Prayer Fuel
Naryn Region
Map Credit: World Atlas
We will start our month of prayer by praying one by one for each of the seven regions, or “oblasts” of Kyrgyzstan both for the believers that are already there and for those who don’t yet know Him.
The city of Naryn is the capital of the rugged, mountainous Naryn Oblast. It lies at the center of the long narrow valley of the Naryn River. Its 40,000 people are spread out in an area that is “15 miles long and three blocks wide”, living in the narrow area between the river and the mountain.
Naryn is the “birthplace” of the evangelical church in Kyrgyzstan, the home of the first fellowship founded some years ago through the ministry of a German man. Today it has several small fellowships scattered through the length of town, and groups also exist in several other villages.
Naryn City Photo Credit: Wikipedia
Growth in this region has not been easy as the locals pride themselves on being “the most Kyrgyz of the Kyrgyz” and anything that urges a change from traditional ways of thinking (including the Gospel) can meet strong resistance. Relatives and friends and even a whole village can become very hostile when a person becomes a believer. They may be shunned, thrown out of their homes or could be threatened with many things, including death. Believers have had a hard time finding a place to bury their dead, who are not allowed to be laid in local cemeteries (which are legally public property open to all families, but claimed by locals to be exclusively for “Muslims”).
The churches tend to stay away from city and state leaders except when they have a complaint; most believers do not actively take part in mainstream city life, and are generally perceived as a cult. Believers in the villages often decide to leave their village when the persecution gets tough and flee either to the city of Naryn or even further to Bishkek where believers are more accepted and there is not so much pressure.
[Based on information provided by the Z. family & M.B]
Exalting His Name
Take some time to pray through this scripture for God’s person and character to be revealed to the people in Naryn.
Lord, you have been our dwelling place
throughout all generations.
Before the mountains were born
or you brought forth the whole world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God. (Psalm 90:1-2)
Father, the people of Naryn are yours, brought forth by you and for your glory. Please reveal to them that you are their God, and that you want to dwell with them in fellowship through your Son.
Rejoicing in His Work
God, thank you for your faithfulness in establishing your church in Kyrgyzstan and in Naryn. Thank you for the workers in Naryn in the early days after the Soviet Union fell who faithfully testified to your message. Thank you for the open hearts who responded to you and have given their lives to you. Thank you for those who have endured persecution and misunderstanding and for those who are serving as faithful shepherds and witnesses in Naryn.
Praying for the Harvest
Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”. (Matthew 9:35-38)
- Pray for God to send forth workers into every town and village in the Naryn region to proclaim the good news
- Pray for the gospel message to be accompanied with healing and experience of God’s power and holistic care
- Pray for the word to be received with faith and bear fruit
Praying for the Church
Take some time to pray through this scripture for the church in Naryn.
“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you...
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:11-12, 14-16)
Closing Prayer
Everlasting God, may the “Krygyz of the Kyrgyz” recognize that the God offering them life in Christ is the same Creator of their mountains, the same Creator of their people and language and Overseer of their history. Please send workers and open doors to the gospel in every city and village in the Naryn region. Please strengthen leaders of churches to lead in humility and build unity amongst local believers and give local believers perseverance and courage to shine the light of their faith in the darkness of that region. Amen.
Worshiping and Waiting
If you have more time to spend in prayer, this 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 Naryn. You can write down anything that comes to your mind or heart—scripture, picture, an idea or song…
Praying by Name
Spend a few minutes praying for the three Muslims you thought of yesterday.
Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ. (Romans 10:17, NIV)
Ask God to bring His word about Christ into their lives through a physical Bible, the testimony of a follower or even that the verses about Christ in the Quran would send them searching for more about Him in the Bible.
Unreached People Group of the Day
As there are at least 26 Muslim UPGs living in Kyrgyzstan, we will be praying very briefly for one every day! If you’d like to read more info or pray more deeply for the UPG of the day, you can visit Joshua Project.
Father, please send out laborers, open hearts and begin a movement to Christ among the Chechen in Kyrgyzstan.
