Pa Hng in China

People Name:	Pa Hng
Country:	China
10/40 Window:	Yes
Population:	48,000
World Population:	56,400
Primary Language:	Pa-Hng
Primary Religion:	Ethnic Religions
Christian Adherents:	0.00 %
Evangelicals:	0.00 %
Scripture:	Unspecified
Ministry Resources:	No
Jesus Film:	No
Audio Recordings:	Yes
People Cluster:	Yao-Mien
Affinity Bloc:	Southeast Asian Peoples
Progress Level:

Introduction / History

The Baheng have been officially included as part of the Bunu group within the Yao nationality in China. In Vietnam the authorities have granted the Pa Then status as one of their 53 official minority groups.

What Are Their Lives Like?

The Baheng live in communities according to family clans. Marriage is forbidden within each clan. This taboo is strictly enforced. Baheng children are told horror stories of what will happen if they break this taboo. After the birth of a child, the placenta is placed under the floorboards of the house. At the end of the person's life, he must make a journey back to the spiritual village of his ancestors. The dead person's soul must stop to pick up the placenta, which is believed to help the spirits identify who the person is.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Some of the Baheng believe a frog created the heavens and the earth. After a time of living in perfect contentment, their ethnic religion says man destroyed the harmony of his peaceful existence by killing the frog.

The Baheng also believe a person has 12 souls. Each Baheng home contains an ancestral altar. The Baheng believe the spirits of their ancestors are fed by placing rice and meat out on the table for them. The male head of the household calls on the spirits of his ancestors to come and share in the feast and to protect his family from sickness and injury.

What Are Their Needs?

This tribe has rarely been the focus of missions efforts. They are an unevangelized people group. Their intricate rituals of ancestor worship create barriers that prevent them from embracing the gospel, yet they are still considered by some to be "ripe unto harvest." Most have never had the chance to hear about God’s gift of eternal life in Jesus Christ.

Prayer Points

Pray for their spiritual blindness and bondage to the evil one to be removed so the Baheng can respond to Christ.
Pray for the Lord to provide for their physical and spiritual needs as a testimony of his power and love.
Pray that the Baheng people will have a spiritual hunger and will open their hearts to the King of kings.
Pray for an unstoppable movement of the Baheng to Christ.