Purepecha in United States

People Name:	Purepecha
Country:	United States
10/40 Window:	No
Population:	900
World Population:	72,900
Primary Language:	Purepecha
Primary Religion:	Christianity
Christian Adherents:	93.00 %
Evangelicals:	2.00 %
Scripture:	New Testament
Ministry Resources:	Yes
Jesus Film:	Yes
Audio Recordings:	Yes
People Cluster:	Central American Indigenous, other
Affinity Bloc:	Latin-Caribbean Americans
Progress Level:

Introduction / History

The Purepecha tribe was once called Tarascan. They live along the Sierra Madre Mountains in the state of Michoacán. The mighty Aztecs never conquered them largely because the Purepecha were adept at forging and wielding metal weapons. Their ancestors were not engulfed by the Spanish Empire until the 1530s, over a decade after the Aztecs were conquered. The Spaniards proceeded to use up the forests in the Purepecha homeland.
Most remain in Michoacán, but a small number are in the United States.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Many of them are farm workers, but one of them has a full ride scholarship to Harvard.

What Are Their Beliefs?

They are mainly Roman Catholic today, but there are elements of their ancient religion that remain. The Purepecha believed in God of the sky, earth, and the sea.

What Are Their Needs?

Purepechas need to put all their faith in the person, Jesus Christ, rather than a religious institution.

Prayer Points

Pray for Purepechas to put all their faith in Jesus Christ.
Pray for Purepechas disciples to make more disciples.
Pray for the Lord to send the wind of his Holy Spirit to purify the Roman Catholic Church in Mexico.