The small Central Asian nation of Tajikistan is home to over 8 million people, 70 percent of whom are under the age of 30. Are Tajik young people in this largely Sunni Muslim region curious about Jesus? “How do we actually know if we are one of Jesus’ sheep?” asked Ali, a young Tajik student, as we were reading through the book of John together.
We were in the midst of a weekly Bible study with Ali and three other young Central Asian college students. It was good to see Ali’s interest in Jesus grow as we studied together. He asked for a Bible, which he read regularly, and even took with him when he traveled back to his hometown to see his family on summer break.
Six weeks later, at the start of the school year, he returned to the campus. Without his Bible. I was a bit concerned and asked him who had taken his Bible from him. Had he got into trouble? Had his Bible been confiscated?
Ali shared a story that surprised us and gave us great hope: his sister, in her searching for materials about Jesus, had asked for his Bible to keep as part of her reading collection. As we inquired further, Ali told us how she was always looking for more information— stories, movies, music, anything—about Jesus. In Ali’s words she was a “Jesus person”. Still a good Muslim, yet seeking Jesus.
How do we actually know if we are one of Jesus’ sheep?
Jesus told us that the harvest is ready. Even in a poor, hard-to-reach mountainous nation such as Tajikistan, many Muslims— like Ali and his sister—are longing for truth and hope. And they are finding it in Jesus.
LET’S PRAY
- Pray that Tajik hearts would be further open to the good news of Jesus, and that many Tajiks would have opportunities to meet Christians who would lovingly share Jesus with them.
- Currently, there are very few believers in Tajikistan. Pray that the existing Church would be strengthened and obedient in sharing Jesus with others. Pray that the Church would multiply!
- Pray for a greater hunger among Tajiks both in Tajikistan and in Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and Russia. There are very few believers among the Tajiks living abroad. Pray that God would send more laborers into these communities (Luke 10:2).
Post credited to the editors at Worldchristian: visit http://www. worldchristianconcern.org/donate to support mission efforts to reach the unreached for Christ.
