Northern Uzbek in Uzbekistan


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Uzbeks are a Turkic people group located primarily in Central Asia. There are large Uzbek communities in Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan, as well as small communities in many other nations, including the United States.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Traditionally, most Uzbeks were semi-nomadic shepherds; however, today, most of those living in Central Asia either farm or live and work in larger towns and cities. Among those who farm, the principal crop is cotton. Fruits, vegetables, and grains are also grown.

Their common staple food is rice and "osh" is the national dish cooked with rice. Pasta is also a common food item. It was probably brought to Central Asia hundreds of years ago by Italian or Chinese traders who traveled along the Silk Road. Two favorite pasta dishes are ash (a noodle dish sometimes mixed with yogurt) and ashak (an Uzbek-style ravioli).

The traditional dress of the Uzbeks is very distinctive. But today, most wear Western style clothing, especially those who live in large, previously Soviet cities.

The Uzbek mountain men love to play buzkashi, a wild polo-like game with two teams on horseback. The game, which uses the headless carcass of a goat or calf as the "ball," can be very violent and go on for two or three days. The object of the game is to pick up the "ball" and carry it to a goal that may be as far as two miles away. The other team attempts to stop whoever has the animal with any means necessary, even using whips to attack him. Another popular past-time is to hunt wild birds with falcons.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Most Uzbeks are Sunni Muslims of the Hanafite branch. Like other Muslims, the Uzbeks believe that there is one God, Allah, whose will was revealed through the prophet Mohammed and then recorded in the Koran.

The Uzbeks are not generally Orthodox Muslims. Many traditional beliefs have been mingled with their Islamic practices. Many of the younger generation are either atheists or non-religious.


What Are Their Needs?

Most Uzbeks who have access to the Gospel live in the cities. It is likely that the majority of the rural villages have had no Gospel witness.

Today, Islamic fundamentalists living in the former Soviet regions have begun calling for the strict application of Islamic law, as is practiced in Afghanistan. Now is the time to preach the Gospel to the Uzbeks of this region. There is an unprecedented opportunity to reach their communities with the message of the Cross. However, much intercession is needed to prevent this door from closing.


Prayer Points

Pray that Christian Uzbek leaders would be unified in their evangelistic activities.
Pray that new Uzbek Christians would understand God's Word quickly and commit themselves to a local fellowship where they will find strength.
Pray that the Holy Spirit will soften the hearts of Uzbek Muslims towards Christians.
Ask God to grant wisdom and favor to missions agencies focusing on the Uzbeks.
Ask the Lord to send additional long term laborers to live among the Uzbeks and share the love of Christ with them.
Pray that Christians in other countries to start reaching out to their Uzbek neighbors and they would be receptive for Christ's love.
Pray for effectiveness of the Jesus film and Christian radio broadcasts that are being aired among the Uzbeks.
Pray for God to raise up strong local churches in all these countries among the Uzbeks.


Scripture Prayers for the Uzbek, Northern in Uzbekistan.


Profile Source:   Bethany World Prayer Center / GAAPNet  

People Name General Uzbek, Northern
People Name in Country Uzbek, Northern
Natural Name Northern Uzbek
Pronunciation OOZ-bek
Alternate Names Northern Uzbek; Ouzbek; Ozbek; Usbaki; Uzbeki; Wuzibieke; उज़्बेक, नॉर्दर्न
Population this Country 28,516,000
Population all Countries 32,497,000
Total Countries 18
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 3  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 570
People ID 14039
ROP3 Code 107469
ROP25 Code 308519
ROP25 Name Uzbek
Country Uzbekistan
Region Asia, Central
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 25  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Widespread; concentrated in eastern.   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Country Uzbekistan
Region Asia, Central
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 25  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Widespread; concentrated in eastern..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Map of Uzbek, Northern in Uzbekistan Ethnolinguistic map or other map

Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.01 %)
0.02 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
85.98 %
Non-Religious
14.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Uzbek, Northern (28,516,000 speakers)
Language Code uzn   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Uzbek, Northern (28,516,000 speakers)
Language Code uzn   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Uzbek, Northern

Primary Language:  Uzbek, Northern

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1891-1992)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1992-2010)
Bible-Complete Yes  (2016-2017)
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) Online
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings Story of Jesus audio Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Uzbek, Northern Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Biblical answers to your questions Got Questions Ministry
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General Walk with the Prophets and meet the Messiah Al Massira
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Uzbek, Northern YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Uzbek, Northern YouVersion Bibles
Text / Printed Matter IBT, Russia - resources Institute for Bible Translation - Russia
Text / Printed Matter Jesus Messiah comic book General / Other
Text / Printed Matter Tools for faith conversations Campus Crusade for Christ
Photo Source Fulvio Spada - Wikimedia  Creative Commons 
Map Source People Group location: IMB. Map geography: ESRI / GMI. Map design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source Bethany World Prayer Center / GAAPNet 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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