Soyot in Russia

People Name:	Soyot
Country:	Russia
10/40 Window:	No
Population:	4,400
World Population:	4,400
Primary Language:	Tuvan
Primary Religion:	Buddhism
Christian Adherents:	0.00 %
Evangelicals:	0.00 %
Scripture:	Complete Bible
Online Audio NT:	Yes
Jesus Film:	Yes
Audio Recordings:	Yes
People Cluster:	Ural-Siberian
Affinity Bloc:	Turkic Peoples
Progress Level:

Introduction / History

The Soyot people were once part of a cluster of peoples that eventually split into three groups. Then the Soyots themselves were nearly engulfed by the much larger Buryat groups that migrated into their homeland from Mongolia. Before the Soviet Era, their chief occupations was reindeer herding.
The Soyot live in Buryatia, near the Mongolian border.

What Are Their Lives Like?

After the fall of the USSR in 1991, the Soyot people have been trying to revive their culture. Some hope to return to reindeer herding.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Although most practice Tibetan Buddhism, they are trying to go back to their shamanistic roots to revive their dying culture. Their language is close to extinction.

What Are Their Needs?

The Soyot people desperately need job training. They need to find new ways of making a living.

Prayer Points

Pray for culturally sensitive workers to take Jesus to the Soyot people in such a way that they realize that they can embrace him without jeopardizing their culture.
Pray that the Soyot will know that only Jesus Christ can protect them from the spirits.
Pray that God would send Russian, Buryat and Mongolian Christians to share Jesus with the Soyot people.
Ask God to open the hearts of the Soyot to make them receptive to the gospel.
Ask the Lord to raise up strong local churches among the Soyot.