The Kabardians—over one million in worldwide population, perhaps 600,000 in the North Caucasus—are the largest surviving tribe of the northwestern Caucasus' Circassian language family. (The Adyghe are the other surviving Circassian major people group in the Caucasus.) In an earlier era, venerating sacred trees – also mountains, horses, fire, and a pantheon of gods – was part of the Kabardians' eclectic pagan/Christian/Islamic blend of religious practices. But this "Tree of Life," its seven sets of branches woven to form a skyward arrow, is a monument to the victims of the century-long Russo-Circassian wars that ended in 1864. Considering the Circassians' epic devastation and the tragic expulsion/emigration/destruction of 90 percent of their population from their homelands in Russia, the Kabardians' national survival in any form into modern times is almost unbelievable. So now, every Kabardian wedding represents future hope for a people who came so dangerously close to ethnic extermination. For all their past plights, Kabardians embody some remarkable aspects of human beauty and strength. If a people's proverbs reveal their cultural values, attentive hospitality certainly ranks high. One can find a hundred folk sayings on the sacred duties of host-guest relationships in Kabardian "khabze," that is, their traditional norms of behavior or customary protocol. For example, "A guest is a messenger from God." or, "The guest of a Kabardian is as safe as if protected by a fortress."These precious people have darkened hearts like all human beings. Equal to hospitality as a cultural value is the code of blood revenge. While not always literally practiced, it underscores a generationally ingrained defensiveness and unwillingness to reconcile offenses. Corruption in spheres of life from politics to academics to business degrades society. Attacks and counterattacks between rebels and military/police both claim innocent lives and exacerbate instability, deep bitterness, and mistrust in the region. The fortunate ones are able to flee to safe, prosperous nations like Germany.
It is difficult for Kabardian migrants in Germany to feel safe or protected. They must learn a language very different from their own and find employment. There are few Kabardians in Germany, so they probably mix with other Muslim ethnic groups.
Equal to hospitality as a cultural value is the code of blood revenge.
The Kabardians are Sunni Muslim, but they retain many pre-Islamic beliefs. Islam is based on obedience, not faith in a sin-free and sin-forgiving Savior. Those in Germany are affected by the secular atmosphere.
Kabardians in Germany need the opportunity to have their hearts filled by the only Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Pray for the circulation of translated Scriptures into Kabardian cultural circles. The Kabardian New Testament was published in 2011. Pray for the completion of the entire Bible in Kabardian in the 2020s. Pray that spiritual barriers that have kept the gospel from advancing would be broken down, especially in Germany. Ask for divinely prepared people who will believe the good news, and also lovingly, courageously share it throughout their entire relational network until there is a movement to Christ. Pray for a reproducing, culturally relevant movement of faith – that Jesus can be seen as "fully dressed in Kabardian clothes."Pray for miracles, visions, dreams and other means would pave the way for a response to Jesus.
Scripture Prayers for the Kabardian in Germany.
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