Summary
The Bakthtiaris became Shia Muslims after the Arabs invaded Iran almost 1400 years ago. Previously, Bakhtiaris were Zorastrian. The Bakhtiari live mainly in southwestern Iran in the clean and beautiful highlands of the Zagros Mountains. Farsi is their language of commerce, but they speak Bakhtiari at home. Many Bakhtiari people still live in black goat hair tents and are nomads. They migrate in search of water and food for their animals. About half of the people retain their traditional lifestyle of shepherding for the men, and carpet-weaving and home making for the women. The rest are settled and involved in agriculture and a variety of commercial activities.

Ministry Obstacles
Iran is hostile to Christian testimony, and direct access to the Bakthtiari people is difficult.

Outreach Ideas
Gospel recordings and the Jesus film are available in the Bakhtiari language. Perhaps Persian Christians will be able to carry these resources to the Bakhtiari people.

Pray for the followers of Christ
There are few known Christian believers among the Bakhtiari people, but pray the Lord will be preparing pastors and teachers for the many believers the Lord will soon call to himself. Pray also for scripture to be soon made available in the Bakhtiari language.

Pray for the entire people group
Pray the Lord will increasingly draw people to Isa (Jesus) as they study the Koran, and that the Lord's Spirit will give them a hunger to find out more about this man. Then pray this hunger will be satisfied with knowledge and faith.

Scripture Focus
"For from the rising of the sun, even to its setting, My name will be great among the nations ... says the Lord of hosts." Malachi 1:11