People Group Profiles

“All nations will come and worship before you."

- Revelations 15:4

Kanjobal, Eastern of United States


People Group Info

Total Population: 23,000

ROP3 Code: 102845
IMB Affinity Group: American Peoples
Affinity Bloc: Latin-Caribbean Americans
People Cluster: Maya
Language: Q'anjob'al - (kjb)
Religion: Ethnic Religions
Country of Origin: Guatemala

Photo courtesy of Joshua Project.

Majority Located Where

  Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA - 5,000

  Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE - 1,500

  Port St. Lucie-Fort Pierce, FL - 600

  Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL - 300

  Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA - 50

Click here to recommend other locations where this People Group resides.

Learn More

Brief Profile

The Kanjobal are an indigenous Mayan group who have migrated from the mountains of Guatemala and who maintain their pre-Columbian language and culture.

Many indigenous Mayans from Guatemala have immigrated to the United States in an attempt to flee war, violence and poverty in their home country. Large numbers of Kanjobal have settled in Southern Florida and in the Pico-Union area of Los Angeles, CA.

Their primary language is Q'anjob'al, and their primary religion is a form of ethnic Mayan religion rooted in the reverence of their ancestors and spirits in nature. Mayan religion is expressed through traditional rites, customs, and worldview, and conversion to Christianity essentially equates to cultural assimilation. Some Kanjobal in the USA have worked hard to maintain their cultural practices and religion, while others seek to blend into the larger Hispanic or American culture.

Prayer Points

  • Pray for Kanjobal believers to boldly proclaim the gospel to their people.
  • Pray that the barriers of traditional Mayan religion would be broken down.
  • Pray for more workers for the harvest, both for the Kanjobal in the United States, as well as those in Guatemala and Mexico.


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.


Other Resources

Prayer Guide for Unreached Peoples
A 30 day guide to pray for unreached people groups.

Bible - Eastern Kanjobal
Bible in Eastern Kanjobal Language

Prayer Guide using the GOSPELS acronym
A prayer guide that utilizes the acronym GOSPELS to pray for workers among diaspora.

Scripture Earth Resources in Kanjobal, Eastern
Scripture Earth Resources in Kanjobal, Eastern

Displaying 1-9 of 9 results.
Country City Metro Area Name State / Prov. Baseline Population
United StatesLos AngelesLos Angeles-Long Beach-AnaheimCA5,000
United StatesOmahaOmaha-Council BluffsNE1,500
United StatesIndiantownPort St. Lucie-Fort PierceFL600
United StatesWest Palm BeachMiami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm BeachFL100
United StatesLake WorthMiami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm BeachFL100
United StatesHomesteadMiami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm BeachFL100
United StatesCantonAtlanta-Sandy Springs-RoswellGA25
United StatesMorgantonAtlanta-Sandy Springs-RoswellNC25
United StatesMobileMobileAL10