Prayer Fuel
The Uyghur People
The Uyghurs are a Muslim people group that mainly live in Xinjiang province, China. There they have faced much oppression over the years and as a result, their numbers in diaspora are growing. In Kyrgyzstan there are between 60-100 thousand, mostly residing in Bishkek. There are only a few known believers. There is a handful of workers laboring among them but hearts remain hard. Pray for a greater openness to engage in conversations about spiritual things. Pray for encouragement for the workers to persevere with joy.
Photo: newlinesmag.com
Exalting His Name
Restore our fortunes, Lord,
like streams in the Negev.
Those who sow with tears
will reap with songs of joy.
Those who go out weeping,
carrying seed to sow,
will return with songs of joy,
carrying sheaves with them. (Psalm 126:4-6, NIV)
God the Restorer, please reveal yourself to the Uyghur people as the one who can bring restoration in all they have lost and in all the ways they ARE lost. You can bring joy in their sorrow.
God the Harvest Provider, please reveal yourself to workers amongst the Uyghur as the one who sees their tears and labor and will bring a harvest from it.
Praying for the Harvest
Work amongst the Uyghurs in Kyrgyzstan in slow. They are a very devout, closed people group. Praise God that a small group of workers are slowly making inroads into the community, building relationships and seeking to share the good news. Pray for these workers!
As a minority in Kyrgyzstan there is prejudice against them getting government jobs and many of them speak of there being no future in Kyrgyzstan for their children due to corruption. As a people group without their own nation, pray for them as they seek to thrive where they are planted in diaspora. Pray that they would be led to meet more of His people, wherever they are planted.
Praying for the Church
The Uyghurs would be very unlikely to step into a church, due to the devout nature of their Muslim faith.
Pray for the Kyrgyz church to develop a heart for evangelism for the devout Muslims in their country. Pray that more gifted evangelists will be raised up that know the Quran well and can seek to befriend and engage with the Uyghur community.
Worshiping and Waiting
This time can be an opportunity to simply sit still, turn on a worship song and ask the Lord if there’s anything else he’d like you to pray for today for the Uyghur People.
Praying by Name
Ask the Lord to reveal himself to your friends in any areas of weeping in their past or life right now…
Closing Prayer
Father, thank you that you love the Uyghur people. Oppressed in their homeland, discriminated against in their new land. They need hope–Your Hope. Awaken their hearts to hear your gentle whisper. Give them dreams of you. Open their minds to question their Islamic faith and not simply follow blindly. Raise up Muslim Background Believers who are passionate to reach this closed people group and provide rest for the workers who labor in a harsh field full of rocks. Show your glory and your might. Rain down your mercies on this people in desperate need of You. Amen.
To read more about the Uyghur in Kyrgyzstan, visit Joshua Project.
