Reaching the Koya of India
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An ancient tribal group cautious of outsiders, the Koya people are steeped in idol worship and animism. Missionaries like Pastor Singham, who know their language and customs, carry the light of Jesus into their dark villages. Yet Gospel workers must still overcome barriers of fear and tradition.
Everyday Life
As hunters and farmers, the Koya were originally a mobile community. Today they are settled in Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Orissa. They grow grains, tobacco, coconut and coffee, and weave baskets to sell to merchants. They also produce herbal medicines from what they can find in the forests.
Their villages consist of scattered homes made of wood, thatch and mud, built without windows. Women wear simple saris wrapped around their bodies, while men typically wear loincloths and turbans.
Koya society is deeply rooted in belief in the supernatural. Every aspect of life is determined by religious custom or the so-called prophecies and visions of the village headman. One of their most striking practices is the yearly festival of Kolupu when they worship the earth goddess by offering animal sacrifices. They believe that planting seeds soaked in sacrificial blood brings a bountiful harvest.
For the Koya, there is no heaven, hell or reincarnation. Instead, they believe the spirits of the dead inhabit the village and influence daily life. They worship these ancestral spirits alongside their gods.
Breaking tradition is a fearful thing for the Koya, exposing them to the wrath of hundreds, if not thousands, of supernatural beings. But when the power of Jesus Christ is revealed, often through a miraculous healing, the Koya take notice, and increasing numbers have courageously embraced freedom in Jesus Christ.
Unmasking the Powers of Darkness
Seethamma was only 13 years old when an unknown disease began racking her young body with pain. Her parents begged their Koya deities to heal her—offering animal sacrifices and paying witch doctors huge amounts of money—but they found no hope. Even the doctors could not help. Finally, one shaman said he could heal her if she stayed at his house. But after two months of his treatment, she was nearly dead. When friends and relatives gathered to see her for the last time, someone mentioned Singham, the Christian pastor who lived nearby. Seethamma's family rushed her to his house. As Singham and other believers earnestly prayed in Jesus' name, she was completely healed. The people were amazed, and Seethamma and her family gratefully gave their lives to Jesus Christ.
Pray for the Koya
*for the chains of fear to be broken and replaced by new life in Christ
*for the full Bible to be translated into the Koya language
*for schools to be established
*for Pastor Singham and the church he has planted among them
*for new believers to become missionaries to their own people
About the Koya
The Koya Population: 752,600
Language: Koya
Religions:
*Koya tribal religion—78%
*Hindu—20%
*Christian—2%
Source: Joshua Project