Uzbekistan

Praise Points

Thank You, Abba Father, for the courageous Christians who continue to worship secretly and spread Your Word despite restrictions. Romans 1:16 – “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes.”

God, we thank You for Christian teenagers who, despite rejection, choose to follow Christ. Strengthen their faith as lights in their communities.” 2 Timothy 1:7 – “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”

Prayer Points

Lord, break the chains of fear and intimidation over Your Church. Protect believers from harsh government control and unjust laws. Acts 5:29 – “We must obey God rather than men.”

Father, comfort those cast out by families, especially young women trapped in forced marriages. Deliver them into safety and freedom. Isaiah 61:1 – “He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives.”

Lord, strengthen converts who face pressure to return to old ways. Let them stand firm and find their identity in You. Ephesians 6:13 – “Put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground.”

A Call to Salvation

God, raise parents and mentors who will teach the next generation to know and love Your Word. Deuteronomy 6:6–7 – “These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children.”

Lord, unite Christians of every background—Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant—so they may boldly witness together in love. John 17:21 – “That all of them may be one, Father… so that the world may believe that You have sent Me.”

Holy Spirit, ignite revival among Uzbekistan’s believers. Let them bring hope, justice, and healing to a hurting nation. Habakkuk 3:2 – “Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, Lord. Repeat them in our day.“

Uzbekistan, once a thriving hub of the Silk Road, holds a deep and diverse history marked by Persian, Turkic, Mongol, and Russian influences. After gaining independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, the country began shaping its own cultural identity rooted in Islam, which remains the dominant faith. The Uzbek culture values family honor, community loyalty, and hospitality, yet traditionalism often makes it difficult for minority faiths to thrive. Christianity first reached this land through Nestorian missionaries as early as the 7th century, but it faded under Islamic dominance and Soviet atheism. Modern Christianity was reintroduced through Russian Orthodox settlers and later Protestant missions during the 19th and 20th centuries. Pioneering Christian leaders, including Orthodox priests and Central Asian evangelists, helped re-establish small Christian communities across cities like Tashkent and Samarkand.

Today, Uzbekistan’s Christian teenagers face immense struggles. Many converts from Islam are excluded by their towns and villages, expelled from families, or forced to reconvert under extreme social pressure. Young Christian women are especially vulnerable to bride kidnapping and forced marriages, used as tactics to erase their Christian identity. Churches are often surveilled, gatherings restricted, and faith-based materials banned. The Church is under threat due to the lack of religious freedom, fear of persecution, and generational drift where youth, seeking safety and acceptance, abandon their beliefs. To prevent the decline of Christianity, Uzbekistan’s believers must hold fast to biblical principles—remaining steadfast in unity, forgiveness, and discipleship. They must mirror early Church courage as seen in Acts, standing firm in truth and love even amid rejection.