Kazakh in Belarus


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Kazakhs of Belarus belong to a larger group of people who live primarily in present day Kazakhstan. Traditionally, the Kazakhs were semi nomadic, equestrian tribal people who roamed the Ural Mountains and the regions of North and Central Asia of Eurasia. Only people of the Kazakh ethnic group are called Kazakhs, while the term Kazakhstani refers to the people of Kazakhstan, inclusive of all ethnic groups living in the country. Kazakhs developed a distinct ethnic identity in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. As several of the clans formed a federation for mutual protection, they took on an ethnic identity of their own. Through the years the Kazakhs closely preserved their culture by keeping an epic tradition of oral history. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the annexation of Central Asia by Russia and the Soviet Union respectively, resulted in many Kazakhs fleeing the steppes to Europe and Asia, with many later becoming citizens of those countries. A small number of Kazakhs live in Eastern European countries like Belarus, Lithuania, Czechia, Ukraine, and a larger number are in Russia.


What Are Their Lives Like?

As part of their nation building strategy the government of Kazakhstan has actively supported the return migration of Kazakhs to Kazakhstan by offering incentives. As a result, one million ethnic Kazakhs have repatriated to their ancestral homeland, including some from Belarus. The Kazakhs' tribal culture is waning in urban locations like those you find in Belarus. At one time arranged marriages and inter-tribal marriages helped them maintain peace and gave them a sense of security. Such practices are fading in urban settings. Nonetheless, when ethnic Kazakhs meet another, they still enquire about the other person's clan. As the Kazakhs dispersed during the Soviet annexation, over time the diaspora Kazakhs embraced the language and traditions of the new land. At home they usually speak the Kazakh language. Urban Kazakhs have learned to live in houses or small apartments, taking up low paying jobs. Their standard of living has gone up and down through the decades. Western style dress is common among urban Kazakhs. No matter where they live, Kazakhs have their own kinds of food they eat along with whatever is available locally. Besbarmak is a traditional Kazakh food, made with boiled horsemeat or lamb. Rice and bread are common staples. The Kazakhs enjoy eating apples, grapes, melons. They drink tea with almost every meal. The structure of the Kazakh family is patriarchal, or male-dominated, but this is changing especially in the cities. Such changes have caused a breakdown in the traditional Kazakh family. However, Kazakhs still retain an extremely hierarchical view and people with age and position are given great respect and honor.


Because of their nomadic pastoral lifestyle, Kazakhs kept an epic tradition of oral history.
What Are Their Beliefs?

The Kazakhs are Sunni Muslims and are the second largest Muslim group of Central Asia. Islam was first introduced to them in the early eighth century. Their Islamic practices are combined with traditional folk religions such as shamanism, animism and ancestor worship. Even now many Kazakhs continue to consult shamans (priests who communicate with the spirits). They also practice traditional rituals before and after marriage, at birth and at death. Many of them wear "protection beads" and talismans to ward off the evil spirits and the evil eye. Since 1818 missionary efforts by various Christian organizations has borne fruit among the Kazakhs. Today the entire Bible and other resources are available in the Kazakh language.


What Are Their Needs?

Kazakhs in Eastern Europe need job training so they can flourish in an urban environment. They also need the chance to hear and respond to the Risen Lord.


Prayer Points

Pray for the Holy Spirit to give the Kazakh people teachable and understanding hearts. Pray that a strong movement of the Holy Spirit will bring entire Kazakh families into a rich experience of God's blessing. Pray for Kazakh families to be drawn by the Holy Spirit to seek forgiveness, and to understand the adequacy of Christ's work on the cross. Pray for teams of believers to do sustained, focused prayer for the Lord to open the hearts of Kazakh leaders to experience God's blessing through a movement of family-based discovery Bible studies.


Scripture Prayers for the Kazakh in Belarus.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

The Kazakhs of Central Asia

Source:  Asia Harvest      Download

People Name General Kazakh
People Name in Country Kazakh
Pronunciation KAH-zahk
Alternate Names Gazaqi; Hazake; Kazax; Qazaq; Qazaqi; कॅज़ॅक
Population this Country 2,300
Population all Countries 16,737,000
Total Countries 24
Indigenous No
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 12599
ROP3 Code 104791
ROP25 Code 303856
ROP25 Name Kazakh
Country Belarus
Region Europe, Eastern and Eurasia
Continent Europe
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Country Belarus
Region Europe, Eastern and Eurasia
Continent Europe
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked

No people group map currently available. Use the above button to submit a map.



Primary Religion: Islam
Religion Subdivision: Sunni
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
60.00 %
Non-Religious
40.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Kazakh (2,300 speakers)
Language Code kaz   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Kazakh (2,300 speakers)
Language Code kaz   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Kazakh

Primary Language:  Kazakh

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1818-1989)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1820-2008)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1993-2014)
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) Online
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings Story of Jesus audio Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Kazakh Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Kazakh Bible Video (Kieli Kitap 2010) General / Other
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Rivka video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Biblical answers to your questions Got Questions Ministry
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Four Spiritual Laws Campus Crusade for Christ
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Kazakh YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Kazakh YouVersion Bibles
Text / Printed Matter IBT, Russia - resources Institute for Bible Translation - Russia
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Kazakh Literacy & Evangelism International
Text / Printed Matter Tools for faith conversations Campus Crusade for Christ
Photo Source Petar Milošević - Wikimedia  Creative Commons 
Video Source Asia Harvest
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



Joshua Project logo    Joshua Project    Copyright © 2024