Uzbek, Northern in United States

People Name:	Uzbek, Northern
Country:	United States
10/40 Window:	No
Population:	66,000
World Population:	31,767,200
Primary Language:	Uzbek, Northern
Primary Religion:	Islam
Christian Adherents:	1.00 %
Evangelicals:	0.30 %
Scripture:	Complete Bible
Online Audio NT:	No
Jesus Film:	Yes
Audio Recordings:	Yes
People Cluster:	Uzbek
Affinity Bloc:	Turkic Peoples
Progress Level:

Introduction

The Uzbeks are a Central Asian people who speak a Turkic based language. About half of the Uzbeks who live in the US live in New York City. They are few in number, and they started to arrive when the Soviet Union began to fall in 1990. There is a complicated "lottery" system for people from Uzbekistan and other countries that are largely not represented in the US.

The vast majority of Uzbeks come because of the repressive government in Uzbekistan and because they want to earn a better living. They earn far more than they did in Uzbekistan, though most work in modest jobs like driving cabs. A few have made it as models, actresses, athletes, etc.

Ministry Obstacles

Because of 70 years of Communist influence, the Muslim Uzbeks are largely secular. They may or may not be familiar with the teachings of Islam. Those who are serious about Islam are looked upon with suspicion by the Uzbek government, and also by many in the general population. Those with a spiritual mindset are suspect, so anyone taking Christ to the Uzbeks would need to make it clear that it is about the person, Jesus Christ, not about a religious or political system.

Outreach Ideas

The Uzbeks have not been in the US for very long and most of them were born in Uzbekistan. They are eager to find people who will teach them English, leaving the door wide open for Christian English teachers.

Pray for the Followers of Christ

Very few among the Uzbeks follow Christ. Pray for the Lord to reveal Himself to them in ways they will understand.

Pray for the Entire People Group

Pray for a discipleship making movement in the US that will penetrate Central Asian communities both in the US and in Central Asia.