[2024 Ramadan Day 10] A land of revival that will rise up and lead the worship of all nations from the ends of the earth! North Caucasus

<Dagestan> Arise once again making history of revival, Dagestan!

In the southern region of Dagestan, the Gospel was preached as early as the 4th century, and churches were established. However, due to the Arabs who remained in this land and the Muslims who came to spread their religion, the 38 ethnic groups in this land gradually became Islamized. Also, through the 18th-century Caucasus Wars, all ethnic groups were Islamized, and they found their identity as Islamic nations in opposition to the Orthodox Church of Russia.

After the Russia-Chechnya War, there was a rapid rise in Islamic fundamentalism, and Islamic militant groups opposed the government and threatened churches. However, Christians in this land worshiped together and maintained their faith in the midst of fear, and the work of the Holy Spirit and revival was present among them. In 2010, Pastor A from the H Church became a martyr at the hands of an Islamic militant group, shedding martyr's blood on this land.

Due to the Palestine-Israel war that began last October, Islamic prayer movements spread through social media, and Palestinian flags and supportive messages became visible in campuses, buildings, cars, and streets. At the airport in Makhachkala, the capital of Dagestan, large-scale protests were held to prevent Jews from entering the country, occupying the entire airport and searching for Jews. Although this is not normally seen, there is a strong and collective agitation leading the Islamic movement. During this year's Ramadan, through the powerful prayers of the global church, the lies and darkness of Islam that is collectively and spiritually holding on to the souls of this land will be driven away!

According to a survey on the evangelization rates of ethnic groups in North Caucasus conducted by an American organization last year, there are still 8 ethnic groups in Dagestan with an evangelization rate of 0%.  During this past winter, God allowed the short term teams that visited this land to meet these peoples who have long been in darkness, and had them share the gospel to those who needed to hear the gospel, preparing the way for the Lord's coming. Furthermore, in February of this year, we had the great blessing of sending out student missionaries for the first time from North Caucasus, including Dagestan.

Starting with this, the churches of this land, which had kept their faith despite persecution and shed the blood of martyrdom 20 years ago, will rise up once again with the vision of revival! We will see the fulfillment of our original vision of sending 10,000 disciples of Jesus to all nations by 2030!

<Chechnya> Special forces of the Gospel to withstand the forefront! Chechnya

After losing the Caucasus War in the 18th century, Chechnya became part of Russia, and more than 100,000 Chechens died due to forced migration during the Stalin era. In 1991, the Soviet Union collapsed, but Chechnya, which was not able to gain independence, declared its own independence, resulting in the First and Second Chechen Wars, which left 90% of the capital Grozny in ruins, and resulted in the deaths of many men, leaving behind many orphans and widows.

Even after that, receiving international attention and condemnation for causing terrorism, they are now striving more than ever for peace and reconstruction, entering a period of social stability. In this situation, the Chechen people are seeking their identity in Islam. The Chechen president considers himself a leader of Islam, building large Islamic mosques in every city and emphasizing Islamic education to present Chechnya as an Islamic republic.

However, recently, although cautiously, people who want to escape the contradictions and oppressive social atmosphere of Islam and young people who respond to the truth and the gospel are gradually gathering. They want to live outside the oppressed society. Moreover, with Russians unable to travel abroad as much as before due to the Russo-Ukrainian war, more than 2 million Russian tourists visit the North Caucasus region, including Dagestan and Chechnya, every year. Previously, many Russians were afraid to visit North Caucasus due to fear, but now many people come and go, interacting with locals, and the social atmosphere is changing significantly. What we are also thankful for is that a Baptist church has been officially registered in Chechnya, and Russian ministers continue to be dispatched from other cities in Russia.

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” (Isaiah 43:18-19)

Amen! The Lord will set free the Chechen people who have been trapped in lies and fear for a long time! He will establish His church in the land of Chechnya and set them up as an army to withstand the forefront of the final war!

<Ingushetia> The people who will conceive life, Ingushetia

Ingushetia is the smallest and poorest of Russia's republics and converted en masse to Islam in the 19th century. During World War II, they were forcibly deported by Russia and returned, but territorial disputes with surrounding ethnic groups have continued.  Ingushetia, officially known as a 100% Islamic nation, was like a spiritually uncultivated roadside.

However, according to a survey on the evangelization rates of ethnic groups in North Caucasus conducted by an American organization, there are more than 20 believing Christians among the Ingush people. And when a short-term YG team visited a church in North Ossetia in January of this year, they were able to see for ourselves how young Ingush Christian was keeping his faith. Now, Ingushetia will become a land of hope where life is conceived. During Ramadan, through the prayers of global churches, the powerful spiritual stronghold of Islam that had been built high in Ingushetia will collapse.

There is still not a single official church except the Russian Orthodox Church here, but the gospel continues to be preached through numerous short-term teams, and more prayers are piling up in this land. In addition, ministers are sent from other Russian cities to serve the Ingush people. The Lord will surely grant the work of salvation and revival in Ingushetia.

“For he says, ‘In the time of my favor I heard you,

    and in the day of salvation I helped you.’

I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:2)

<Kabardino-Balkaria> The outpost of missionary revival, Kabardino-Balkaria

Kabardin-Balkar is located in the center of the North Caucasus region in southern Russia and is home to the Kabardian and Balkar peoples. They accepted Islam in the 18th century, but after the collapse of the Soviet Union, there was a strong secularization in pursuit of money, power, and pleasure.

After the Russia-Ukraine war, the rise in prices has made people's lives even more difficult. Although there still remains an atmosphere of observing culture by formally fasting during Ramadan, but it is difficult to find people who fast and pray wholeheartedly. Kabardino-Balkaria is bound to the laws of Islam, lifeless and without real change.  is biased towards Islamic law that binds people to live dull and without liveliness. People who think homosexuality is right are also becoming prevalent among young people.

Last October, through a meeting with a local minister, we came to know that Christians gather to worship in a city without an official church. God was already raising up a chosen remnant among the Kabardino-Balkaria. Through the chosen remnants, Kabardino-Balkaria will arise as an outpost of missionary revival serving all nations!

[Today’s prayer]

1. During the 2024 Ramadan, may all the darkness holding the North Caucasus be lifted and the work of forgiveness of sins and salvation be given  through the prayers of the global church.

2. Pray for the churches to planted in Dagestan and Kabardin-Balkar, where the ministers serve, and for ministers who will share the good news will soon enter into Chechnya and Ingushetia!

3. By 2030, may 10,000 disciples of Jesus in North Caucasus rise up to fulfill the original vision of serving all nations!