In the month of May we invite you to join our Prayer focus on the Nations in Central Asia.
Central Asia consists of 5 Nations and the current population is 83,351,658 people.
The “5 ‘Stans” of Central Asia – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan – are a treasure trove of history, culture, and natural beauty. More than 2,000 years ago, the great trade routes linking Europe and China opened Central Asia to foreign cultures, customs, and religions.
The suffix “Stan” is primarily believed to have originated from the Persian language that carries a range of meanings related to place, such as “where one stands” or “place of,” and also “land.”
Today, the majority of these nations are Muslim and need to be opened up for the Gospel.
Therefore we are focusing on prayer for this region for this purpose and especially, for the nation of Turkmenistan, where there is a special focus and outreach in May.
| Country | Pop |
| Uzbekistan | 36 mil |
| Kazakhstan | 20 mil. |
| Tajikistan | 10 mil |
| Turkmenistan | 7 mil |
| Kyrgyzstan | 7 mil. |
The History of Central Asia:
The first identifiable human groups to live there were Cimmerians and Scythians in the west and Hsiun-nu people from 200BC in the east. In the 6th century CE, the first Turkic people established an empire and another Turkic people, the Uighurs rose to dominance in the 8th century. The region was gradually Islamized beginning in the 11th–12th century, and the Mongols took over almost all of Central Asia in the 13th century until the conquests of Timur (Tamerlane) about 1400.
Russia’s conquest of the region began in the 17th century, and later after the Russian Revolution of 1917, they were integrated into the Soviet system. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, all five Central Asian Soviet socialist republics obtained their independence in 1991.
The State of Christians and the Church in Central Asian Nations.
- The perception of evangelicalism as being foreign is one reason for such trouble; the hard line taken by many governments against religious extremism has unintended consequences for Christian groups.
- Indigenous evangelical Christians have multiplied to the number of tens of thousands in Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan, but in all of these places they face pressures from many sides – the government, Islamist groups, the Orthodox hierarchy, and family members/society at large.
- Pray for the rooting of the Christian faith in Central Asian cultural forms, for continued growth, for positive witness of believers and for the further development of mature indigenous leadership.
Pray also for Russian, Ukrainian, German, Korean and other expatriate believers who still comprise a majority of evangelicals in these lands. - Pressures on Christians are more severe in Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and especially Turkmenistan. Foreign workers have been expelled from these countries, congregations scattered and church leaders imprisoned. Getting back into the country post-COVID has been difficult for expatriate workers. Pray that the remnant might stand strong and even grow amid these tribulations.
- Multi-national partnerships of expatriate believers exist for each of these nations. They have raised up intercession, mobilized mission, fostered cooperation and encouraged local believers. Pray that their continued carrying of these burdens might bring forth greater harvest in these needy regions.
Source: Operation World.
Next week we will have a special focus on Prayer for Turkmeinstan where there is a special inititiave and outreach.
Kazakhstan.
The word “Kazakh” is derived from the Russian word, which refers to members of the Kazakh people from the Turkic word “qaz-” meaning “to wander”, alluding to the Kazakhs’ nomadic culture.
Kazakhstan, the world’s largest landlocked country, spans from the Caspian Sea to the Altai Mountains, and borders Russia to the north, China to the east and other Central Asian states.
Its capital, Nur-Sultan (formerly Astana), sits in the heart of Central Asia.
As the largest economy in Central Asia, Kazakhstan boasts major oil production and investments in mining, metallurgy, and other industries, as well as in infrastructure, transportation, and communications.
PRAY FOR KAZAKHSTAN:
Some people say that “to be a Kazakh is to be a Muslim”. Most Kazakhs follow a version of Islam strongly influenced by shamans and indigenous practices but other Muslim countries invest huge amounts of money to send Muslim missionaries there. After it broke away from the Soviet Union, the number of mosques grew from 46 (1989) to 2300 (2020)! Kazakhstan is the only Central Asian state where Islam is not accorded special status. Pray for freedom from historic spiritual bondages.
Turkmenistan.
The name “Turkmenistan” comes from the ethnonym “Turkmen,” which refers to a Turkic-speaking people who live in the region. It is surrounded by Kazakhstan to the north, Uzbekistan to the east, Iran to the south, and Afghanistan to the south-east.
The capital city, Ashgabat, is also the largest city with over 6 million residents. Turkmenistan boasts a rich and diverse culture shaped by influences from Russia and Iran. Turkmen and Russian are the dominant languages, while the majority of the population is Muslim.
