The Avukaya of South Sudan

The Avukaya of South Sudan, numbering approximately 60,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a Central Sudanic farming people of South Sudan's Equatoria rainforest near the DR Congo border, whose ancestors migrated north across the Dungu River roughly three centuries ago and who historically allied with the Moru against the Azande king Gbudwe. They mostly adhere to Neo-Pentecostalism and Avokaya is their primary language.

Photo by Google. (2025). Image generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash: Avukaya

Fast Facts:

Affinity Group: Sub-Saharan African Peoples
Country: South Sudan
People Cluster: Sudanic
Primary Language(s): Avokaya (avu)
Primary Religion(s): Neo-Pentecostalism
Population: 60,000
Strategic Progress Index (SPI): Engaged yet Unreached
Global Status of Evangelical Christianity (GSEC): Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
People Group ID: PG011968
View on Joshua Project

Pray for the Avukaya of South Sudan

Join others around the world in praying for the lost to be saved, the gospel to advance, the global Church to grow, and for laborers to be sent out and sustained in the harvest.

Dig Deeper (Religion):

Primary Religion: Neo-Pentecostalism
Religious Affiliation: Christianity

—
%
Neo-Pentecostalism Adherents

Dig Deeper (Language):

Primary Language: Avokaya
Language Family: Central Sudanic

100%
%
Avokaya Speakers

Media Resources in Avokaya:

Films:
TitleLink
JESUSView Film

1 film

Bible Resources in Avokaya:

Bible Name (Translation)VideoAudioText
2002 Wycliffe Bible Translators Inc.✓✓

1 entry

Or check out the Avokaya bible at Bible.com

Linked from YouVersion

SPI: Unreached yet Engaged

The Avukaya are Engaged yet Unreached, which means there are less than 2% evangelical Christian populations but there are sustained efforts at establishing self-sustaining churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice.

Next steps for the Avukaya:
Continue prayer and fasting for this group
Continue gospel seed sowing and church planting among this group
Begin training up local leaders to lead and develop strategies to reach their own people

Pray specifically for the Avukaya of South Sudan

"And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
readJohn 8:32

Pray for those who live enslaved to sin to hear and receive the truth of the gospel and be set free.

Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?
readRomans 2:4

Pray that, in God's kindness and according to His nature, He will lead many to repentance.

And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness.
readActs 4:29

Pray that as people place their faith in Christ and face rejection by unbelievers in their communities, God will give them discernment, boldness, and encouragement to speak His Word.

For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, “‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”
readActs 13:47

Pray that as people come to faith, they will follow the Lord's leading to go to their neighbors and share the treasure they found in Christ.

Avukaya Across Countries (ROP3 - 100638) reported in the following countries:

Strategic Progress Index
All

2 people groups

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