Uzbekistan’s Karakalpaks

The Karakalpaks are a Sunni Muslim unreached people group numbering close to one million, mostly residing in northwestern Uzbekistan’s autonomous province of Karakalpakstan, where poverty levels are high and the terrain is extremely dry. Other pockets of Karakalpaks live in Turkey, Iran, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Afghanistan.

Uzbekistan is listed among the most dangerous countries for Christians due to persecution. Even so, a movement of the Spirit has begun among the Karakalpaks with an estimated more than 3,000 followers of Jesus.

Among the first of these converts from Islam was a highly feared drug dealer, who now shares Christ’s love with his people instead. “Our converts from Islam carry a cultural Islamic baggage, which hinders them to understand God´s will properly. They often come to us with demonic realities in the lives. Their marriages are broken, and family life is in shakes. None of us really knows how to help them professionally. Here we need trainers from other Muslim countries with experience,” he said. (Johannes Reimer, Evangelical Focus, December 6, 2021)

Other believers urged prayer for training materials. “There is literally no literature in our own language. The few books in Russian are not sufficient. At the same time young people do not really understand Russian any longer. They need training in our own language. And only very few Karakalpak pastors have received basic theological training so far.”

Another need in the desert region where the Karakalpak live is for pure water. “If only we would be able to give our neighbors pure drinking water, this would better their health and open their hearts towards the living waters in Jesus, the Messiah.”

Lord, please grow a deep hunger for You in the heart of every Karakalpak. Awaken them to their need for a Savior, Protector, Provider who loves them. Make a way for every community, every home, every heart to hear Your Good News in a form they can easily understand. The New Testament is available online in Karakalpak language, but few have access to it. Draw them into Your truth and save them. Meet them in their dreams. Speak to them Your name. Tell them the story of Your love. And make it so compelling they can’t say no to Your grace. Be a Shield around every Karakalpak Christian and their family, guarding them from persecution and harm, and blessing them so abundantly they will generously help needy neighbors. Grow them strong in faith, confident in truth, abounding in love. Bring teachers to them to disciple them and to train up Christian leaders and teachers. Make a way for the Bible to be printed in their language and available to everyone, and for audio versions of the New Testament to be distributed widely until all have heard Your Good News. Multiply Your church by the thousands. Give them favor with those in authority, as well as with other Karakalpaks. Open the way for Christians to come in from other countries and serve alongside local believers to take clean water to the thirsty, food to the hungry, medical and counseling services to the hurting, shelter and clothing to those without, and the Gospel to those who need to hear. Spread a church planting movement across Karakalpakstan like wildfire, touching every heart with Your transformational love, and spreading beyond borders to catch others on fire for You, as well. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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Mikaela Vincent and her husband are missionaries who have served the Lord nearly three decades in a dark area of the world where few have heard Jesus’ name and Christians are persecuted. They 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 shopping at Mikaela’s online bookstore, click the buttons below:

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