Introduction / History

Galeshi refers to a dialect of the Gilaki language. They live along the southwestern coast of the Caspian Sea. Because they have little contact with outsiders, their language is different, even unintelligible to some Gilaki speakers.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Given their location, most likely there are Galeshi speakers who fish for a living. Others are wood craftsmen or farmers. Some have made it into high paying professions in urban Iran. Others are students in their universities.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Galeshi speakers are solidly Shia Muslims. Shia practices tend toward the ecstatic. They affirm human free will, and they differ with the Sunni Muslims in matters of law and ceremony. Unlike the Sunnis, Shias believe that Mohammad's successor should be someone in his bloodline, namely Ali. Because some of their leaders have faced violent, martyr’s death, Shias understand that a righteous man can be killed by the unrighteous. For this reason, Christ’s death on a Roman cross isn’t as foreign to them as it is to Sunnis.

To live a righteous life, you must utter the Shahada (a statement of faith), pray five times a day facing Mecca, fast from sunup to sundown during the month of Ramadan, give alms to the poor, and make a pilgrimage to Mecca if you have the means. Muslims are prohibited from drinking alcohol, eating pork, gambling, stealing, slandering, and making idols. They gather for corporate prayer on Friday afternoons at a mosque, their place of worship.

What Are Their Needs?

Galeshis need the gospel to penetrate their communities and families. As it stands, they put their faith in their works to find their way to the Living God.

Prayer Items

Pray that the Lord will prepare the hearts of the Galeshi to understand and to believe the gospel.
Pray for the Holy Spirit to move mightily in Galeshi families and communities, drawing them to the King of kings.
Pray for Persian Christ followers to become Christ’s ambassadors to these Muslims.
Pray for the Lord to bless the Galeshis physically and spiritually. May they give God praise!

Scripture Prayers for the Galeshi in Iran.

References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galeshi
https://cultureincrisis.org/projects/documentation-of-the-language-and-lifestyle-of-the-galesh-province-of-golestan-iran