Lenca in El Salvador


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Lenca people were conquered by the Spanish Empire in the 1520s. Forced labor and European diseases drastically reduced their population.


What Are Their Lives Like?

They were able to retain their communal land for farming; each Lanca family has a plot to work on. They use tradition tools like hoes. Like most people in this part of the world, the Lenca grow mostly corn, beans and squash. They also grow wheat, bananas, oranges, chiles, yucca and sugarcane. Because farmland is communal, there are few things for the younger generation to inherit. Others get paid as miners or as farm workers on banana or coffee plantations. They often come to town for fiestas and market day.

The Lenca language is dying. They are in the process of merging with the majority Spanish speaking culture.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Lenca are Roman Catholic, and they believe in God as creator. Their devotion is to the Virgin Mary and the saints. The saints are basically their ancient gods with new names. Since medical care is rarely available, the Lenca people depend on traditional curanderos, faith healers. This often involves the use of herbal remedies.


What Are Their Needs?

The Lenca people need to put Jesus Christ first in their devotional lives. He is the way, the truth and the life. As it stands, it appears he is secondary to devotion to saints.


Prayer Points

Pray for Lenca elders to discover Jesus and make him known to others in their communities.

Pray for medical clinics in Lenca villages that offer modern medicine.

Pray for Lenca disciples who will make other disciples.


Scripture Prayers for the Lenca in El Salvador.


References

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Lenca

https://minorityrights.org/minorities/lencas/

https://www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/lenca


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Lenca
People Name in Country Lenca
Alternate Names
Population this Country 47,000
Population all Countries 189,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 3
Unreached No
Frontier People Group No
Pioneer Workers Needed
People ID 13034
ROP3 Code 105714
ROP25 Code 304664
ROP25 Name Lenca

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Primary Religion: Christianity
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 2.00 %)
85.00 %
Ethnic Religions
15.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Spanish (47,000 speakers)
Language Code spa   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Spanish (47,000 speakers)
Language Code spa   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Spanish

Primary Language:  Spanish

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1514-1985)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1543-1999)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1553-2017)
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) Online
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories One Story
Audio Recordings Story of Jesus audio Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Spanish Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Rivka video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video The Hope Video Mars Hill Media
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Biblical answers to your questions Got Questions Ministry
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
Photo Source Matt Zell 
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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