Over the past 600 years the Karachay people have experienced life much like a grape placed in a wine press. Formerly part of the once mighty Alan Empire (nominally Christian), the Karachay were defeated in the 14th Century and forcibly converted to Islam by the Turko-Mongol invader Timur. Conquered again in the 19th Century by Russian czarist imperialism, the Karachay people are all too familiar with distress brought about by defeat at the hands of invading nations.
During World War II they were swallowed up by the German advance through the Caucasus, only to be re-conquered by Stalin's Soviets shortly thereafter. Due to their forced "acceptance" of German rule, Stalin then deported the Karachay from their Caucasus homeland to remote parts of Central Asia 1943-1957.
Despite 35 percent of their population dying during the forced relocation, many Karachay have returned to their homeland and have begun repopulating their home area in the Russian province of Karachai-Cherkessia. Smaller populations live in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkey.
The Karachay have preserved much of their heritage due to their Islamic cultural identity and their clan-organized communities, called Tukhum. Fiercely loyal within their Tukhum, Karachay have maintained strong family and cultural traditions best observed in weddings, funerals and over-the-top hospitality toward guests.
Nevertheless, realizing population growth and retaining cultural identifiers have not changed the Karachay's position on the global stage, or the state of well-being within their society. Karachay culture, on the one hand, is devoted to 'duty '—but, on the other hand, is plagued by cycles of vengeance, corruption and male drunkenness. Karachay Islamic traditions are a largely 'graceless' dynamic, with no clear understanding of forgiving grace and no indwelling Holy Spirit to revitalize.
The Karachay people are Sunni Muslims who believe that the supreme God, Allah, spoke through his prophet, Mohammed, and taught mankind how to live a righteous life through the Koran and the Hadith. To live a righteous life, you must utter the Shahada (a statement of faith), pray five times a day facing Mecca, fast from sunup to sundown during the month of Ramadan, give alms to the poor, and make a pilgrimage to Mecca if you have the means. Muslims are prohibited from drinking alcohol, eating pork, gambling, stealing, slandering, and making idols. They gather for corporate prayer on Friday afternoons at a mosque, their place of worship.
The two main holidays for Sunni Muslims are Eid al Fitr, the breaking of the monthly fast and Eid al Adha, the celebration of Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son to Allah.
Sunni religious practices are staid and simple. They believe that Allah has pre-determined our fates; they minimize free will.
In most of the Muslim world, people depend on the spirit world for their daily needs since they regard Allah as too distant. Allah may determine their eternal salvation, but the spirits determine how well we live in our daily lives. For that reason, they must appease the spirits. They often use charms and amulets to help them with spiritual forces.
At present there are less than 50 known Karachay followers of Jesus and only one evangelical church. The New Testament and Psalms in the Karachay language was completed in the 1990s. It will be difficult for them to receive God's word. It is even more difficult for them to respond to God's offer of love and grace given the lack of workers.
Pray that the Karachay New Testament and Psalms will spread throughout their communities and find open hearts.
Pray that the love of God will continue to "disturb" the Karachay people, inviting them away from sin and judgment and toward the marvelous grace of Jesus and the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit.
Pray that in their distress the Karachay will turn to the Lord Jesus, not for political power, but for spiritual deliverance from the bondages of Islam and from the devastations of sin and past suffering.
Pray that Jesus followers will multiply as joyful lives are modeled by believers, and that numerous churches will be firmly established as the body of Christ grows amongst the Karachay. Pray for men and women of peace (Lk 10:6) in each Karachay town/village, to be keys to welcoming the love of God, the grace of Jesus, and the power of the Holy Spirit into each community in the years ahead.
Pray that the beauty of Karachay culture will bloom as the Fruit of the Spirit enlivens the historical richness of the Karachay people.
Scripture Prayers for the Karachay in Kazakhstan.
Profile Source: Joshua Project |
Other PDF Profile |
People Name General | Karachay |
People Name in Country | Karachay |
Pronunciation |
kare-uh-CHYE
|
Alternate Names | Alan; Karachai |
Population this Country | 1,200 |
Population all Countries | 250,000 |
Total Countries | 4 |
Indigenous | No |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 1 |
People ID | 12521 |
ROP3 Code | 104628 |
ROP25 Code | 303702 |
ROP25 Name | Karachay |
Country | Kazakhstan | ||
Region | Asia, Central | ||
Continent | Asia | ||
10/40 Window | Yes | ||
Persecution Rank | 47 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) |
Country | Kazakhstan |
Region | Asia, Central |
Continent | Asia |
10/40 Window | Yes |
Persecution Rank | 47 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) |
No people group map currently available. Use the above button to submit a map.
Primary Religion: | Islam |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.00 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical 0.00 %) |
0.00 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
0.00 %
|
Hinduism |
0.00 %
|
Islam |
100.00 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.00 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
Primary Language | Karachay-Balkar (1,200 speakers) |
Language Code | krc Ethnologue Listing |
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
Primary Language | Karachay-Balkar (1,200 speakers) |
Language Code | krc Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
People Groups | Speaking Karachay-Balkar |
Primary Language: Karachay-Balkar
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (1978-1995) |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (1994-2020) |
Bible-Complete | No |
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 |
Film / Video | Indigitube.tv Video / Animation | Create International |
Film / Video | Indigitube.tv Video / Animation | Create International |
Film / Video | Jesus Film: view in Karachay-Balkar | Jesus Film Project |
Film / Video | World Christian Videos | World Christian Videos |
General | Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video | Faith Comes by Hearing |
General | Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video | Faith Comes by Hearing |
General | Gospel resources links | Scripture Earth |
General | YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio | YouVersion Bibles |
Mobile App | Android Bible app: Karachay-Balkar | YouVersion Bibles |
Mobile App | iOS Bible app: Karachay-Balkar | YouVersion Bibles |
Text / Printed Matter | IBT, Russia - resources | Institute for Bible Translation - Russia |
Photo Source | Anonymous |
Profile Source | Joshua Project |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more. |