Joshua Project People Profile
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August Southern Pashtuns 1 in Iran he Sunni Muslim Pashtun were Tthe traditional rulers of Afghanistan for over 250 years, from founding of the country in 1747 to 1973. Since the overthrow of the Afghan king, the Soviet invasion in the 1970s, and the overthrow of the communists in the 1980s, Afghanistan has faced constant conflict. Many Pashtuns joined other tribal groups and fled Afghanistan during the 1980's conflict. They settled in refugee camps in the border provinces of Iran and Pakistan, and most returned to Afghanistan when things were more settled. However, some Pashtun men have continued to sneak into Iran to escape poverty and the ��pahsh-TOON constant fighting. Younger Pashtun POPULATION: 160,000 men try to go directly to Tehran to LANGUAGE: Pashto, Southern find work in construction, where they RELIGION: Islam are more accepted. Many send BIBLE: Portions money back to Afghanistan to help their families. STATUS: Unreached Ministry Obstacles construction and other areas where Pashtuns are isolated from Iranian Pashtuns commonly work, so they believers; they speak a different can have contact with them. language and are in entirely different social circles. Prayer Focus Pray for a Disciple Making Movement Outreach Ideas among Pashtuns in Iran that will Iranian believers can take up jobs in spread to Pakistan and Afghanistan. SCRIPTURE Therefore, I will teach them—this time I will teach them my power and might. Then they will know that my name is the Lord. Jer 16:21 PRAY that today’s people group will understand from the heart that God is all powerful, and He can give or withhold blessings. Unreachedoftheday.org August Western Baloch 2 in Iran he Baloch people live in several Tcountries. Although most live in Pak- istan, many live over the border in Iran. They are nominally Sunni Muslims. The Western Baloch are evenly divided be- tween those who live the lives of rural farmers/herdsmen and those who live in urban centers, where many of their young men migrate to find work. They are closed to change thanks to illiter- acy, tribalism and traditional ways. As a result, most are poor with a high infant mortality rate. Some were once slaves (emancipation came in the 1950s). Ministry Obstacles There are many man-made obstacles that only God can overcome. They in- clude Iranian government policies, ��bah-LOACH Illiteracy, tribalism and Muslim tradi- POPULATION: 750,000 tions that work against openness to LANGUAGE: Balochi, Western the gospel. RELIGION: Islam BIBLE: Portions Outreach Ideas STATUS: Unreached Christian schoolteachers and medical professionals can go to the Baloch the cross and the empty grave. Pray people and have regular contact with that the Church would recognize the them. There is also the JESUS Film and need to evangelize the Western Baloch gospel recordings that can plant and design strategies to reach them. gospel seeds. Pray that urban Baloch youth would open themselves to the gospel and Prayer Focus that believers will deliberately go with Pray for a spiritual hunger among the the purpose of establishing Christ's Western Baloch that will lead them to presence among them. SCRIPTURE But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. Jer 17:7 PRAY that today’s people group will put all their trust and confidence in the Lord only. Unreachedoftheday.org August 3 Bakhtiari in Iran ormer Zoroastrians, the Bakhtiari Flive in the Zagros Mountains of Iran as shepherds and carpet weavers, although some engage in agriculture and commerce. They are Shia Muslim like the Iranian majority. Oil has helped them have some con- tact with the outside and some live in urban centers. Otherwise, the tribe and clan are central to their lifestyle. Their women have more freedom than do most Muslim women. Ministry Obstacles There are many reasons why the Bakhtiari have not responded to the gospel. They are geographically iso- lated by rugged terrain. Clan divisions keep them socially isolated, so ��bahk-tee-AR-ee gospel efforts might need to be done POPULATION: 1,247,000 on a clan by clan basis. LANGUAGE: Bakhtiari RELIGION: Islam Outreach Ideas BIBLE: Portions There are many gospel tools in a lan- STATUS: Unreached guage the Bakhtiari people can un- derstand. There are radio and TV reach them via oil workers and broadcasts, gospel recordings, Scrip- women's commercial enterprises, ture portions and the JESUS Film. clan by clan. Pray that women would become believers who teach the Prayer Focus gospel to their children. Pray for a Pray that the church would intercede Disciple Making Movement among for these people and would plan to the Bakhtiari this