Fast Facts:

Population:

36.5 million

Unreached people groups:

34.3 million

Largest religion:

Islam (88%)

Eastern Orthodox

9%

other (including evangelical Christianity)

3%

With her baby in her arms, Samiya (all names have been changed for security) welcomed people into her home for that day’s Bible study. Finally, when the last arrived, they sat together to study the Word of God. “These new believers are very happy to learn and understand the depth and richness of the Bible,” a local ministry leader said. “God continues to make Himself visible and move around this nation in this area.”

Just one year prior, this village, located in one of the most remote, unreached parts of Uzbekistan, was as spiritually dry as its desert landscape. It wasn’t until a group of local missionaries began to pray for the people there that things started to change.

It All Started With Prayer

Several years ago, a group of local missionaries began to pray specifically for the remote part of Uzbekistan that Samiya calls home. In a country in which nearly 90 percent of the population is Muslim, their hope that the gospel would change lives might have seemed like an impossible dream. But these faithful Christ-followers knew that prayer moves mountains, and, together, they asked the Lord to come down.

They were not disappointed.

The Pebble That Caused the Landslide

The time came for the missionaries to visit the region where Samiya lived and begin to build relationships with the people there. One of those missionaries, Umar, befriended a local man named Imron. “He [Imron] was often dull and unfriendly,” the ministry leader said. “However, when God touched his heart, this man was visibly transformed.”

Together, the two men began to share the gospel. One of those people who listened to their evangelism was none other than Imron’s wife, Samiya. The same Samiya who, just one year later, would be instrumental in ongoing evangelism in their community.

“She was reluctant to listen, thinking that this was some kind of joke.”

When Samiya first heard of Jesus through her husband, she wasn’t interested in learning more. “She was reluctant to listen, thinking this was some kind of joke,” the ministry leader said. “However, day after day, she observed her husband becoming more open and full of joy. Through this transformation of her husband, Samiya opened her heart to Jesus.”

Once Samiya gave her life to the Lord, she couldn’t help but share His story. “Just like the woman at the well, she was enlightened and transformed deep inside after her encounter with Jesus,” the ministry leader said. “She started to share her heart so eagerly and so actively with everyone in her village and household, that soon they were gathering about nine people in their home.”

Word of Samiya’s Faith Spread

A group of women from a church near Uzbekistan’s capital heard of Samiya, and they decided to journey to her village to encourage her and the small group of believers that had begun to meet in her home. But when they arrived, they quickly realized that it was Samiya who would encourage them, not the other way around.

“Often, we think that new believers need to have a lot of support from ‘experienced’ Christians … God is present in abundance and He Himself is nurturing faith in people’s hearts.”

As the women visited with Samiya, her own joy spilled onto them, and they found that they were buoyed by her obvious love for Jesus. “Often, we think that new believers need to have a lot of support from ‘experienced’ Christians,” the ministry leader said. “This is of course true to some extent; however, in the areas like this, where there are not many Christians, God is present in abundance and He Himself is nurturing faith in people’s hearts.”

Missionaries Came to Samiya’s Village Because of Your Support

Today, there are at least 30 believers in Samiya’s village and even more people curious about the gospel. The ministry leader reports that they expect to baptize a large group within the next few months.

“Our teams continue to visit this region and support them,” the ministry leader said. “These visits truly help to root people in the Word.”

“A land that was dry as the desert for so long now has the Living Water running from within.”

With your assistance, local missionaries are able to make the journey—over and over again—to share the gospel, disciple new believers, and fellowship with joy-filled leaders like Samiya. “A land that was dry as the desert for so long now has the Living Water running from within,” the ministry leader said.

Pray the Holy Spirit will continue to move in Samiya’s village, bringing new believers into the Lord’s kingdom and filling their hearts with His joy. And please consider donating today. Your giving supplies missionaries with the resources they need to reach the most remote places in the world for the sake of the gospel.