Botlikh in Russia

The Botlikh people of Dagestan have had some close calls with the gospel! According to estimates, less than one in 500 of them have responded to God's invitation to salvation and are evangelical believers. While that might seem like a small number, it is much greater and holds far more potential for church growth than an absolute zero. However, the vast majority of the Botlikh people believe in a "folk" version of Sunni Islam.

Ministry Obstacles

Many of them live in high villages hidden away in remote mountain ranges and they automatically suspect outsiders. It is difficult to embrace a faith if you know little about it; God's word is not yet translated for them.

Outreach Ideas

Most likely, believers will have to reach them at a distance through internet and radio resources. There is a small chance that people who want to honor their culture through photo art and by asking people to tell their stories can have personal contact with these people.

Scripture Focus

"So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, Do you understand what you are reading?"  Acts 8:30

Scripture Prayer

Pray that the Lord gives today’s people group a desire to hear and to understand God’s words.

Prayer Focus

Pray for the believers to grow and multiply, spreading from their remote villages to others throughout the region. Pray for Botlikh believers to shine with the fruit of the Holy Spirit and draw others to Christ. Ask the Holy Spirit to put this people group on the hearts of those equipped to accomplish the task of Bible translation for them. Pray for a Disciple Making Movement to flourish among the Botlikh people this decade.