In a remote, unstable area of the Caucasus—a mountainous region between Eastern Europe and Asia—live a Muslim people group called the Khalysh. Visas are hard to come by in their country, and outsiders can’t travel freely. For decades, this has hindered efforts to reach the Khalysh with the Gospel.
But in recent years, Khalysh families have migrated to a village just across the border, in a country where Frontiers has a long-term team. Jack, who helps coordinate Frontiers’ strategy in the Caucasus, saw this as the opportunity he’d been waiting for to bring them the Good News.
“Send us men and women who show they care about us.”
On a drizzly morning, Jack traveled toward the border to find the village. Joining him were a Frontiers team member named Kara and a local evangelist named Lufti. As they drove, they prayed for God to lead them to a person of peace—someone to welcome them as messengers of the Gospel.
Upon arriving, Lutfi approached a man on the street and said, “We’d like to learn about your town. Can you tell us who is the most respected person here?” The man pointed them to the home of a village elder.
There they met Ismail, a gray-bearded man who invited them in.
Sipping tea around the kitchen table, they listened intently as Ismail introduced them to the ways of the Khalysh, a proud and religious people who are resistant to change and generally suspicious of outsiders.
But Ismail sees how global uncertainties are threatening his people’s traditions. And he knows that survival requires being open to the outside world.
As they listened, Jack, Kara and Lutfi realized that Ismail was an answer to their prayers. He was the person of peace they had prayed for that very morning. For generations, the Khalysh people’s isolation kept them from directly hearing the Gospel. But Ismail’s openness and hospitality could change all that.
He knows that survival requires being open to the outside world.
When Jack asked how they could help the Khalysh, Ismail responded, “Come and sit with us. Send us men and women who show they care about us—people like you who will learn our culture, even our language.”
“I think we can help you,” Jack replied, smiling confidently.
Jack and Kara are now recruiting new workers to go to the Khalysh, learn from them, and introduce them to Jesus Christ. The first Frontiers team has already formed and is preparing to move to Ismail’s village.
- Praise God for this open door to reach the Khalysh, an unengaged people group.
- Pray for new teams of workers who will bring the Gospel message to the Khalysh and dozens of other unreached groups in the region.
- Ask the Lord to equip workers to share Christ in ways that reach Khalysh hearts.
- Pray that Frontiers workers around the world will meet people of peace like Ismail.
Names have been changed for security.