Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan, we bless you today, in the Name of our Lord Jesus, to take a big step away from how things have been operating for the last decades into the new future the Lord has in mind for you.

Bless the government with new and fresh ideas and courage to speak out for a new way of thinking.

Bless the Church to be free from fear and ask God to give them wisdom to encourage Christians to share their faith and bring others into the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Father, thank You for Your love for this nation and that You are at work here. We pray that you will pour your peace and joy over Your Church this year (The Bible, Jeremiah 33:9).

Uzbekistan is a former USSR state. Once renowned for its cotton harvests, at present, deals with serious environmental problems. Agriculture lands have reduced drastically, and only the Fergana Valley is fertile enough to sustain farmlands. Central and Western Uzbekistan are arid desert territories that are sparsely populated. Although the country is secular, conversion from Islam to Christianity has no legal ground. The government exercises control over churches, and only these congregations are immune to persecution. Most converts keep their faith a secret to avoid isolation by family and community. The Persecution Ranking stays the same despite attacks on individuals due to increased attacks, raids, and imprisonment of pastors/church leaders/congregations from unrecognized Churches. Moreover, Muslim convert girls/women face family-approved abductions and marriage to Muslim men.