Praying for believers in the "stans"

Praying for believers in Turkmenistan, Tajikistan … the “stans”

Cultural, religious and political contexts:

Ancestry - Turkmen - nomadic tribes; Tajik - settled tribes of farmers

Religion - Turkmenistan - 89% Sunni Moslem/9% Russian Orthodox; Tajikistan - 98% Sunni Moslem

Political - until 1998 part of USSR, now part of CIS , independent/ interdependence, Turkmenbashi/Russian puppets

Population - local ethnics plus relocated ethnic Russians

Concerns/apprehensions - Moslem extremist, foreign religion

Ministry Conditions and Prayer Requests:

Registered/unregistered

Trained leaders/pastors

Distance, terrain, poor economics

Intimidation - summer camps, church services, witnessing, fines, confiscations

Communications: electronic vulnerability, code words, reprisals

Need of both prayer and ministry partnerships