Prayer Fuel
Jalalabad Region
Map Credit: World Atlas
Jalalabad is the third largest city in Kyrgyzstan. Due to its location in Southern Kyrgyzstan, close to Uzbekistan, about half of the citizens are Uzbek and half are Kyrgyz. There are other people groups represented as well; Kurdish, Turkish and because of the medical college, a lot of Indian and Pakistani medical students.
Jalalabad is growing; there are new apartment buildings and supermarkets going up everywhere. At the same time, Islam is also growing. Saudi Arabia and Turkey are building new mosques, madrassas and schools. Young people are searching for something to tie their identity to, and many are finding it in Islam.
There are several churches in Jalalabad, most of which were started in the late 1990’s. The Baptist church is the biggest and most established church, but there is also a charismatic church and an Uzbek church as well as several other Kyrgyz churches. Unfortunately, most of these churches are not very seeker friendly for people from a Muslim background.
Some ministries are trying to reach Muslims in Jalalabad and the surrounding villages by studying the Bible with open individuals or families. The goal is to start house churches that look and feel Kyrgyz. Then hopefully people won’t be ostracized from their community; instead the community will see the positive change in the new believers and will also be drawn to Jesus.
(With thanks to C. for their contribution of today’s prayer fuel)
Photo by Dastan Suiuntbekov on Unsplash
Exalting His Name
He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them. (2 Cor. 5:15, NLT)
Many Muslims interpret a verse in the Quran to say that Jesus did not really die. Pray that God by His Spirit, through His Word and His witnesses will reveal to people in Jalalabad today that Jesus truly is the Crucified and Resurrected One, who died and was raised for them and that many will choose to live for him!
Rejoicing in His Work
Praise God for the new believers in villages around Jalalabad. Some of them gather regularly in each other’s homes to pray and read the Bible. Pray for these believers to be strengthened in their faith and for many more such groups start.
Seeking His Mercy
As Islam grows in Jalalabad, suppression of women’s rights also increases. Unfortunately, abuse and divorce are common. Men divorce their wives for many reasons, including if they fail to have a child in the first year of marriage!
Mosques sometimes teach that hitting your wife is an appropriate method of controlling her. Even believers are influenced by these mindsets, especially if they grew up in dysfunctional families and have no healthy examples to look to.
Pray for renewal of marriages, repentance for abuse. Ask for divorce among youth to be prevented by intentionally seeking out counseling and good examples.
Praying for the Harvest
You can use this scripture to pray for people in Jalalabad to be cut to the heart, repent and believe.
“Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”… When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”…Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” (Acts 2:36-39)
Praying for the Church
Pray for unity between the different churches in Jalalabad, that Muslims may see Jesus through the one-ness of believers.
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 Jalalabad 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
Crucified and Resurrected Lord Jesus, your divine rule extends even over Jalalabad. May we see your kingdom come more fully in the lives of individuals and families as they experience your power and life-giving love. Soften the hearts of husbands and wives to each other. Give parents wisdom in raising their children. Bring unity among all the believers.
Praying by Name
Pray for your three Muslim friends to be drawn over and over again to the story of the crucifixion and resurrection and for the Holy Spirit to give them a growing suspicion that this “story” may be true.
Unreached People Group of the Day (Visit Joshua Project for more info on Heshmin in Kyrgyzstan)
Father, please send out laborers, open hearts and begin a movement to Christ among the Heshmin in Kyrgyzstan.
