The Varghese family is concerned about all Asians who live in Northwest Arkansas but especially the Indian community. The concern is to see that lives are transformed by the gospel. The goal is to draw them closer to their only creator, sustainer, and savior. There is no other purpose greater than orienting them to the creator’s design for them to be happy, content, and prosperous in this life and the life everlasting.

The Asian population is predicted to be at 23,000 within the next couple of years. The focus for this church plant includes the thousands from India who now call Northwest Arkansas home. Many moved here for employment opportunities such as IT jobs within Wal-Mart. In India, cricket is the most popular sport, and it is now a big part of the culture in Northwest Arkansas. In the last 10 years, the sport has grown from practicing on market fields in Rogers and Bentonville to now a league with dozens of teams competing regionally. Now in 2023 there are 28 men’s team and 4 women’s team actively involved in the league matches in Bentonville and Rogers. As per the 2019 news report the Northwest Arkansas council estimates Bentonville schools have 335 students from India. Since then, the population has multiplied and there will be about 1000 or more students currently going to Bentonville schools. Below are the various people groups this church is trying reaching in Northwest Arkansas.

The Gujarati Hindu are an unreached people group from the western coast of India. Most Gujaratis in Arkansas are very educated and successful in a variety of business ventures. In fact, many hotels and some restaurant chains are owned by them, even in smaller communities. There are at least 400,000 Gujarati Indians in the United States, and it is estimated that well over 1,000 of them are in Arkansas. Most of them live in the Little Rock and Rogers metropolitan areas. Though they might appear to have assimilated to Western culture, many still maintain a strong connection to Gujarati culture. Many of them are even active in Indian cricket clubs and Gujarati community centers across the state. The majority of Gujaratis are Hindus, though a small minority
adhere to Islam.

The Hindi people consists of numerous castes and tribes from India. Almost all Hindi people groups are unreached with the Gospel, and about half of them are also unengaged. There may be as many as 800,000 Hindi in the United States, with at least 1,500 Hindi in Arkansas, though there are some estimates even as high as 5,000. While they are scattered all over the state, the most concentrated populations are in Bentonville and Little Rock. They are typically well educated, and many of them work in IT and medical professions. The majority of Hindi people are Hindus.

The Punjabi are a cluster of unreached people groups from the Punjab regions of both Pakistan and India. Population estimates in the United States range from 250,000 to 1 million, and in Arkansas it is estimated between 1,000 and 2,000. Though many are scattered throughout small towns, most Punjabi in Arkansas live in and around Bentonville and Little Rock. They primarily speak Punjabi, while many also speak either Hindi or Urdu. They often own small businesses such as gas stations and restaurants. Though they are very friendly, Punjabis in Arkansas tend to be isolated from close relationships with outsiders. The Indian Punjabi typically adhere to either Sikhism or Hinduism, while Pakistani Punjabi predominately adhere to Sunni Islam and even Sufism (Islamic mysticism).

The Urdu are a cluster of unreached people groups, mainly from Pakistan and a few Indian states, who are connected primarily through the Urdu language, adherence to Islam, and a Persiancultural tradition. The Urdu language is very similar to Hindi, with the exception of some Islamic vocabulary and a different script. There are approximately 300,000 to 500,000 Urdu in the United States, with over 1,200 in Arkansas. They live primarily in and around Fort Smith, Little Rock, and Rogers. Their professions vary widely across the state, from owning small businesses to working in the medical field. Most Urdu adhere to Sunni Islam, although a significant minority practice Shia Islam.

Bengalis represent the third largest ethnic group in the world and are primarily from Bangladesh and Indian states such as West Bengal. There are over 260 million Bengali speakers worldwide. Over 98% of all Bangladeshis are from the Bengali people group. However, because not all Bengalis are from Bangladesh, it is important to learn cultural and religious distinctions between them. For example, in Bangladesh, almost 90% of the population follows Islam, while in West Bengal over 70% follow Hinduism. There are between 150,000 and 250,000 in the United States, and between 500 and 1,000 in Arkansas. Most of them live in Bentonville, Rogers, and Little Rock. Though some work in various service industries, many are employed in software development and information technology. Almost 70% of all Bengalis are Muslim, while about 30% are Hindu. Less than 1% are Christian.

The Marathi are a very large and influential ethno-linguistic cluster of over 113 people groups originally from the Indian state of Maharashtra. There are over 83 million Marathi speakers worldwide. Many take great pride in their connection to the historic Maratha kingdom and its practice of nationalistic Hinduism. One of the most common deities among Marathi Hindus is Ganesha, whose idols are easily identifiable as having the head of an elephant and serves, among many things, as a patron god of the arts and sciences. There are between 50,000 and 80,000 Marathi in the United States, and approximately 500 in Arkansas. Most Marathi in Arkansas live in Bentonville and Little Rock. The vast majority of Marathi are Hindu.

The Tamil are a cluster of over 100 people groups primarily from the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, as well as northeastern Sri Lanka. They are one of the largest and oldest ethno-linguistic groups in the world. There are over 74 million Tamil speakers worldwide, and because of a large worldwide diaspora population, they have also preserved many aspects of their culture. There are over 20,000 Tamil in the United States, and approximately 1,000 in Arkansas. Most of them live in Bentonville and Little Rock. Historically, they are known for their influence on trade throughout the Indian Ocean. Today, many Tamils in Arkansas work in highly skilled professions such as engineering and software development. The majority of Tamil are Hindu, though there are also Christian and Muslim minority populations.

The Telugu are a cluster of over 150 people groups primarily from the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Over 81 million people speak Telugu worldwide. There are over 200,000 Telugu in the United States, and approximately 1,000 in Arkansas. Most of them live in and around Bentonville and Little Rock. Their influence is visible through Telugu language movies (i.e. Tollywood) in many local movie theaters, as well as the formation of Telugu cultural associations. Many Telugu in Arkansas work in software development, information technology, engineering, and healthcare. The vast majority of Telugu are Hindu.

Prayer Requests:

• For Christ to be honored in our work
• That God will cause our efforts to grow as a congregation
• For growing faithfulness in sharing the gospel and building a culture of discipleship
• That the church's reach with the gospel would spread
• For the salvation  of souls and for church growth through local evangelism
• For open hearts, open doors, and open mouths
• For our family to serve God diligently without burning out

If you would like to know ways you can pray specifically for the different people groups this family is trying to reach, you can download these two prayer resources for international people groups in Arkansas. If you would like physical copies, contact the church planting office.

• 15 Days of Prayer for People Groups of Arkansas, Volume 1
• 15 Days of Prayer for People Groups of Arkansas, Volume 2

Partnership Opportunities:

• Pray! Pray for these requests above, as well as specifically praying for each of the people groups listed. Pray how God would have you become more involved.
• Involvement in soccer games with local Indians to engage and connect with them and supply water and snacks
• Prayer walking and door to door evangelism
• Providing meals for Friday night Bible study and prayer meetings
• If you live in Northwest Arkansas and want to know how you can actively become involved with reaching these people groups and helping with this church plant, contact Bose below.