Lausanne World Pulse – Urban Articles – A Focus on Central Asia: 858 Least-Reached People Groups Remain

October 2006

 

The marginally Muslim peoples of the Turkish World need to hear the

good news of Jesus Christ.

Overview
Trade and Islam beat a path through the Silk Roads of the eleven countries of Central Asia, much of which could not be changed by seventy years of Soviet rule. Most of the languages here have been Turkish-based since the early days of Turkey’s Ottoman Empire. Most other languages in this region are based on Farsi, the tongue of Persia, Central Asia’s other traditional world power. All but two of the countries in this region are over ninety percent least-reached peoples, with Pakistan by far the largest; there are 150 million people within 468 people groups that are still least-reached in this country alone. Over 850 people groups remain with less than two percent evangelical believers and less than five percent adherents to any form of Christianity. The marginally Muslim peoples of the Turkish World are looking for a new identity. Will they make their identity in Christ?

Prayer Points

  • Dreams and Visions. Pray for God to speak to individuals through dreams and visions as he has done many times so that their hearts are prepared and receptive to the gospel.
  • Gospel Literature. Pray that literature presenting the truth of Jesus in their own heart language and written in a way that can be understood would become available to every one of the 858 least-reached peoples in Central Asia.
  • Healing from Physical and Emotional Illnesses. Pray that God would confirm his word with signs and wonders, delivering seekers from addictions, depression and emotional and physical sicknesses as a demonstration that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life.
  • God of All Peoples. Pray for God to change the idea that to become a Christian means I lose my cultural identity and to reveal that he has come to us as Emmanuel, God with us, so that he even speaks our language and answers our hearts’ cries.
  • Prayer Evangelism. Pray that God draws every new believer into an intimate relationship with himself and that he teaches them to pray and intercede for the others around them who do not yet know him so that they also come to know Jesus.

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