Pray for MENACA: An Intercession Guide for Unreached NationsNäide

Uzbekistan (Central Asia)

And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power...
1 Corinthians 2:4 NKJV

Once a pivotal hub along the Silk Road, Uzbekistan was shaped by over a century of Russian and Soviet occupation. Media outlets are tightly controlled by the government, and the nation now grapples with challenges such as drug trafficking and human exploitation.

Among the nation’s sixty-one ethnic groups, thirty-four have yet to be reached by the Gospel. Concerns about the rise of Islamic fundamentalism and terrorism have prompted the government to impose restrictions on religious practices in favor of promoting a moderate form of Islam.

Uzbekistan is in the top twenty most persecuted nations in the world for Christianity. All churches, irrespective of denomination, are required to register with the government. Yet, regional efforts have helped the Church grow in the country, and the Gospel is being spread through common historical links.

Prayer Points to Consider:

• Although Uzbekistan boasts a 99% literacy level, all media is government-controlled, and free access to information is nonexistent. Pray for the rise of individual Christians and groups to have courage and protection to access needed materials and creative ways to share the Gospel.
• Pray for a miraculous explosion of religious freedom and stability in the region. In Jesus’ Name, declare His Lordship over the nation for open doors that have previously been closed in people’s hearts.
• Pray for the safety, growth, and spiritual maturity of the over 25,000 Christians in unregistered churches who face persecution, arrest, and torture from targeted attacks by government-controlled media and police. May they be encouraged and strengthened in the Lord’s presence and His Word.
• Ask Father for the thirty-four of the sixty-one unreached people groups to have access to hear the Gospel through divine encounters, questioning hearts, and a search for God’s truth.
• Pray for those imprisoned or expelled from the country for their faith. Ask for them to be encouraged deeply by God’s felt presence, remembering and trusting in His Word, and strengthened by the riches of His grace.

Dear Lord Jesus... I take this moment to align my heart with Yours as I pray for Uzbekistan ______ (take time to do this). This beautiful nation needs Your Gospel. I ask for inroads to be made in the authority of Your Name, Lord Jesus, for Your Holy Spirit to reach those who seem unreachable. Yet, nothing can hold back the wave of Your Spirit and the power of Your Word! Please strengthen believers as they look to You personally and when they meet together. May they experience unspeakable joy, the comfort of Your embrace, and the boldness that only You can give. I ask for those who’ve been imprisoned for their faith not to lose hope but to have a fresh revelation of You and Your Kingdom in this moment. In Your Name Above All Others. Amen!