The Beli of South Sudan

The Beli of South Sudan, numbering approximately 83,500 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a Jur people of the Rumbek region whose homeland extends from Bahr Gel toward Wulu and Billing, distinct geographically from the related Modo. They mostly adhere to Animism and Beli (South Sudan) is their primary language.

Photo by Google. (2026). Image generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash: Beli

Fast Facts:

Affinity Group: Sub-Saharan African Peoples
Country: South Sudan
People Cluster: Sudanic
Primary Language(s): Beli (South Sudan) (blm)
Primary Religion(s): Animism
Population: 83,500
Strategic Progress Index (SPI): Engaged yet Unreached
Global Status of Evangelical Christianity (GSEC): Less than 2% Evangelical, Concentrated CP Activity
People Group ID: PG011983
View on Joshua Project

Pray for the Beli 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: Animism
Religious Affiliation: Ethnoreligion

60%
%
Animism Adherents

Dig Deeper (Language):

Primary Language: Beli (South Sudan)
Language Family: Central Sudanic

100%
%
Beli (South Sudan) Speakers

Media Resources in Beli (South Sudan):

Films:
TitleLink
JESUSView Film
MagdalenaView Film

2 films

Bible Resources in Beli (South Sudan):

No Bible resources are listed for this language.

Or check out the Beli (South Sudan) bible at Bible.com

Linked from YouVersion

SPI: Unreached yet Engaged

The Beli 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 Beli:
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 Beli of South Sudan

I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, 'I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,' and you forgave the iniquity of my sin.
readPsalm 32:5

Pray those who are lost will realize their sin, confess their iniquity, and grow in their understanding of salvation through faith in Christ alone.

Behold, you shall call a nation that you do not know, and a nation that did not know you shall run to you, because of the LORD your God, and of the Holy One of Israel, for he has glorified you.
readIsaiah 55:5

Pray that those who do not know God will access the gospel, run to Him, and discover that He is the one their souls have been longing for.

But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.
read1 Peter 3:15

Pray that as people place their faith in Christ, they will always be prepared to share the reason for the hope that they have in Jesus with gentleness and respect.

For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.
read2 Corinthians 1:5

When any who might believe suffer for the sake of the gospel, ask God to deepen their understanding of His grace so that they may share it freely with those who have not received it.

Beli, Jur Beli Across Countries (ROP3 - 114984) reported in the following countries:

Strategic Progress Index
All

1 people group

To download a comprehensive people group list in spreadsheet form, visit our Research Data page.

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