In the former Soviet republic of Uzbekistan, many think the “progress” hearkens back to Soviet times where the facade of religious freedom thinly veils the reality of strict control. According to this RFE/RL article, state restriction of religious activity is on the rise threatening to further complicate the methods of access into this already tightly-controlled country.

Please pray for those seeking to minister to the people of Uzbekistan to receive favor from government officials.

Also pray for the government leaders of Uzbekistan as they are leading this relatively new country. Pray that they will be honest, upright, and genuinely caring for the peoples under their jurisdiction.

Full article here.

*It is worth noting that this article tends to blur the lines between true, Bible-based Christianity and Christian-appearing cults such as the Jehovah’s Witnesses.

update:  Forum18 has posted a similar article here.

The Azeris of Iran, also known as the Southern Azerbaijani people, primarily live in the northwest regions of the Islamic Republic of Iran.  Their primary spoken language is Azerbaijani, however, for political reasons the language is unwritten. According to most current estimates, the population is believed to be more than 20 million people. The dominant religion is Islam (Shi’a). There is no known church among them.

Requests:

1. Pray for strategic teams targeting the Southern Azerbaijani people.  Ask that each person would gain a deep desire to participate in future work among the Southern Azerbaijani people.

2. Pray for the development of partnerships with churches to reach the Southern Azerbaijanis.

Here is a story from one of our families that is new to the field:

Our son Matthew has had quite the experience with doctors. Unfortunately in most cases it’s been a painful experience. He had to get a large shot in his leg every day for a week. The painful part for me was that I had to hold him still during the procedure.

But me being there to hold him was also a good thing because I was right there to comfort him. He found comfort from me telling him the “Jesus hurt story.” The Jesus hurt story is the story of Jesus dying on the cross and rising again. We told this story to Matthew around Easter, and he labeled it the “Jesus hurt story.” He likes to hear it over and over, especially when anything hurts him.

What struck me was how absurd it would sound to the doctor and nurses for a two year old kid to be comforted by hearing about a man being tortured and executed. This is especially true in a Muslim context where the thought of a prophet dying is anathema. I wondered what in the world they would be thinking about me. Would they think I’m some whacked out masochist who is corrupting my son? I have to admit that in my fear of man the first couple of times I was reluctant to tell Matthew the story boldly.

But after a few times, I was sharing the story loud enough for others to hear, and it reminded me of how the strangeness and oddness of the story is also the story’s greatest comfort. Christ took on our weaknesses so that we can take on His strength.

Speaking of foolishness, fresh in our minds is the conversation we just had with the maintenance/security guy (kapija) of our apartment and his friend. My wife put it well when she said, “I feel ludicrous.” I asked her, “Because of how little language we know?” “No,” she said, “because how they must think of us.” In the conversation we admitted that we tried to pop popcorn, but it didn’t work.  They interpreted our problem of not getting popped corn as us not knowing how to do it. Of course, I’ve burnt my fair share of popcorn in the states and my wife almost burned her parent’s kitchen down, but we know the general idea. However, when it seems like we don’t know anything here because our lack of language and our lack of knowledge of the way things are done, our inability to fix popcorn fits right in.

I have another example, there’s an expression for the perfect consistency of hot tea, which literally translated means, “rabbit blood.” The tea’s color is apparently similar to the color of rabbit blood.  I tried to use that expression, but I used it wrong, and they actually believed that I thought I was drinking rabbit blood. You should have seen the look on their faces.  So here is the question that has been going through my mind, ‘what must they think about me in general if the idea of me thinking I was drinking rabbit blood came as no big shock to them?’  How many other things must I do that seem just as ludicrous?

You have found it…the Muslims in Russia blog!

Check here often for ways that you can lift up the Muslims living in Russia, and find out how God is working in their lives! As you read, you will learn more about these amazing people, and come to a better understanding of what their lives are like.  Please don’t forget, as you read the latest post, to take time right then to interceed on their behalf.

Thank you for your faithfulness to pray for the Muslims of Russia!  Happy Reading!

The last week of January we had a team meeting/retreat in a sea-side town near our city.  We really enjoyed the spiritual refreshing and biblical instruction we experienced during the retreat.  One afternoon during our free time, we decided to explore the local town. As we were exploring, we were also trying to locate a pharmacy for a teammate. We turned down a road we thought would lead us to another seaside community and possibly the local pharmacy.  However, instead of a pharmacy, we discovered a farming community of about 33 souls. We don’t know for sure, but we think we were the first Americans they had ever seen! It was hard to wrap our minds around the fact that they may have NEVER had the gospel placed in their hands. Later that evening, we really felt a deep urging of the Spirit to return the next day with copies of the New Testament in their own language.  It would have been difficult to leave this area after having come in contact with a whole village and not use the opportunity to place His words in their hands.

