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Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan. September Mission Focus. Tuesday 22 nd September. At this months Mission Focus we looked at the country of Azerbaijan. We started with a quick quiz on whether we knew much about Azerbaijan We also looked at what life was like for Christians in Azerbaijan

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Azerbaijan

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  1. Azerbaijan September Mission Focus

  2. Tuesday 22nd September • At this months Mission Focus we looked at the country of Azerbaijan. • We started with a quick quiz on whether we knew much about Azerbaijan • We also looked at what life was like for Christians in Azerbaijan • We used the Joshua Project and Operation World for statistics

  3. Introduction • Secular State • But mostly Muslim • Majority is Shi’ite Muslims • Wealth Divide • Looks toward the West • In-between Russia and Iran

  4. Map

  5. Christianity In Azerbaijan • Are there any Christians in Azerbaijan? • What is life like for the Christians in Azerbaijan? • Is it possible to evangelise?

  6. Joshua Project • Number of people groups - 39 • Unreached people groups - 24 • Total unreached - 9,213,000 • % Professing Christians - 2.7% • Evangelical - 0.2% • Largest Religion - Islam (84%)

  7. Operation World • We looked at 10 challenges/issues for prayer…

  8. 1) Politically volatile nation • Armenia • Russia • Iran • Turkey • Military spending at all time high • Pray for safety of Christians

  9. 2) The economic boom • Famous for their oil • Scheduled to dry up by 2025… • In Baku many have luxury items • Outside the capital is there is little sign of wealth • Pray that rich and poor can turn to Jesus

  10. 3) Christianity Association with… • Russia imperialism • Armenian hostility • Western World • Pray that the gospel can stand by itself

  11. 4) Azerbaijani Believers • Numbers are increasing • Most still of foreign ethnicities • Pray for next generation of Christian leaders • Pray for training and bible schools

  12. 5) Opposition • Churches continue to face intimidation • However there is basic freedom to share the gospel

  13. 6) Registration laws • In 2010 laws passed to make any ‘faith group’ register through government • Many seen as a threat • Issues of teaching children and producing literature. • Churches can only meet where they are registered • Process highly obstructive

  14. 7) Nagorno-Karabakh • An Armenian enclave • 1990 war • Pray for conflict to be avoided • Pray for the proclamation of the gospel

  15. 8) Expatriate Christians • Proselytism is illegal • But still opportunities for ‘Tentmakers’ • They can still show the love of Christ • Azeri Church welcomes foreign believers • Pray for gospel opportunities through this

  16. 9) The Unreached • Most Azerbaijani towns and villages • The poor and unemployed • The Caucasus peoples • The Indo-Iranian speaking minorities

  17. 10) Christian Ministries • Christian Literature (Growing collection of Christian books, including bookstores) • Bible Translation (Available in North/South Azeri, problems for local Caucasus languages) • Christian Radio / Audio (Lack of radio programmes) • The Jesus Film (Available in 6 local languages)

  18. DVD • We watched a 10 minute DVD produced by Release International about Azerbaijan • It gave a clearer picture on the challenges faced by Christians

  19. DVD Prayer Points • That Christians will be able to meet together in freedom • That churches would have success in getting registered • For Protection for pastors and evangelists • For work for Christians who can be rejected by employers because of their faith

  20. Next Mission Focus… • Tuesday 27th October • Jairah Funds

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