The Battle for Nagorno-Karabakh

Azerbaijan’s largely Muslim population of 10.3 million are 95% unreached with the gospel of Christ, while most of the 2.7 million people of Armenia claim Christianity. The two countries lie beside each other in the Caucasus Mountains bordering Iran, Turkey, Georgia and Russia.

In the 1920s, they became part of the Soviet Union. Although ethnically Armenian, the area of Nagorno-Karabakh was controlled by Azerbaijan. But in the 1980s, as the Soviet Union began to fall, the disputed zone’s parliament voted to become a part of Armenia. This led to ethnic clashes and cleansings, with massacres and a full-scale war. Over the years, tens of thousands have died and more than a million people have been displaced. The first war ended with a ceasefire in 1994, brokered by Russian forces, with Armenians in control, although the region remained a part of Azerbaijan. But the situation has continued to be volatile. In the six-week war of 2020, more than 6,500 people lost their lives, as Azerbaijan recaptured territories held by Armenia since 1994.

These past nine months, Azerbaijan effectively blockaded Nagorno-Karabakh, preventing food, medical supplies and other needed items from entering. After a 24-hour military offensive on Wednesday, Karabakh fighters were forced to concede.

Now, as the 82% Muslim nation of Azerbaijan plans to bring the Christian region under its full control, the 120,000 Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh fear yet another ethnic cleansing.

Father God, so much death has covered this region for so many decades. We ask You now for peace, protection and provision for those in need. Please open the way for medical care, food, counselors and other help to reach this region in need. Protect Christians from the oppression and horrors they now fear at the hand of earthly enemies. Grant Armenian families mercy. Shield them from persecution and harm. Comfort those mourning the deaths of loved ones lost in this week’s fighting. Heal those who are injured, and be every Armenians’ Safe Place. When they cry out to You, answer, O Lord. Come and meet them in tender-but-powerful ways, reminding them of who You are. Wherever Christians have been merely nominal, show them Your love, remind them of what the Gospel is all about, and draw them into a personal, saving relationship with Your Son Jesus. Give them courage to love, to forgive, to stand up for the things of Your heart. Raise up a generation of Armenians on fire for Your name, ready to take Your gospel to the unreached. And give Muslim Azerbaijanis a hunger for You so fierce they will let go of tradition and surrender to Truth. Make a way for the Bible to be translated into all the languages of the 29 unreached people groups in Azerbaijan and Armenia, so every heart will have the chance to know the God of Love. O Father, when will we learn? When will we see that our fight is not over occupying land in earthly kingdoms that are here today and gone tomorrow. Such craving cannot be satisfied. For our true Home is in Heaven. Earthly battles lose us to darkness. Only Your truth, love and grace can save us and bring us out of that darkness into Your light. Please awaken every heart on both sides to Your truth and grace. Meet every soldier, leader and person in such powerful ways, they will seek You with all their hearts and find You. Jeremiah 29:13. Give them a deep, deep HUNGER for You. Meet them in their dreams. Talk to them throughout the day. Connect them with truth on the internet and through loving believers. And reverse their strategy from war to LOVE. From death to LIFE. With man this is impossible. But with You, God, all things are possible.

Please join us for the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church on Sunday, November 5, 2023, as we pray for our brothers and sisters who are in danger, and for their persecutors to be saved:

International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church

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Mikaela Vincent and her husband are missionaries who live by faith, trusting in God to provide for their needs as they pray for and share Christ with the nations. If you would like to help their ministry through a donation, or by finding your Christmas presents at Mikaela’s online bookstore, click the buttons below:

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