Called To Pray Fall Preview

CALLED TO PRAY Frontiers Guide to Praying for the Unengaged

We are looking for people who will do the work that others will not do. Fall 2008

central & south asia

Ethnically, the region is highly diverse, with thousands of distinct groups, ranging from small tribes to large groups with populations in the millions. Economically, South Asia is especially characterized by tremendous inequality of wealth and chronic poverty, with more than 40 percent of the population living below the poverty line.

takistani of iran

The Takistani are one of five Talysh peoples living in northwestern Iran and southeastern Azerbaijan. It is a land of sharp contrasts, ranging from the high, forested Talysh Mountains to the subtropical coastlands of the Caspian Sea.

quick facts People Name: Takistani Language: Takestani Trade Language: Farsi Population: 330,000

prayer points Pray for greater freedom preach the Gospel in Iran.

19 1

to

Ask God to raise up prayer teams to faithfully intercede for the Takistani. Ask God to save key leaders among the Takistani.

The lifestyles of each group vary greatly due to differences in their environments. Still, the majority of the Talysh peoples are farmers, though some have become skilled craftsmen, producing silk, rugs, felt, and tin, and making shoes and designing jewelry. The Talysh are virtually 100% Muslim, primarily of the Shi’ite branch, but some remnants of their pre-Islamic religion remain. For example, they have a great reverence for trees and groves, and many beliefs concerning the presence of good and evil spirits. Today, the Talysh face the same dilemma as many other Central Asian peoples, as they attempt to decide whether to follow the Islamic traditions of the past or the Western culture and technology of the present.

afghan persian of iran quick facts People Name: Afghan Persian Language: Eastern Farsi Trade Language: Farsi Population: 2,187,000

prayer points Pray that the Holy Spirit will soften the hearts of the people toward Christians so that they will be receptive to the Gospel. Ask God to call willing people to share the love of Christ with Afghan Persians. For security reasons, European, Asian, and Latin American teams are especially needed.

21 1

There are more than 2 million Persians living in Iran. Their official language is Farsi, but some speak Dari, a dialect of modern Persian and the language of the elite in Afghanistan. Rural Persians live in villages where populations vary from a few households to more than a thousand people, depending primarily on the availability of farmland and water. Many still lack regular access to clean drinking water. Urban Persians are divided into five well-defined social classes. Unskilled laborers, who flocked to the towns between the late 1950’s and the early 1970’s, comprise the lowest class. They live in densely populated communities located on the outskirts of larger cities and serve as local market craftsmen. The priests and other clergymen make up a class known as the ulama. At the top of the strata are real estate investors, merchants, and other commercial and industrial businessmen.

khorasani turk of iran quick facts People Name: Khorasani Turk Language: Khorasani Turkish Trade Language: Farsi Population: 832,000

prayer points Pray that God will open doors for Christian businessmen to share Christ with the Khorasani Turk. Ask God to raise up qualified linguists to translate the Bible into the Khorasani language. Pray that Iranian laws which restrict preaching the Gospel will be changed.

22 1

More than 820,000 Khorasani Turk live in the northern part of the Khorasan province of eastern Iran. Khorasan is the largest province in Iran and is an important agricultural area. Most Khorasani Turk are farmers. They use both traditional and modern irrigation methods to produce wheat, barley, rice, cotton, sugar beets, potatoes, alfalfa, melons, and caraway. Sheep, goats, and cows provide Khorasani Turk families with milk, butter, oil, and meat. The Khorasani Turk are skillful crafters of jewelry, furs, dolls, and glassware. They also weave beautiful rugs, cloth, and carpets known for their exquisite designs. The Khorasani Turk are 100% Muslim, and their society is organized around traditional Muslim rules. At the present time, there are no known Khorasani Turk believers. Living in a very remote corner of the world, they are currently without Christian resources in their own language, and no agencies are working among them.

CHAD

SUDAN

ETHIOPIA

ERITREA

LIBYA

Karanga

Bederia

Bertha

Tigre

Berber

Kuka

Dar Hamid

S’ilte

Afar

Cyrenaican Arab

Guhayna

Saho

Gawamaa Kimr Nubian IRAN

AFGHANISTAN

PAKISTAN

INDIA

INDIA, Cont.

Takistani

Qizilbash

Seraiki

Awan

Maraikayar

Afshari

Brahui

Western Baluch

Chhimba

Mawalud

Afghan Persian

Burig

Kamboh

Nikari

Khorasani Turk

Kho

Kunjra

Pashtun

Kolai

Makhmi

Thulukkan

Persian

Mappila

Wanetsi INDONESIA

INDONESIA, Cont.

MALAYSIA

RUSSIA

Asahan

Kerinci

Indian Muslim

Avar

Bangka

Lembak

Belitung

Musi

Gayo

Rawas

Kangean

CAUCASUS

SOUTHEAST ASIA

CENTRAL & SOUTH ASIA

NORTHEAST AFRICA

THE 50 PRIORITY UNENGAGED MUSLIM PEOPLE GROUPS