Kaitag in Russia

Kaitag
Photo Source:  Anonymous 
Map Source:  People Group location: IMB. Map geography: ESRI / GMI. Map design: Joshua Project.
People Name: Kaitag
Country: Russia
10/40 Window: No
Population: 30,000
World Population: 30,000
Primary Language: Kaitag
Primary Religion: Islam
Christian Adherents: 0.00 %
Evangelicals: 0.00 %
Scripture: Unspecified
Online Audio NT: No
Jesus Film: No
Audio Recordings: No
People Cluster: Caucasus
Affinity Bloc: Eurasian Peoples
Progress Level:

Introduction / History

The Kaitag live in southeastern Dagestan, and they speak their own language, Kaitag, as well as Dargin. They live in a place that is dominated by the Dargin people, but they have their own cultural ways.

What Are Their Lives Like?

They traditionally embroidered the world-famous Kaitag textiles. They often make them in the style of Safavid Persian art with illustrations of horsemen and riding scenes. The Kaitag made these embroideries for local use in weddings, funerals and for cradle trappings. Others use local herbs for food and for making tea. They have special tea such as chebretz.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Many of the Kaitag people are Sufi Muslims. When a Muslim Sufi mystic says your life must be set apart for God, the door is wide open to talk about the fullness of God’s word – that to be fully set apart, the prophets pointed us to trust in Isa (Jesus) as the way, the truth, the light (John 10:10).

What Are Their Needs?

The Kaitag need workers to share the gospel in the Kaitag language and within their culture.

Prayer Points

Pray for new ‘People of Peace’ relationships into the Kaitag world, via linguistic/cultural research, or via ‘surprising’ friendship developments; to open up avenues of grace and the influence of Jesus into the Kaitag villages.
Thank the Lord that the Lord’s Prayer (Matt.6:9-13) has been translated into Kaitag!
Pray for plans for an Oral Bible Translation to come to fruition.
Pray blessing on the linguistic/cultural relationships accompanying.
Pray for God’s compassion to shine through in the midst of war stress.
Strong bridge of friendship has developed for a Tatar/Russian pastoral family with 4 Kaitag families who live nearby. One of the 4 families are responsive to the gospel and seem to be close to salvation in the Messiah. Pray for continued grace on all these relationships.

Text Source:   Joshua Project