decade. SCRIPTURE Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise. Jer 17:14 PRAY for this people group to seek and find the Lord’s healing touch. Unreachedoftheday.org August 4 Central Kurds in Iraq ran's Sorani speaking Kurds have Ifamous ancestors: The Medes! A tribal people, they have only recently been urbanized. Most are nominally Sunni, while some are Shia. Coupled with other Kurds in Turkey, Iran, Syria, Armenia and Azerbaijan, they are the world's largest stateless eth- nic group, often hated and under- mined by Arabs, Turks and Iranians. Their unwillingness to unite has worked against them. They have two mutually hostile political-military fac- tions which keep them weak. Ministry Obstacles In Iraq, the Kurds have been much more open to the gospel than those in Iran. Iran's Sorani speaking Kurds ��kerds have few if any opportunities to hear POPULATION: 4,652,000 about the sin free, risen Savior. Be- LANGUAGE: Kurdish, Central lievers will need to reach them clan RELIGION: Islam by clan, which will be very difficult. BIBLE: Complete STATUS: Unreached Outreach Ideas Their biblical past is a bridge to open Prayer Focus them to the gospel. As it stands, they Pray that the Kurdish church will be associate the gospel with the West; it increasingly evangelistic in ways can be associated with Darius the that are meaningful to Sorani Mede or perhaps the wise men. The speaking Kurds. Pray they will most effective ambassadors for welcome missionaries. Pray that they Christ may be non-Westerners. There will become increasingly dissatisfied are several gospel tools in Sorani: TV, with Islam and open up to the ways radio, and Scripture portions. of Jesus Christ. SCRIPTURE “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. Jer 29:12 PRAY that this blessing will reach today’s people group soon. Unreachedoftheday.org August 5 Urdu in Saudi Arabia rdu speakers who live and work Uin Saudi Arabia are not exactly a people group in the usual sense. They are collection of peoples from many countries who share the common language of Urdu. Some Urdu language users work at the highest level of Saudi society. Others are day laborers who do not read. All come to Saudi Arabia looking for economic opportunities. Many send money home to support their families. Ministry Obstacles If it becomes known to the Saudi government that an Urdu speaking Muslim has become a Christian, he will be arrested. He may be tortured, ��OOR-doo expelled or killed for his belief. POPULATION: 764,000 LANGUAGE: Urdu Outreach Ideas RELIGION: Islam Radio broadcasts in Urdu can share BIBLE: Complete the news about Jesus. Believers who STATUS: Unreached are working in Saudi Arabia can very discreetly tell the Urdu speakers Saudi authorities. Ask the Lord to about Jesus in small social settings. use radio and literature to bring many Urdu speakers in Saudi Arabia Prayer Focus to Christ. Pray for a Disciple Making There may be no Urdu speaking Movement among the Urdu speaker believers in Saudi Arabia. If a few peoples. Pray for a spiritual hunger exist, pray that they would grow that will drive them towards the spiritually and be hidden from the only Savior. SCRIPTURE You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jer 29:13 PRAY that today’s people group will seek the Lord will all their hearts and find Him to be merciful, loving and powerful. Unreachedoftheday.org August Northern Kurds 6 in Turkey hat do you know about the WKurds? Almost everyone knows about Arabs and Turks but not so many people are familiar with the Kurds. There are approximately 40 million Kurds living in at least 33 nations across the globe. Over 50,00 now live the USA and over a half of million reside in Germany. Most Kurmanji-speaking Kurds live in Turkey. For centuries the Turks have tried to make the Kurds into Turks by stamping out their Kurmanji language and culture. Ministry Obstacles Deciding to follow Christ would bring serious consequences to any Kurdish person. They are Sunni Muslim. ��kerds POPULATION: 8,960,000 Outreach Ideas LANGUAGE: Kurdish, Northern Christians can build relationships RELIGION: Islam with Kurds who live in the West and BIBLE: Complete share the good news with them. STATUS: Unreached Kurdish believers can take the gospel to their people in Turkey. peaceful and just end to the violence in Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Prayer Focus Lebanon where many Kurds live. There is a small number of Kurmanji- Pray that Kurdish refugees would speaking Kurds who follow Christ. have their spiritual and physical Pray that they find each other and needs met. Pray for a Disciple Making receive solid Bible teaching so they Movement among the Kurds of can grow spiritually.