DAY 11 ANTSUKH AVAR PEOPLE Rom8:17, NIV he middle-aged Antsukh man by the Now if we are children, then Tname of Ismail exclaimed, we are heirs—heirs of God “I’m Antsukh, I’m Avar, and co-heirs with Christ, I’m Dagestani, and I’m a if indeed we share in His Russian citizen!” Identity sufferings in order that we is a complicated thing may also share in his glory. high in the southern mountains of the Russian Pray that the Antsukh province of Dagestan. people will put their Three identities, one people identity in Christ alone, not Ismail’s leading in their status. identity comes from his native Antsukh language. Antsukh shares commonalities with the larger Avar language family, but is so distinct as to be mutually unintelligible to those who speak Avar. The Antsukh language is spoken in nearly 60 villages and towns in this region, including in one village—Tivi—across the border in northeastern Georgia. In the second decade of the 21st century, Antsukh Avars are justifiably proud that one of their own was selected as President of the Russian province [Republic] of Dagestan. Pride—both a strength and a weakness—has never been in short supply among the mountainous Muslim Antsukh people. They are renowned for high levels of pride, resistance to change, and xenophobic suspicion toward outsiders. All of these traits have kept the people from being humble enough to embrace the sovereign Savior. Pray for grace and the fruit of the Spirit to come to the Antsukh. For centuries the region has been beset by power struggles and violence. Pray for representatives of the love of Jesus to find ways to tell the Antsukh about Christ. Pray that those who want to know God personally will rise above what they have known for centuries and have courage to respond to the gospel. 98 DAY ARCHI PEOPLE 12 he weather-beaten Acts 17:26, NKJV scowling face of the agedT Archi man shook And He has made from back and forth. An one blood every nation inquiring visitor had asked of men to dwell on all this patriarch, “Who did the face of the earth, and the Archi people originate has determined their from?” He responded pre-appointed times and emphatically, “All other the boundaries of their An Archi village people came from us!” dwellings…. High in the southern mountains of Dagestan, the rugged Archi people God expresses honor tenaciously cling to their ancient proud understanding to each person while of themselves. They are so stubborn in their identity lovingly inviting them to that they conclude that they preceded all other peoples. the light of life, so they will not walk in darkness. The distinct Archi language is spoken in eight Archi Pride in one’s heritage is mountain villages, with a total population of at least admirable; but humility 2000. The Russian government has tried to include before God is essential the Archi under the language category of their nearby for anyone who wishes to neighbors, the Avars, but the Archi never internally approach the Almighty. agreed to this. Avar is utilized for writing, and secondarily they use the Russian language; but the Archi Pray for the Archi people to spoken language is alive and well among village families. experience the liberating The Archi have observed strict Sunni Islam for over freedom of humility before 1000 years. Islam in their mountain villages is a blend the Lord of lords. of the Five Pillars and ancient superstitious practices, such as veneration of sacred trees, which is common to folk Islam. No representatives of Jesus’ grace have yet found their way into Archi communities. Pray for the gospel of grace and the love of Jesus to be brought into the Archi world through true friends. Pray that the Word of God will be infused into Archi culture by creative efforts. Pray that the Word will find its way into receptive Archi hearts. 99 DAY 13 KUBACHÍ PEOPLE 1 Pet 1:7-9, NKJV n the high mountain village of Kubachi, metalwork has been produced for centuries. The …that the genuineness secretsI of their methods have been carefully guarded of your faith, being much from generation to generation. Their famous swords, more precious than gold necklaces, fine goblets, and intricate silver work are a that perishes, though it is source of pride for them. tested by fire, may be found The distinct Kubachi language of Kubachi town to praise, honor, and glory is mutually unintelligible to those who speak the at the revelation of Jesus languages in all the surrounding villages in this Christ, whom having not Dargin region of south central Dagestan. At least seen, you love. Though now 7000 Kubachi live in their fog-shrouded central you do not see Him, yet village and in several Kubachi enclaves in Dagestani believing, you rejoice with cities. Honor is a central theme of the Kubachi joy inexpressible and full of tradition, and strong prohibitions inhibit any glory, receiving the end of Kubachi from marrying outside the guarded circle. your faith—the salvation For more than 10 centuries, Islam has blended in of your souls. with the proud Kubachi culture. Rigid defense of Kubachi traditions and rigid defense of Islam often Pray that the preciousness go hand in hand. Is there hope of grace for this proud of Jesus will become very and guarded people? real to Kubachi leaders. Pray that these proud people Pray that courageous Kubachi people will understand will exchange their pride that honor comes from the one true God and not in their own abilities for from created things. Pray that the hope of I Peter 1:7 thankfulness to the God who will spread through the Kubachi people, ... that the gave them such skills. proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Thanks to the Lord—in 2015 there was the beginning of friendly relationships from representatives of Jesus’ love to several key men in the Kubachi world. 100 DAY KAITAG PEOPLE 14 hat language are you speaking?” the spice 1 Pet 3:15-16, NIV and tea seller asked us at the market in “WManas-Kent, Dagestan. “We’re speaking English,” we But in your hearts revere replied. “And what language were you speaking?” we Christ as Lord. Always asked. “Dargin,” he said. Our introductions continued be prepared to give an with my Russian host trying out the short phrases answer to everyone of Dargin he had collected. We sniffed each type of who asks you to give chebretz (dried herbs and mountain grasses used for the reason for the hope tea), and chose our preferred flavors. He exclaimed, that you have. But do “That grass is from my village!” which led to our this with gentleness and question, “Where is that?” “Well, you know how I respect, keeping a clear said I speak Dargin. But I am actually Kaitag, and my conscience, so that those home language is Kaitag. Those grasses are from my who speak maliciously home village, and I know you will have the healthiest against your good tea in all of Dagestan,” he boasted. behavior in Christ may be He proudly escorted us to our car as his new guests. ashamed of their slander. He helped load our meat and purchases into the trunk. Then wrapping his arm around the driver and in a When Muslims say that your nose-to-nose whisper he said, “It’s essential that you life must be set apart for live for God, dear brother. You must set your life apart God, the door is wide open for God.” We exchanged phone numbers in hopes to talk about the fullness that a time would come when his sincere invitation to of God’s Word – that to be “come to our village” could be taken up. Getting there fully set apart, the prophets would be complicated. Like making their famous pointed us to trust in Isa embroidery, spending time among the Kaitag would (Jesus) as the way, the truth, require precision and alignment of timing. and the fullness of life. Pray that the Lord will arrange a time for Christ’s ambas- Pray that the Kaitag people sadors to live in a Kaitag village. Pray for the Lord to raise will truly understand what it up the first Kaitag believer this decade. means to have their lives set apart for God’s purposes. 101 DAY 15 TSAKHUR PEOPLE Song 2:4, NKJV o not stare at me because I am dark, because I am darkened by the sun. My mother’s sons He brought me to the “Dwere angry with me and made me take care of the banqueting house, and his vineyards; my own vineyard I had to neglect” (Song of banner over me was love. Solomon, 1:6, NIV). To the Russians and Azerbaijanis, the Tsakhurs are, “the wild mountain ones, primitive, Pray that the Tsakhur people with dark features.” In the southern reaches of will seek and find the intense Tsakhur territory, they do tend vineyards, although love of the One whose sheepherding and working with wool are the primary banner over them is love. economic features of Tsakhur village life. The 30,000 Tsakhur are a proud mountain people, living in villages in Dagestan, Russia and in neighboring Azerbaijan. Tsakhur were ruled by their own sultanate for centuries. The Tsakhur are famous for their proverbs and love of wisdom.