The Central Asian nation of Turkmenistan is home to some 5.7 million people, of which 5 million are the indigenous Turkmen. Arab conquerors brought Islam to this region in the 9th century. Under the USSR’s rule (1925-1991), Islam was greatly restricted. Today Turkmenistan’s constitution provides for freedom of religion, but those outside the Muslim (93%) and Russian Orthodox (6.4%) camps face severe restrictions and harassment. The few Evangelical and Pentecostal groups are closely monitored, and sharing their faith is prohibited. Family clans and communities persecute members who leave Islam to follow Christ, often disowning them, boycotting their business, even subjecting them to house arrest and beatings. Many believers draw encouragement and grow in their faith through media and personal testimonies they can access, and many prefer to meet in secret. The Bible is available in Turkmen but is banned, as is the printing, importing, and distributing of Christian literature.

Let’s pray

• for more church leaders and for opportunities for them to receive solid biblical training.

• for a leader who is under scrutiny for his witness; “Officials have been showing up…with photos of family members, their cars and their license plates in an effort to scare him into ending his ministry.”

• that government leaders would soften their hearts to allow true freedom of worship, recognize the good that true believers bring to society, and lift restrictions on God’s Word and His workers.