What We’re Seeing in Central Asia

When we lived in Central Asia, I distinctly remember the feeling that, whether driving or flying, nearly every village I passed through was full of people who had never heard the gospel or even met a single Christian. Of course, that’s true of many places in the world. But according to the Center for the Study of Global Christianity, three of the top 10 countries are in Central Asia (Afghanistan, Türkiye, and Iran). 

These three countries are four of the most populous on the list. For example, North Korea makes the top 10. It has 26 million citizens. Meanwhile, Türkiye has 88 million citizens and still fewer Christians than North Korea. Considering these statistics, you could argue Central Asia is the least-reached region of the world.

What is Central Asia?

Central Asia isn’t easy to define. Geographically, it typically refers to the northern and central sections of Asia, focused primarily on the “Stans.” This includes countries like Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan—countries most of us could never locate on a map, much less spell on an exam.

Linguistically, Central Asia comprises the nations of the world where the Turkic and Persian languages are spoken. This includes the languages of the “Stans” as well as Türkiye (formerly Turkey), Iran, and Azerbaijan. The Persian-influenced languages of Kurdish (Northern Iraq) and Urdu (Pakistan) also fit this category.  

Religiously, Central Asia is overwhelmingly Muslim, although nominalism is common. National allegiance and family loyalties often pose greater challenges to the spread of the gospel than radical Islam. For many local Christians, persecution is more social than political. For foreign workers, obtaining residency in the region can be difficult and, in the case of a country like Turkmenistan, nearly impossible. 

But that doesn’t mean God isn’t at work.

How is God at Work?

Despite numerous challenges, the church is growing throughout Central Asia. In fact, evangelical Christianity may be growing the fastest in the world among Iranians both inside and outside their homeland. Some estimate the number of Christians in Iran is approaching one million. This astonishing growth has happened over the last 45 years, despite the fact that many missionaries have been forced out and local believers have faced intense suffering. 

In nearby Afghanistan, the persecution of Christians is even more acute. Following the U.S. military’s withdrawal and the Taliban’s takeover in 2021, many local believers fled the country. Others went into hiding. Our RTIM global workers are in contact with local believers who are remaining steadfast. Meanwhile, some non-Christians and those disaffected by Islamist ideology appear open to the gospel. They’re exploring Christianity online, and some are reaching out to our workers via social media for answers to their religious questions. We’re also able to to train local church leaders online and provide them with helpful resources. 

For many decades, Türkiye has been one of the easiest countries to access in Central Asia. However, in recent years, increased government scrutiny has forced many missionaries to leave, including a handful of RTIM global workers. Protestant Christianity is now viewed as a threat to national security. 

But the gospel is still spreading, and churches are still gathering. In fact, there’s no reason to believe that what’s happened in Iran can’t also happen in countries like Türkiye and Afghanistan. Even if governments oppose the gospel, we know “the word of God is not bound” (2 Tim. 2:9).

What Are the Opportunities?

Central Asia is the newest region for RTIM. As of this year, we have 16 units working in three countries. By next year, we anticipate doubling the number of nations to six. We hope this is only the beginning. There are openings available to join existing teams, and we have other cities and locations where we’d like to deploy new workers.

Wherever our missionaries serve in Central Asia—whether in a global megacity or in more remote settings—they have challenges obtaining and maintaining residency. Many need to operate a business, work as a teacher, or enroll as a student to gain access. Such arrangements can sometimes feel like a distraction, but more often than not they lay the groundwork for relationships in the community and ultimately for fruitful gospel work.

Of course, when maintaining residency is difficult, it presents some unique challenges. Missionaries may live with constant uncertainty; they may need to relocate. This puts numerous pressures on families with children and can easily disrupt their education. It can derail language and culture acquisition. More troubling, the believers and churches they work among may not reach maturity before they’re forced to leave.

But even these difficulties present opportunities. Missionaries who realize their future is uncertain—as it is for all of us—are often more aware of their dependence on God. They understand their citizenship is in heaven and can learn to find a home among God’s people wherever they are. Recognizing they may not be able to stay long-term, they evangelize with urgency and invest in local leaders so that, even if they need to leave, the work can continue.

What Might God Do?

What might God do in Central Asia over the coming decades? Is it possible that the least-reached region of the world could become a place where the light of the gospel overcomes the darkness? Where Christian witnesses and local churches turn the world upside-down?

We simply don’t know. But we do know that if it’s happened before, God can make it happen again. So we pray to that end. We also pray for stability in the region and peace for Christians. But even if opposition persists, we can serve in Central Asia with confidence, knowing that nothing can separate us from Christ’s love, and nothing can stop the gospel’s advance.