• The Azerbaijani church in the republic of Azerbaijan is small and struggles with many issues of security, intimidation, and the tensions that come upon newly developing churches. Pray for a growing and deepening unity that will serve to show other Azerbaijanis what the Body of Christ looks like in their midst and that will provide a strong foundation for the growth of the Azerbaijani Church.




• Pray for the governments that rule over Azerbaijanis. Many of them do not allow free expression of Christianity, and, though some do constitutionally, it is becoming increasingly hard to be a practicing Christian.




• Pray for the different countries where the Azerbaijanis are found, and where there are few, if any, national churches. Pray for Iran, Iraq, Russia, Georgia, Turkey, and for the Azerbaijanis found in Western countries, that they would find their place in the body of Christ and that those who know the Lord will find their place in ministry to their own people within the calling of God.




• Pray for the ministries involved with outreach and encouragement to the Azerbaijani people all around the world.




• Pray they will have the spiritual resources to live in faith amongst Azerbaijani people, to show the love of God to all around them and to be a light that shines for truth love and grace in their adopted nations.




• Pray for the Azerbaijani believers and their desire to reach their own people in different countries.




• Pray for strong, faithful churches to grow amongst Azerbaijanis wherever they are and for the grace and love of God to flow through those churches.

Prayer updates through the Nations

Azerbaijan

Pray for the local church and for the renewed focus that some in the media have had on churches and their teaching. Several negative articles have been released in Azerbaijan and some pastors have felt the pressure of questioning. Other local workers have been contacted in a way that causes them to be cautious. Pray for the kind of love that casts out all fear and for the Lord’s presence to be very strong in the churches that are visited by reporters and officials.

Please pray for the settling of the visa and residency permit difficulties. Many have had to leave or been put under considerable inconvenience in their work and it is not beneficial for foreigners or locals who work with foreigners who are having to give too much time to sorting out their visa formalities rather than work in serving the people of Azerbaijan.

Pray for the upcoming Novruz Bayram that this will be a joyful time in Azerbaijan and that the sins that many try to lose by jumping over the traditional fires will be effectively removed by the blood of Jesus and His life giving resurrection.

Iran

Pray for Iran’s most prominent Azerbaijani, Ayatollah Ali Khameini, the supreme leader of Iran. Pray that God will speak to him and change his heart from repressiveness to the truth of Christ, so that the great nation of Iran can be led to its true spiritual destiny.

Pray for new believers that are coming out of the context of such violent repression and brutality. Our partner organization SAZ reported that one man called from Erdebil in response to their broadcasts to ask how He could know Christ. Pray for Nasser our new brother and for his new life in Christ. Pray for him to learn fast and to find others who can encourage him in his new relationship with Christ.

Iraq

Iraq is home to 2 million Turcoman Azerbaijanis. There are only a handful of known believers amongst them. TAZ our Iraqi partnership has had three teams visit over the last few years but wants to start outreach ministry that is based in Iraq. Please pray for them and for the sufficient finance and personnel to begin the work of ministering the many Turcoman Azerbaijanis in Iraq.

Pray for peace and an end to the terrorism that has plagued the northern regions of Iraq that is home to the Turcoman Azerbaijanis.

North America

Pray for the Azerbaijani believers in America. As Novruz approaches many Azerbaijanis will be gathering and coming together to celebrate the Ancient New Year. This is a wonderful time for believing Azerbaijanis to reach out to their own people. Pray that they will have the boldness they need to do this and to share their new found faith and relationship with Jesus. Pray for NAM as we pray and seek to find ways to reach the Azerbaijani people here in North America and for the complexities of nationality and language that can often complicate the process.

Pray for us as we organize a gathering for believing Azerbaijanis in North America. Pray we will be able to make contact with Azerbaijani believers here and pray that they will receive a vision from God to reach their own people in North America and further afield.