Uzbek, Northern in Sweden

Introduction / History

The Uzbeks are a Turkic people group located primarily in Central Asia. The earliest ancestors of the Uzbeks, the Central Asian Turks, aided Genghis Khan in his conquest of Eastern Europe in the 1300s. Eventually, as unity between the Turks and Mongols faded, numerous warring kingdoms were formed. It was from several of these kingdoms that the Uzbeks descended. By the mid-1800s, most of the Uzbeks had been conquered by the Russians. They lived under czarist rule until the Bolshevik Revolution brought the communists to power in 1917. The new socialist government forced many of the Uzbek nomads and farmers to live on collective farms. When the Soviet Union broke up in 1991, Uzbekistan became an independent nation. At that time, some of them managed to leave for Western countries like Sweden in search of better jobs and education.
The majority of Uzbeks are in Central Asian countries, especially Uzbekistan. A small number of the Northern Uzbeks have managed to migrate to Western countries like Sweden.

What Are Their Lives Like?

The Uzbeks in Sweden had to live under the threat of surveillance from the government of Uzbekistan. There are many good reasons they would want to migrate to Europe. Sweden has been friendly towards asylum seekers, but one mentally unstable Uzbek asylum seeker made things difficult for others by using a truck as a weapon in Sweden killing five.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Uzbeks were traditionally Sunni Muslims, but Islam was weakened during the decades of harsh communist enforced secularism. There are mosques in Sweden where Uzbeks can meet other Muslims and have personal contact, but many of them are secularized. For many, Islam is part of their culture and identity, but not a heart-felt spiritual guide. Though they are a people group yet to be reached for Christ, the Northern Uzbeks do have Christian resources in their language: they have the New Testament, Old Testament Bible portions, along with the JESUS Film and other audio/visual productions. Believers can make sure they have access to these in the Uzbek language.

What Are Their Needs?

The Uzbek people in Sweden need to submit to Jesus Christ so they can experience the abundant life He offers them in John 10:10. They are in a land of religious freedom, but the workers are still few.

Prayer Points

Pray that the Uzbek people in Sweden will have a spiritual hunger that will open their hearts to the King of kings.
Pray for workers who are driving by the love and boldness of the Holy Spirit to go to them.
Pray for a soon coming Disciple Making Movement among them.

Text Source:   Joshua Project