The Hemshin are reported to have been ethnic Armenians whose ancestors converted to Islam in the 1890s through 1920s to save themselves from death. They presently are made up of a number of diverse groups of Muslim (Sunni) and Christian people who originally settled in the Hemsin district in the province of Rize, Turkey. The present community of Hemsinli is exclusively Islamic and are Turkish speaking. Some of the Hemshinlis still speak the ancient Anatolian (western) Armenian dialect in the northeast. Hemshenis are well-known for the clever jokes, riddles, and stories they tell. The traditional occupations are cultivating tea and maize, raising livestock, and beekeeping. There are also Hemshin people living in the Caucasus region and in Central Asia.
The country of Turkey is hostile to Christian witness. Overt ministry to the Hemshin people will be difficult.
These Turkish-speaking people have many resources available in the Turkish language. The Bible is available, and the Jesus film, and others. Workers are needed to take these resources to the Hemshin people.
There are no known Christian believers among the Hemshin people at present, but pray for those the Lord will soon call to himself. Pray that teachers will be sent to help them become firmly established in the truth of scripture, and help them learn to walk in the power of the Lord's Spirit.
Pray the Hemshin people will increasingly be drawn to Jesus (whom Muslims call Isa al-Masih) as they read the Koran, and will seek to learn more. Perhaps the Lord will visit some in dreams and visions.
Scripture Prayers for the Hemshin in Turkey.
Profile Source: Joshua Project |
Global Prayer Digest: 2015-11-14 |
People Name General | Hemshin |
People Name in Country | Hemshin |
Population this Country | 22,000 |
Population all Countries | 25,000 |
Total Countries | 3 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
GSEC | 1 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 1 |
Alternate Names | |
People ID | 18997 |
ROP3 Code | 115399 |
Country | Turkey | ||
Region | Asia, Central | ||
Continent | Asia | ||
10/40 Window | Yes | ||
National Bible Society | Website | ||
Persecution Rank | 36 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) | ||
Location in Country | Higher areas near the Laz people (NE Black Sea region) Source: |
Country | Turkey |
Region | Asia, Central |
Continent | Asia |
10/40 Window | Yes |
National Bible Society | Website |
Persecution Rank | 36 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) |
Location in Country | Higher areas near the Laz people (NE Black Sea region). Source: |
Primary Language | Turkish (22,000 speakers) |
Language Code | tur Ethnologue Listing |
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
Primary Language | Turkish (22,000 speakers) |
Language Code | tur Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
People Groups | Speaking Turkish |
Primary Language: Turkish
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (1782-1985) |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (1819-1993) |
Bible-Complete | Yes (1827-2008) |
Bible-NT Audio | Online |
Bible-NT Text | Online |
Possible Print Bibles | |
---|---|
Amazon | |
World Bibles | |
Forum Bible Agencies | |
National Bible Societies | |
World Bible Finder | |
Virtual Storehouse |
Resource Type ▲ | Resource Name |
---|---|
Audio Recordings | Audio Bible teaching (GRN) |
Audio Recordings | Online New Testament (FCBH) |
Audio Recordings | Online New Testament (FCBH) |
Audio Recordings | Story of Jesus audio (Jesus Film Project) |
Film / Video | Father's Love Letter |
Film / Video | God's Love Story |
Film / Video | God's Story Video |
Film / Video | Indigitube.tv Video / Animation |
Film / Video | Jesus Film: view in Turkish |
Film / Video | Magdalena (Jesus Film Project) |
Film / Video | My Last Day (Jesus Film Project Anime) |
Film / Video | Rivka (Jesus Film Project) |
Film / Video | Story of Jesus for Children (JF Project) |
Film / Video | The Hope Video |
Film / Video | The Prophets' Story |
Film / Video | The Prophets' Story |
Film / Video | The Savior 2 - Jesus' Baptism |
Film / Video | The Savior 8 - Jesus is Risen |
General | Four Spiritual Laws |
General | GoodSeed |
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 %
|
Christian Segments ▲ | Percent |
---|---|
Anglican |
Unknown
|
Independent |
Unknown
|
Orthodox |
Unknown
|
Other Christian |
Unknown
|
Protestant |
Unknown
|
Roman Catholic |
Unknown
|
Photo Source | Anonymous |
Map Source | Bryan Nicholson / cartoMission |
Profile Source | Joshua Project |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Read more |