It boasts the world’s fourth-largest natural gas reserves and holds a strategic position between China, Russia, and Europe. However, the economy heavily relies on hydrocarbons, with 60% of exports coming from the sector, and exports nearly 75% of its gas to China.
Take a Moment to Pray for Turkmenistan.
Next week, there will be a special focus on Special Outreach for Turkmenistan organized by the Russian Assemblies of God and AGWM.
Kyrgyzstan:
The word “Kyrgyzstan” comes from the Turkic word “kyrgyz”, which means “forty”, possibly refer to the forty clans that were united by the Kyrgyz people’s legendary ancestor, Manas, who founded the Kyrgyz Khanate in the 9th century.
It holds a strategic location in Central Asia and Bishkek is capital and largest city.
With a population of approximately 6.8 million people, Kyrgyzstan comprises a diverse mix of ethnic groups including Kyrgyz, Russian, Uzbek, and Ukrainian communities who speak Kyrgyz and Russian. There are also significant populations of other religions, including Russian Orthodox Christianity, as well as smaller communities of Buddhists, Jews, and other beliefs.
Pray for Kyrgyzstan:
he vast majority of Kyrgyz are culturally Muslim, but practice and understanding of Islam are low. Northern Kyrgyz are more Russian-influenced, but southerners are more traditional and Islamic. Muslim missionaries (200 registered, many more unregistered) from several nations seek to strengthen and purify Islam with 2,000 mosques and prayer rooms were built between 2000 and 2005 funded by foreign money.
Christianity was exclusively limited to the non-indigenous communities before 1990, primarily Orthodox (mainly Slavs) and Protestant Germans. Large-scale emigration has reduced Orthodoxy to a fraction, and the Baptists, Pentecostals and Adventists face the struggle against decline through emigration.
The most notable growth is in charismatic churches, particularly the multicultural Church of Jesus Christ. The heady growth of the decade after independence, however, has all but halted and, in some cases, has reversed.
Tajikistan.
The name “Tajikistan” is derived from the Persian word “Tajik”, which historically referred to a Persian-speaking people in Central Asia
Tajikistan’s capital is Dushanbe. With a population of over 9 million people, Tajikistan boasts a rich and diverse culture with Tajik as the main language while Uzbek and Russian are also widely spoken. Tajikistan boasts a wealth of natural resources, including the potential for hydroelectric power, cotton, aluminum, and gold, as well as untapped opportunities in agriculture and tourism.
Although Islam is the religion of 94% of the population, only a small fraction practice “pure” Islam. Most are more influenced by folk superstitions and Zoroastrian beliefs. Tajikistan’s proximity to Iran and Afghanistan makes it vulnerable to Islamism. Pray for extremism to be restrained, and that Muslims might have unprecedented opportunities to discover Christ.
The civil war of the 1990s left an unforgettable mark on the nation. 83% of the population still live below the poverty line and the country needs relief-and-development work, as well as education and business training.
Pray for Tajikistan:
The Christian population has been massively reduced by emigration. It was and remains largely Russian Orthodox. Pray for sensitive Christian ministry that can address the great social and spiritual needs. Ask God to call more long-term personnel, especially from among Iranian believers who have an ethnic relationship with the Tajiks.
Uzbekistan:
The name “Uzbekistan” is derived from the ethnic name “Uzbek,” translates to “land of the Uzbeks.” Tashkent is the Capital but also ‘the Islamic capital of Central Asia,’ in numbers and influence.
The country is home to a rich cultural heritage influenced by Russia and Persia, and Uzbek is the main language with Russian and Tajik. Uzbekistan has a population of 35 million people.
Uzbekistan’s economy proves more resilient with abundant natural resources such as gas, gold, copper, and hydroelectric potential, as well as being a major cotton exporter, fuel the economy. With a youthful population and support from the international financial community,
Pray for Uzbekistan:
Most Christians come from minority groups, and Evangelical Christianity, especially Pentecostals/charismatics, grows among them. Russians and Koreans have some freedom to evangelize their own people, but the government punishes any who attempt to reach Uzbeks or other Muslim peoples. Pray for the Muslim peoples of Uzbekistan to hear – in a way they can understand and respond to – the good news of Jesus.
There are now probably more than 10,000 Uzbek believers, where there were possibly none only a generation ago. But much prayer is still needed:
Thank You for Praying for Central Asia.
Next Week: Special Focus on Turkmenistan Outreach.
Sources:
Operation World.
World Atlas. The Britannica.
Photo credits: Shutterstock, Suresh Mehta, Michel Behar