Upon returning to the village, we were greeted by three ladies and a couple of children.  Tom Scott went with us and interestingly enough, he had only brought three of the Incil packets with him at the time. They were receptive and welcoming. They told us they love all foreigners.  One of the ladies even gave us a bag of Hazelnuts. We were thankful to have Tom with us to speak to their hearts what we were unable to communicate in our limited Turkish. Please pray that these copies of God’s Word will transform their hearts and that this little village will rise up as a village that will bring change to our region.

1. Recently the Persians of Turkey team was asked to leave the building they were using for a refugee ministry center in a major Turkish city. The landlord said it didn’t matter that there was a contract until the end of the year. He had a family member who needed a place to live. Here, family always takes priority over an acquaintance who is renting a building. The team has until June to find a new place. Please pray that they will find the perfect place to continue ministering to refugees and that it will be both safe and accessible.

2. Please pray for a group from the United States who will be in Turkey in May to help minister to refugees in a major city. Pray that their time will be rewarding and that many refugees will feel God’s love through the group’s presence and ministry. Pray that the team would have safe travel, quick adjustment to the time difference, and health.

3. Pray for S, a Turkish pastor whose congregation is starting to reach out to the Persians in his city. Pray that his congregation, and other national groups around the country, would catch a vision for reaching out with the Gospel to Persians, wherever they may find them.

1. Early in June, there will be an important training meeting for about 50 Iranians, many of whom will be Kurds.  This training will take place in a country near Iran.  It will be a week of praise, worship, prayer, fellowship, and some good solid teaching.  Pray that all those coming would arrive safely and that all would go well during the week.  Pray for the teachers and other event organizers.  Pray that this event would lead to the advancement of the Gospel among the peoples of Iran, including the millions of Kurds in Iran that have never heard the name of Jesus before.

 2. Pray for two new believers. “Mike” is a Sorani-speaking Kurd from the city of “M” in Iranian Kurdistan who was baptized in March.  He is only the second believer we know of from his city of several hundred thousand.  Pray that he can meet with “Kevin”, the other believer, for fellowship and encouragement. Pray that they will be able to share Christ with others in their city.  Pray also for “Jim” from the city of “N” in Iranian Kurdistan.  He was also baptized in March along with Mike.  He is the only known believer in his city.  Jim drives a taxi to make a living. Pray that he will meet other believers and that he will be bold to share his faith as he drives his taxi.

 3. Pray for “Joseph”, a Sorani-speaking Kurd from the city of “D” in Iranian Kurdistan, who is genuinely seeking the Lord.  During a recent conversation with Joseph, he asked how a person knows when he is a true follower of Jesus.  He sees that the majority religion in his area is not true. Because of this, he is seeking the Truth.  Pray that Joseph will see that Jesus is the only Truth.  There are a few other believers in the city of D where Joseph lives.  Pray that he will seek fellowship and encouragement together with them.  Pray that God will save Joseph.

Just like many of the workers in our area, we are building a vocabulary in a new language as well as building relationships with our teachers and tutors.  The following is an update recently received from a worker who continues to share openly with his teacher:

I am still meeting with my tutor, Sam.  We read the parable of the seed and the sower and John 14.6 this week.  I had to look up the word for exclusive as I explained the gospel to him again.  After reading and talking, I asked him what he thought about all of that.  Unfortunately, he answered like many Americans might, “According to you that is truth, so that is good.”  Many seeds have been planted in Sam, and he has a copy of the NT.  Please pray that those seeds would find fertile ground and take root in his life.

As the world is preparing for rising food prices and diminishing resources, many Afghans are already feeling the effects.  The shortage has caused many to relocate in search of food.

Pray for Afghans and other Central Asians who are directly affected by this food crisis to receive the basic food necessities this year.  

Pray for the safety of the men and women working to secure food supplies in Afghanistan.

1. Islam has interjected much into the culture which cripples marriages.  Even when people respond to Christ in faith, the vestiges of the Islamic culture still linger in their homes.  Please pray for a marriage retreat for church leaders which will help lay a theological framework for building healthier marriages inside their church networks.  Pray for our team of trainers as they prepare and present.  Pray that our participants will travel without obstacle.  Pray that God will restore broken marriages among our church leaders.  Pray that God will use this teaching to strength marriages within the church networks.

2. Pray for a new team of evangelists who will begin work in a strategic city.  Pray that they will sow seeds among hearts that have soft and fertile soil.  Pray that they will share without interference.

3. According to Jesus, we are to pray for someone to go into the fields.  There are two important cities where no work is maintained.  Please ask the Lord to send someone into these two cities to share the good news and to strengthen any believers that may exist.