Tajikistan - Operation World 11/15
Tajikistan
Republic of Tajikistan
Asia
Geography
Area: 143,100 sq km
Bordering on Afghanistan, China, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. The Pamir and Tien-Shan Mountains are 93% of the surface area.
Population: 7,074,845 Annual Growth: 1.60%
Capital: Dushanbe
Urbanites: 26.5%
HDI Rank: 127 of 182 (UN Human Development Reports 2009)
Peoples
Peoples: 46 (59% unreached)
Official language: Tajik
Languages: 33
Largest Religion: Muslim
Religion \t
Christians 73,578 \t
Evangelicals 6,952 \t
Muslim \t6,645,402 \t\t
Answer to Prayer
Marked improvement in stability and security since the end of the civil war allows for effective ministry.
The Christian population has been massively reduced by emigration. It was and remains largely Russian Orthodox. The civil war and its aftermath drove out the majority; most of the remainder are cultural/nominal Christians with little desire to share the gospel with indigenous peoples. Pray that such a vision might be awakened. While multi-ethnic congregations exist in a few cities, the bulk of the rural majority remains unreached. Pray also for contextually sensitive outreach efforts and for church structures that will reproduce in rural areas.
Tajikistan is number 34 on the world watch list of Christian persecution. New legal restrictions introduced in 2011 are likely to increase pressure on the church. In August, a new Parental Responsibility Law was introduced which prohibits children under the age of 18 from participating in any religious activities except funerals. Although not particularly aimed against Christians, it will have a great impact on youth and children’s activities. Parents disobeying this law face heavy fines and prison sentences of up to 8 years. Amendments to the Criminal Code were also adopted, which punish with lengthy prison terms those participating in unauthorized ‘extremist religious’ teaching.
Pray:
Converts from Islam come under pressure from family and society to renounce their faith. Pray for perseverance.
More than half of the population is under 18. Pray that young people will have the opportunity to hear the gospel despite the new laws.
The import and distribution of Christian literature is very restricted. Pray that God’s people will have access to the Bible.
