People Group Info
Total Population: 201,940
ROP3 Code: 113732IMB Affinity Group: South Asian Peoples
Affinity Bloc: South Asian Peoples
People Cluster: Tamil
Language: Tamil - (tam)
Religion: Hinduism
Country of Origin: India
People Group Highlights
“All nations will come and worship before you."
- Revelations 15:4
Tamil of North America
IMB Affinity Group: South Asian Peoples
Affinity Bloc: South Asian Peoples
People Cluster: Tamil
Language: Tamil - (tam)
Religion: Hinduism
Country of Origin: India
Majority Located Where
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX - 15,000
Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, NC - 3,500
Montreal (Laval), QC - 3,130
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX - 2,630
Austin-Round Rock, TX - 1,300
Click here to recommend other locations where this People Group resides.
Brief Profile
The Tamil diaspora of Europe moved from Tamil Nadu, India and Sri Lanka in addition from Malaysia. Their identity is rooted in an ancient heritage, the rich Tamil language and literature and a vibrant culture that many still retain.
They came to North America to work as labour migrants, were joined by students moving for education, and then by refugees fleeing the Sri Lankan Civil War in the 1980s and 1990s. A large percentage reside in the larger metro areas in North America. The Tamil diaspora are found in United Kingdom, with the majority in the London metro area. Norway, Germany, Denmark, and the Netherlands are home to large numbers of Sri Lankan Tamil refugees.
An overwhelming majority of Tamils adhere to Hinduism with minorities being Muslim or Christian. Two of the most important Tamil festivals are Pongal occuring in January, and Varudapirappu, the Tamil New Year, which occurs on 14 April. Both are celebrated by almost all Tamils, regardless of religion or their origin.
Prayer Points
- Pray that God would open the hearts of the Tamil people to the Gospel.
- Pray that Tamil would be burdened to reach their people.
- Pray that the Christians would recognize and seek to reach the Tamil people group.
- Pray that Tamil would have the desire to talk about spiritual things with Christians.
People Group Resources
Hindu Gospel Storying Set
Back translation of the Bible studies developed for those with a Hindi-speaking and Hindu worldview.
Learning Resources
Learn more about "Learning Paths"
Online Courses for embracing, encountering and engaging diaspora people. Work at your own pace. Begin anytime and complete the course according to your schedule. Interactive, Hands-On Application.
Learn more about "Reaching the Nations"
This book delineates five disciplines Christians should develop in order to effectively reach the nations. More specifically, it will guide Christians to develop an engagement strategy in their locale.
World Religions - Beliefs Overview
An overview of major world religions and cults - their beliefs and practices.
Hinduism Beliefs
A belief bulletin by North American Mission Board on Hinduism.
Other Resources
Foundations for Teaching the Bible
Scripture lessons to help new believers from Hindu backgrounds examine their worldview.
Know God in 98 Languages
A CRU resource with 9 different witnessing models (e.g. 4 Spiritual Laws, etc.) in 98 languages.
Prayer Guide for Unreached Peoples
A 30 day guide to pray for unreached people groups.
Online Talking Bible - Tamil
The purpose of Talking Bibles is to give non-readers and the blind access to the Bible in their native language.
Prayer Guide using the GOSPELS acronym
A prayer guide that utilizes the acronym GOSPELS to pray for workers among diaspora.
Displaying 1-9 of 9 results.
| Country | City | Metro Area Name | State / Prov. | Baseline Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Woodlands, Houston, Katy | Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land | TX | 15,000 |
| United States | Cary | Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill | NC | 3,500 |
| Canada | Montréal | Montreal (Laval) | QC | 3,130 |
| United States | Plano | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | TX | 2,630 |
| United States | Austin | Austin-Round Rock | TX | 1,300 |
| United States | Greenville | Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin | SC | 500 |
| United States | Knoxville | Knoxville | TN | 300 |
| United States | Birmingham | Birmingham-Hoover | AL | 200 |
| United States | Jefferson City | Jefferson City | MO | 25 |
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"After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb."
(Revelation 7:9, NIV)
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