The Jur Luo of South Sudan

The Jur Luo of South Sudan, numbering approximately 193,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a Nilotic people of South Sudan's Bahr el Ghazal known by the Dinka exonym Jur, meaning people whose language is not understood, who diverged from the Luo of Kenya and Uganda around eight centuries ago amid upheaval from the Muslim conquest of Sudan. They mostly adhere to Protestantism and Luwo is their primary language.

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

Fast Facts:

Affinity Group: Sub-Saharan African Peoples
Country: South Sudan
People Cluster: Nilotic
Primary Language(s): Luwo (lwo)
Primary Religion(s): Protestantism
Population: 193,000
Strategic Progress Index (SPI): Engaged yet Unreached
Global Status of Evangelical Christianity (GSEC): Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
People Group ID: PG012091
View on Joshua Project

Pray for the Jur Luo 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: Protestantism
Religious Affiliation: Christianity

—
%
Protestantism Adherents

Dig Deeper (Language):

Primary Language: Luwo
Language Family: Nilotic

100%
%
Luwo Speakers

Media Resources in Luwo:

Films:
TitleLink
JESUSView Film

1 film

Bible Resources in Luwo:

Bible Name (Translation)VideoAudioText
2003 Wycliffe Bible Translators Inc.✓✓✓

1 entry

Or check out the Luwo bible at Bible.com

Linked from YouVersion

SPI: Unreached yet Engaged

The Jur Luo 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 Jur Luo:
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 Jur Luo of South Sudan

For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.
readRomans 1:19

Pray that God will use testimony of creation to cause those who do not yet know the gospel to long for truth and a relationship with the Author of life.

Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you. Heal the sick in it and say to them, "the kingdom of God has come near to you."
readLuke 10:8-9

Pray that the lost will receive messengers of the gospel with joy, turn from their sins, and be healed.

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
readJohn 10:27

Pray that as people place their faith in Christ, they will hear God's voice and will have the great assurance that no one can snatch them from the Father’s hand.

O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens.
readPsalm 8:1

Pray that God will raise up people who love Him and are able and willing to go to and share the hope of the gospel with those who don't know it. Pray that everyone will see His name as majestic in all the earth!

Jur Luo Across Countries (ROP3 - 104331) 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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