. NEPALI-PAHARI8. PUNJABI9. SOMALI10. TELUGU

T O P 1 0 U N R E A C H E D P E O P L E G R O U P S I N

A r a b - L e v a n t

Whe

re c

ould

you

find

the

Arab

-Lev

ant?

bit.l

y/ar

abpa

lest

inia

ncha

rlott

e

PALESTINE, MIDDLE EAST

God brings the Arab-Levant people to us from the Fertile Crescent, the land along a northward arc between the Persian Gulf and the Mediterranean Sea. The people of the Arab-Levant live along the route Abram and Sarai took on their journey to the land of Canaan. The Levant includes parts of Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Israel and Palestine. As with most Arabs, they practice

Sunni Islam and show a genuine hospitality to strangers. Many of the Arab-Levant people have lived in North Carolina for 20 years or more

and have well-established businesses. As a result, our Arab-Levant neighbors invest deeply in North Carolina’s communities. Their hospitality and their close proximity in many of our neighborhoods present many opportunities to develop genuine friendships.

R e l i g i o n : Sunni Islam

D i s c o v e r e d : Blue Ridge, Charlotte, Greenville, Fayetteville, Triad, Triangle, Unifour

E s t i m a t e d N C P o p u l a t i o n : 7,645

God brings the Tigre and Amhara people (different from the Ethiopian-Amhara people) to us from the country of Eritrea in the Horn of Africa. The majority of the Amhara people from Eritrea practice the religion of Sunni Islam. They have a reputation as an open, kind and hospitable people. One of their favorite pastimes involves long conversations with friends over tea and

coffee. In North Carolina, the men often drive limos or taxis, or own and operate local convenience stores. The women often work in

restaurants, salons, or grocery and retail stores. Their food and culture are very unique — they are similar only to their southern neighbors, the Amhara in Ethiopia. Their love for food and conversation offers great opportunities to get to know and grow to love our Eritrean neighbors.


D i s c o v e r e d : Charlotte, Triad, Triangle


E r i t r e a n

Whe

re c

ould

you

find

the

Eritr

ean?

bit.l

y/er

itrea

ncha

rlott

e

ERITREA,HORN OF AFRICA

God brings the Gujarati to us from the Gujarat province in western India, a province that shares its northern border with Pakistan. Most Gujarati practice the Hindu religion, though a few practice Islam and a few embrace Christianity. Many of the Gujarati in North Carolina have a good reputation as clever and hardworking businesspeople who want to secure a better life for their families.

The Gujarati also have a reputation as a very kind people who are quick to befriend others from different cultures. Businesses and

communities present natural opportunities for us to develop gospel-centered relationships with our Gujarati neighbors.

R e l i g i o n : Hindu

D i s c o v e r e d : Blue Ridge, Charlotte, Fayetteville, Greenville, Triad, Triangle


G u j a r a t i

Whe

re c

ould

you

find

the

Guja

rati?

bit.l

y/gu

jara

ticha

rlott

e

INDIA,SOUTH ASIA

God brings the Hindi to us from India. As one of the official lan-guages of India, an estimated 180 million people speak the Hindi language throughout India and around the world. In fact, most of the Asian Indian people in North Carolina will have some ability to speak the Hindi language. As the different Asian Indian people groups come to North Carolina, many will use the common lan-

guage of Hindi to identify with other Asian Indians living in the same area. Large numbers of Hindi speakers have formed enclave commu-

nities in cities like Charlotte, Greensboro, Raleigh and Morrisville. They often pur-chase homes in similar apartment complexes and neighborhoods so that they can live in close proximity to one another. In most major North Carolina cities, the Hindi population has grown so much that they have developed their own socio-economic structure. Believers living in one of these neighborhoods have a great opportunity to befriend their Hindi neighbors, especially through special events celebrated in the home such as birthdays and holidays.




H i n d i

Whe

re c

ould

you

find

the

Hind

i?bi

t.ly/

hind

icha

rlott

e

INDIA,SOUTH ASIA

God brings the Indonesian people to us from the country of Indonesia, which is comprised of thousands of islands south of the Indochinese Peninsula. Most will speak the Indonesian language and practice Sunni Islam, though there are factions that practice folk Islam, a mix of Islam and animism (superstitions). In North Carolina, many will work at local Asian

restaurants selling either Chinese or Japanese food. Take the time to get to know those serving you in some of these restaurants in your

city. Build friendships with Indonesian servers and hosts at local Asian restaurants, and share with them the good news of the gospel.

