Kyrgyz in Germany

Introduction / History

The name "Kyrgyz" means "the descendants of forty maidens." The Kyrgyzstan flag has forty sun rays to represent the Kyrgyz heritage. Although they are related to Kazakh and other Turkic peoples of the region, the Kyrgyz look very much like the Mongols. Most likely, they have Mongol ancestry.

Strangely, there have been settlements of German Mennonites in Kyrgyzstan. Today, some Muslim Kyrgyz have found their way to Germany.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Germany is recruiting skilled workers in the area of transportation and medical professions. Kyrgyzstan is one of the countries where they are searching.

Music, dance and storytelling are important parts of the Kyrgyz culture. Verbal folklore has been very well developed over the years. The Kyrgyz have the longest oral epic in the word entitled "Manas." It contains 100,000 lines of verse. Folk tales are often sung, accompanied by a three-stringed guitar called a komuz.

Since there are so few Kyrgyz people in Germany, they probably socialize with other Central Asian Muslims, especially the Turks.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Consecutive waves of Islamization have taken place since the Arabs first invaded Talas in 751 when many Kyrgyz tribes were still in Siberia. The present wave of Islamization in Kyrgyzstan is one of the most intense that the north has ever experienced. People who were only Muslim by name are now learning many of the more intricate practices, creeds and doctrines.

Soviets were never able to change Kyrgyz spiritual beliefs, even though they tried a number of methods including changing the alphabet, outlawing religious activity, and propaganda. Since Kyrgyzstan gained independence from the USSR in 1990, they have built over 3000 new mosques.

Today, most Kyrgyz still consider themselves to be Muslim. However, they strongly hold onto shamanistic and Tengrism practices. (Shamanism is the belief that there is an unseen world of gods, demons, and ancestral spirits. Tegrism is a belief system that coincides with the faith expressed throughout the biblical book of Genesis.) Many people still turn to mediums and seers to cure sickness with magic, communicate with powers, and control events. This spiritual climate has made it necessary for new Kyrgyz Christian believers to deal with and forsake these spirits.

What Are Their Needs?

The Kyrgyz need the spiritual hunger it takes to seek, find, and embrace the only Savior. That could alienate them from others in their families and their small community in Germany. But they have a better chance of hearing about Christ's redeeming blood in Germany than they had in the past.

Prayer Points

Pray for Kyrgyz people in Germany to have spiritual hunger and seek truth.
Ask the Lord of the harvest to send German Christians to reach out to the Kyrgyz Muslims.
Pray for effectiveness of the JESUS Film and gospel recordings among the Kyrgyz.
Pray for God to give dreams of the holy and victorious savior to Kyrgyz family leaders.

Text Source:   Joshua Project