AFWIS Joins OW in prayer for the Republic of Uzbekistan, Asia

Friday December  14, 2012

Uzbekistan

Republic of Uzbekistan

Asia

See Prayer Information

Geography

Area: 447,400 sq km
Fertile, irrigated mountain valleys in the east, notably the Ferghana Valley. Desert and Aral Sea in the west.
Population: 27,794,296    Annual Growth: 1.10%
Capital: Tashkent
Urbanites: 36.9%
HDI Rank: 119 of 182 (UN Human Development Reports 2009)

Peoples

Peoples: 67 (55% unreached) All peoples
Unreached Peoples Prayer Card

Official language: Uzbek    Languages: 39 All languages

Religion

Largest Religion: Muslim

Religion		Pop %	Ann Gr
Christians	208,457	0.75	-1.6
Evangelicals	84,957	0.3	4.4
Muslim	23,605,696	84.93

Challenges for Prayer

Tashkent is the Islamic capital of Central Asia in terms of both numbers and influence. Islam is more a part of the Uzbek cultural identity than it is a faithfully practiced religion; folk/occult practices are deeply tied into the beliefs of mostly the rural Uzbeks. Since a burst of Islamic activity soon after independence, the government has reined in most Islamic missionaries and mosque-buildings and tightly controls and monitors all Islamic activity.
Transplanted minorities predominate the Christian population. Most are emigrating in large numbers. The Orthodox population is only 10% of what it was in the 1980s. Evangelical Christianity, especially Pentecostals/charismatics, is growing among those remaining. Pray for:
a) Freedom for ministry. Minorities who keep to themselves are not specifically targeted, but the government is harsh on any who attempt to reach Uzbeks or other non-Muslim peoples. Yet the Russians and Koreans have considerable freedom to evangelize their own people, and are doing so.
b) The bridging of the cultural divides of Uzbeks, Russians and Koreans. Their differences, histories, past insensitivities and fears for the future all make cross-cultural outreach difficult. Pray that Russian and Korean Christians might have a heart for outreach to Uzbeks in culturally sensitive ways.
c) Unity. Mistrust and rivalry characterized past relations among groups, but widespread persecution has drawn together most Christians. Pray for humility, teachability and reconciliation among Christian leaders.
     For an additional 7 Challenges for Prayer see Operation World book, CD-ROM, or DVD-ROM.

More Information

The Operation World book, CD-ROM, and DVD-ROM provide far more information and fuel for prayer for the people of Uzbekistan.