Uzbek, Southern in United States

Introduction / History

The Uzbeks are a Central Asian people who speak a Turkic based language. Since the fall of the Soviet Union, some Southern Uzbeks have migrated to the USA. About half of the Uzbeks who live in the US live in New York City. They are few in number.

The vast majority of Southern Uzbeks live Afghanistan. Afghanistan has been at constant war since 1980. Uzbeks earn far more in the USA than they did in Central Asia. There is a complicated "lottery" system for people from Uzbekistan and other countries that are largely not represented in the USA.

In their homeland, most Southern Uzbeks take care of animals and practice agriculture. They have to find new types of employment in the USA.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Southern Uzbeks face huge changes upon arriving in the USA. They must adapt to a modern industrial society. Southern Uzbek children have a brighter future in the USA than they would in Central Asia. Most newly arrived Southern Uzbeks work in modest jobs as taxi drivers, as security guards and in restaurants. Once they get proficient in English, they find better paying jobs. Uzbek parents dream that their children will graduate from universities and enter professions such as medicine, science, finance, and law.

Children quickly learn English and become like other American young people in their language, culture and manners. Uzbek parents desire that their children retain their language and Islamic culture. Young Uzbeks in the USA frequently marry others outside of their culture and religion.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Almost all Southern Uzbeks are Muslims. In Afghanistan being a Southern Uzbek is to be a Muslim. In the USA Uzbeks are free to attend or attend mosque on Fridays. Many Uzbeks become Muslim in name only. This applies to young people who come to the USA and become secular after attending American public schools.

Only a tiny fraction of the Southern Uzbeks in the USA claims to be Christians.

What Are Their Needs?

The Uzbeks have not been in the US for long. Most of them were born in Uzbekistan. They are eager to find people who will teach them English, leaving the door wide open for Christian English teachers. They also need help in finding employment and a place to live. Most of all, the Southern Uzbeks need to hear the good news of Christ. He alone can forgive their sins and grant them eternal life.

Prayer Points

Pray for the Lord to reveal Himself to the Southern Uzbeks in ways they will understand.

Pray for a discipleship making movement in the US that will penetrate Uzbek communities both in the US and in Central Asia.

Pray that Southern Uzbeks would be open to the gospel and spiritual things.

Pray that they would begin to read the Bible and investigate the claims of Jesus Christ.

Ask the Lord to move churches and individual believers to share the gospel with the Southern Uzbeks in the USA.

Text Source:   Joshua Project