Prayer Fuel

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 and an important city on the Silk Road. Very little remains of the old city but much of the culture remains unchanged.

Map Credit: World Atlas

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. 

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. 

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. 

[By Workers in the Region]

Photo Credit: www.visitkyrgyz.com

Exalting his Name

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)

Blessed are you, the God who sees, the God who listens, the God who looks after us in our distress. Just as you revealed yourself Hagar in her moment of desperation, may you reveal yourself to many in Osh today who are facing their need for you in various ways.

Praying for the Harvest

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.

Pray for the God fearers among these spiritually devout Muslims to become worshippers in spirit and in truth, not just religious form, as they hear and understand the way to come to their Father through Jesus.

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.

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.

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.

Worshiping and Waiting

This time is an opportunity to simply be still, turn on a worship song, ask the Lord if there’s anything else he’d like you to pray for today for the Osh region or just lift him up over this city in worship.

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.

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.