I head out today for a quick trip to Central Asia to do some training and coaching with house church leaders. It is exciting to see the flicking flames of a new movement in Central Asia among the generation coming into adulthood after the collapse of the Soviet Union. As the nations in Central Asia have sought to tighten up controls to limit the expansion of the church, the result has been a dynamic and growing church persisting despite increasing persecution. I’ll share some first had observations upon my retun.
In the early 1990′s it looked like a major church planting movement would break out in Central Asia. However, the near movement cooled off under a series of event; foreign worship forms, dependence on outside funding, conflict among leaders, and a loss of evangelistic zeal. In recent yeras, I have heard Central Asia believers voice things like “God has forgotten us” and “No one will respond to the Gospel”. But I have sensed a changing heart and sense of hopefulness among house church leaders in recent days. One leader I have coached has seen over 48 people come to faith in recent months. They have established several new churches. It seems that a fresh wind of the Holy Spirit is blowing across Central Asia.
Please pray for this new growing movement of God to explode int a full fledged church plating movement. God can and will work among the Muslims of Central Asia just as he is in other CPMs around the world.
Please share your comments or prayers for the Muslims of Central Asia to come to faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
