Uzbekistan is one of the former Soviet Union republics in the Central Asia.
Population:
23 ml. 14,2 ml. Uzbeks, 1,65 ml. Russians, 0,18 ml. Koreans and many other nationalities.
Capital:
Tashkent 2,5 ml. Only 25% of the population live in cities. The rest 75% reside in rural areas.
Economy:
The country has a great potential due to it's oil stock and the largest in the world gold mining. The third in the world producer of cotton. The lack of water is one of the main hindering factors. Another one is a corrupted centralised command-administrative system, which is still in operation in Uzbekistan. Standard of living is incredibly low. The situation is specially bad for children, pensioners and unemployed population. Many people are starving on regular basis. Unemployment is very high and constitutes about 27%.
Religion:
According to official data Uzbekistan is a secular republic without state religion, but the influence of Islam is constantly growing. Currently Muslims amount to 68,2% of the population. Russian orthodox - 4,4%, Catholics- 0,2%, Protestants - 0,13%, Atheists and other- 26%.
Tashkent became a centre of Islam for the whole Central Asia. Muslims from Iran and
Saudi Arabia are sending their missionaries to the Uzbekistan in order to repair mosques,
distribute Koran and make converts. The most dangerous are Muslim's extremists called
Wahhabis. Their purpose is a jihad (a sacred war) and creation of a fundamentalist Islamic
state on the territory of Uzbekistan. Jihad was intended not only to eliminate physically
all infidels but also Muslims who do not hold on to the ideas of Wahhabism. A very strong
satanic powers are standing behind their activities.
A new religion law is among the harshest in the former Soviet republics. Being adopted on 1st May, 1998 it prohibits religious activity of any unregistered groups and provides almost impossible registration standards for religious organisations.
Situation is very uneasy for the Evangelical Christians. Any kind of foreign missions, evangelizations, distribution of the Christian literature and religious propaganda is prohibited. That's why Protestant churches have to work and evangelise on the underground basis. Many Christians, especially Russians are departing from the country. More then 800 000 Russians left the country in period between 1985 and 1991. But in spite of all the churches are still growing by the grace of God!
Our need:
The evangelist from our Moscow church Igor Ivanchenko visited Uzbekistan for the mission
trip. He spent 2 months there working with the underground church in Numangan city.
Jointly with two other ladies-missionaries he organised two home sell groups of the new
converts. Below is an extract of his testimony:
"The evangelism in Uzbekistan is strictly prohibited. If you got arrested for evangelism you may be convicted to 12 days jail by the authorities and if you are caught again you may be sentenced for 3 or more years of prison. Local Christians are experiencing a hard pressure from the authorities being intimidated, abased, dismissed from the jobs. While I was there two school teachers were fired as they simply were Christians. Special police (SNB) service come to the homes of Christians and search for the information about church leadership. That is why leaders of the church (for example a pastor of the local church in Gulistan city where I stayed for a short time) can't live at the permanent residence. Sometimes he does not even know where he will be spending next night...
Central Asia today is a frontier line between Christianity and Islam. Christians are being arrested, abused, intimidated. Several times I was arrested by SNB officers who frightened me with physical violations, jail and prison. I am sure that only God has protected me. I also want to witness that it's impossible to survive there without lot of prayers. Demonic attacks are very strong. I'd say that without 2 hours of prayer in the morning it's very dangerous to do any kind of street ministry. I've learned that in practice.
Christian literature is normally gets arrested by customs service at the border yet it is possible to buy New Testaments at the flea-markets sometimes. There is a need for Bibles, New Testaments, Christian literature and audio tapes. There is not enough church leaders, very few missionaries, no finances - poverty and unemployment...
In spite of all this the God's army is moving forward bringing the Gospel to many souls! People are very open. They desire to find a real God. As I said it's impossible to have some kind of open evangelism, but we spoke to people on the streets and it is very often they invited us to there homes serving us some tea (it's a part of there culture). Many invited Jesus to their heart after 30 minutes of conversation just as if they were awaiting for it. We have prayed for many sick people and God performed miracles of healing. Uzbek ladies brought their sick children secretly from Muslim husbands and God healed many of them! Praise the Lord! God helped us to lead to the Lord 20 people just for 3 weeks. Two families opened the doors of their homes for us so that new converts could meet and be taught the basics of the Bible...
People are hungry for the Word of God, they want to know the Lord and grow in Him. That's why God has put a zeal into my heart to be a permanent missionary in Uzbekistan. I fall in love with this land and it's people. They are waiting for me..."
Please pray for Uzbekistan, for Christians there and for the revival in this country. Pray for brother Igor. We believe that it is God who has put such a desire in his heart. We need $300 per month to provide his needs as a missionary in Uzbekistan. You can participate in this work both in prayer and financially.