R e l i g i o n : Islam

D i s c o v e r e d : Charlotte


I n d o n e s i a n

Whe

re c

ould

you

find

the

Indo

nesi

ans?

bit.l

y/in

done

sian

char

lott

e

INDONESIA, SOUTHEAST ASIA

God brings the Malinke-Bambara people to us from Mali, Guinea-Bissau, and the northern Ivory Coast in Africa. The Bambara tend to mix Islam with ancient traditional animism (superstition). The Malinke-Bambara often turn to the “fetisher” to get “medicine” that can protect them from innumerable, unseen dangers. In North Carolina, the men drive taxis, repair cars

or work in grocery stores. The women work in African hair braiding salons or work as nurses. The Malinke-Bambara people love community

and celebrate what might seem to us the most trivial things together. Their love for community and celebration offers great opportunities to invite our Malinke-Bamabaran neighbors to the important events we celebrate, such as birthdays, weddings, Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter.

R e l i g i o n : Animism, Muslim


E s t i m a t e d N C P o p u l a t i o n : 975

M a l i n k e - B a m b a r a

Whe

re c

ould

you

find

the

Malin

ke-B

amba

ra?

bit.l

y/ba

mbar

acha

rlott

e

MALI, WEST AFRICA

God brings the Nepali-Pahari people to us from Nepal where they live along the Himalayan mountain range. There are many dif-ferent people groups among the Nepali-Pahari people. Many of these people groups speak Pahari. Typically, they practice Hinduism or Buddhism. By and large, the Nepali-Pahari people show a deep devotion to their faith and tend to remain faithful

to their respective temples once they arrive in the U.S. Many of the Nepali people who migrate to North Carolina come as refugees after

years of persecution in Nepal and years of life in refugee camps. The Nepali-Pahari typically arrive with few job skills. Because Nepal has some affinity with India, they often open small shops and restaurants near their Asian Indian neighbors. Regularly visit these shops and restaurants to build gospel-centered relationships with these broken-hearted people.

R e l i g i o n : Hindu, Buddhist



N e p a l i - P a h a r i

Whe

re c

ould

you

find

the

Nepa

li-Pa

hari?

bit.l

y/ne

palic

harlo

tte

NEPAL,SOUTHEAST ASIA

God brings the Punjabi people to us from northwestern India and southeastern Pakistan. Our Punjabi neighbors are a little bit unique because they have so much diversity among their religions. Many Punjabi people practice Hinduism, many practice Islam, and others are Sikhs. Punjabi men are well-educated businessmen, working in many of the technology

jobs in North Carolina. And the Punjabi people make up one of the fastest-growing international populations in North Carolina. Meet and

befriend our Punjabi neighbors by shopping at a South Asian store, eating at one of their restaurants or going to one of their many festivals throughout the year.

R e l i g i o n : Hindu, Muslim, Sikh



P u n j a b i

Whe

re c

ould

you

find

the

Punj

abi?

bit.l

y/pu

njab

icha

rlott

e

INDIA,SOUTHEAST ASIA

God brings the Somali people to us from the Horn of Africa where they practice a form of Sunni Islam. As a people, they have faced drought, famine and war for many years. In addition to this, Somalia’s government has an international reputation as one of the most corrupt governments in the world. Many Somalis come to North Carolina seeking asylum. One might think that these

oppressive conditions would make Somalis hard and cold toward outsiders. This couldn’t be further from the truth! The Somali people

have a reputation for genuine kindness and hospitality. The men find employment driving taxis or limos, working in convenience stores or working in local African grocery stores. Befriend Somali neighbors by visiting local African grocery stores to pick up some infamous Somali tea.




S o m a l i

Whe

re c

ould

you

find

the

Sama

li?bi

t.ly/

soma

licha

rlott

e

SOMALIA,HORN OF AFRICA

God brings the Telugu people group to us from southern India, many coming from their native province of Andhra Pradesh. The Telugu language is the third most-spoken language in all of India, and the Telugu people fill many of India’s occupational castes. While most Telugu follow the religion of Hinduism, there are smaller subgroups who embrace either Christianity or Islam. Many of the

Telugu have been migrating to North Carolina over the past decade. At first, only a few families came. Today, many come and take advantage

of the technological and entrepreneurial opportunities in North Carolina, comprising one of the fastest-growing international populations in areas like the Charlotte metro and the Raleigh-Durham Triangle. Some believers find the workplace a good place to build friendships that can continue after work and in the home, presenting many opportunities to demonstrate the love of Christ to our Telugu neighbors.


D i s c o v e r e d : Charlotte, Fayetteville, Triad, Triangle


T e l u g u

Whe

re c

ould

you

find

the

Telu

gu?

bit.l

y/te

lugu

char

lott

e

INDIA,SOUTH ASIA

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MACON CHARLESTON - NC Baptist: Home · PDF fileMACON CHARLESTON AUGUSTA KY ... Sunni Islam and show a genuine ... subgroups who embrace either Christianity or Islam. Many of the Telugu