News from our field
Pray for the North Yemeni Arabs!
One of the peoples on the Ranking of the Unreached 2025 list are the North Yemeni Arabs. The people number more than 17 million, almost as many as the population of the Netherlands. It is the only people on the Ranking List outside South Asia. To our knowledge, there are no churches among this people.
The northern tribes of Yemen are also called the Sanaani Arabs. They live in the northern mountains and northeastern deserts, as well as around the capital Sana’a. The northern Yemeni Arabs are almost entirely Muslim.
Many people will be familiar with the Houthi rebels from news bulletins. They are a group within the community of northern Yemeni Arabs. Yemen has been embroiled in a civil war since 2014, causing one of the biggest humanitarian crises on earth. There is famine and millions of people are fleeing.
The cultivation of the narcotic plant qat has become an essential part of rural life in Yemen. Nearly half of the national economy is involved in some way in the production and trade of qat. Chewing qat leaves is mildly stimulating and drives away hunger and fatigue. The extensive use of qat is not surprising, given the conditions faced by much of the population.
Once upon a time, the land of the North Yemenites was thriving and prosperous. Consider the Queen of Sheba (1 Kings 10) who brought many gifts for King Solomon. Her kingdom by all accounts included Yemen.
When you pray for your fellow human beings, whether they are a nation or a single person, your compassion for them will also grow. Will you join us?
- Pray for Christians among Northern Yemenis.They feel lonely and threatened. Pray that they may be encouraged, offline or online, and feel strengthened to spread the Gospel.
- Pray for an end to the civil war and the ongoing famine and refugee crisis.