Prayer Fuel
Osh Region
Map Credit: World Atlas
Osh city is in many ways a “Southern capital” for Kyrgyzstan. As the nation’s second largest city, it is home for numerous universities, colleges, and even a Russian consulate. Founded over 3000 years ago, Osh is one of the oldest settlements of Central Asia. Very little remains of the old city but much of the culture remains unchanged.
Osh is strategically situated on the ancient trade route known as “Great Silk Road.” For centuries the Osh region was a major silk-production center, but, after the fall of the Soviet Union, many industries, including silk production, fell apart. Most people make their living either through small-scale agriculture, through the bazaars in the growing trade between China and Central Asia, or by working abroad in migrant jobs that bring in a better income than local employment. Tourism is also an important industry for the region.
Overshadowing the downtown area is one of Osh’s main claims to fame, Solomon’s throne. This odd-shaped, small mountain of rock shoots straight-up from the plain, with the city fanning out from the base of the “mountain” in every direction. This landmark is a place of Muslim pilgrimage, especially for those who follow the ways of non-orthodox folk Islam. Those who seek blessing, healing, or help for infertility may visit Mt. Solomon in attempt to change their lot in life. Pray that these felt needs for healing and blessing may become open doors for believers to share the gospel with and pray for people in Jesus’ name.
Unfortunately, Osh is also known as the scene of several violent Uzbek-Kyrgyz ethnic clashes. Most of Kyrgyzstan’s 985,000 Uzbeks live in and around the Osh region where they form the majority. The struggle for power and resources between them and the politically dominant Kyrgyz was the cause of tragic clashes in 1990, again in 2010, and still causes an undercurrent of ethnic tension today. While there is peace now, the potential for ethnic conflict is ever present. Pray for lasting peace between the Kyrgyz and Uzbek populations, and pray that Kyrgyz and Uzbek believers would experience and model Christ’s power through reconciliation, love and forgiveness.
The Osh region is seeing an Islamic revival. Various Islamic organizations aggressively work to “call the faithful back to the mosque” and create many barriers to the Gospel. In the past decade devout followers have increased significantly, evident in Ramadan being observed more stringently and by a much higher percentage of people, social pressure not to observe holidays that are not considered Muslim, mosques being packed on Friday afternoons by men of all ages, and a general pressure to follow the tenants of Islam. Ethnic Uzbeks have a history of being more devout Muslims than their nomadic neighbors the Kyrgyz, but both ethnicities are strongly embracing Islam as their true religious identity.
[By Workers in the Region]
Photo Credit: www.visitkyrgyz.com
Exalting his Name
You can spend some time praying from the story of Hagar for people in Osh to encounter the God Who Sees.
The angel of the Lord found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, … And he said, “Hagar, servant of Sarai, where have you come from and where are you going?” She said, “I am fleeing from my mistress Sarai.” … And the angel of the Lord said to her,
“Behold, you are pregnant
and shall bear a son.
You shall call his name Ishmael,
because the Lord has listened to your affliction.” …
So she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, “You are a God of seeing,” for she said, “Truly here I have seen him who looks after me.” Therefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi; it lies between Kadesh and Bered. (Genesis 16:7-14, ESV)
Praying for the Harvest
Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some began to scoff, but others said, “We shall hear from you again concerning this.” So Paul went out from among them. But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris, and others with them. (Acts 17: 32-34)
As public life and discourse in Osh is increasingly Islamicized, pray that God would raise up a compelling witness even in the public forum (like Paul on Mars Hill in Acts 17) and that some leaders would say, “We shall hear from you again concerning this” and would believe.
Rejoicing in His Work
Several new cross-cultural workers have moved to Osh in the past two years. They are eager to get into culture and be part of the fabric of life with a salt-and-light presence. Pray for cultural understanding in how to best be Christ’s ambassadors in the region of Osh, especially as people have a much stronger allegiance to Islam than in the past.
There is a minority people group in Osh that has seen recent professions of faith – this is a group that has been resistant to the gospel and to whom not many people have sought to minister as they are considered second-class citizens. Pray for this move of God to grow vibrant and deep.
Praying for the Church
God has sustained His church in Osh for 20+ years now. In addition to spiritual generations, there are a few families where believing grandparents have believing children who are now raising their own little ones in the knowledge of the Lord. Pray that the grace of Christ present in these multi-generational families of faith will do a leavening work in their communities and culture.
Financial burden weighs heavily on most families, including within the church. Decent jobs are not plentiful and when crises arise the needs of people are compounded. This is a burden the church carries both for the well-being of its members but also for the future of the church. Many able-bodied people leave for other countries in order to help their family make ends meet. This transient-ness is a significant obstacle, but pray for the church to grow in maturity, to be self-supporting, and to have honorable place in society.
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 Osh region or anything He would like to say to you personally. You can make note of anything that comes to you or just enjoy being quiet.
Closing Prayer
Father, thank you for Osh. Thank you for your children there who claim your name. Today please encourage Your sons and daughters to walk steadfastly. Grant them wisdom, strength, and grace to face daily opposition for their faith. May Your body know a unity that comes only from Your Spirit and favor from the watching world. Father, by the power of Your Word and Your Spirit, break into the darkness that keeps many in Osh feeling distant from God and in the hold of religion. Draw many to yourself – that they may experience the honor of being known by You and become part of Your eternal family. Glorify Yourself in this place. In Jesus’ powerful name, Amen.
Praying by Name
Take a few minutes asking God how you can pray for your three Muslim friends from the story of Hagar. If you know of a particular problem or fear they are now facing, you can ask the Lord to reveal Himself as the God who sees and cares about this issue (and perhaps you could share something with them to encourage them from the story of Hagar).
Unreached People Group of the Day (Visit Joshua Project for more info on Dargin in Kyrgyzstan)
Father, please send out laborers, open hearts and begin a movement to Christ among the Dargin in Kyrgyzstan.
