Partner with us to use historical investigation to reach unreached peoples in Central Asia.
The most significant barrier to reaching Central Asians is the belief that Jesus is the “Russian’s god.” Our team works to demonstrate, through historical investigation, that Christians lived in Central Asia for hundreds of years before Russian colonialism. We are part of a scholarly and investigative effort to reveal the lost history of Christianity in Central Asia. Your gift to this work will enable us to penetrate unreached areas and people groups and provide lectures and historical information to the Central Asian church as they share the gospel with family, friends and neighbors.
“Note, the image at the top of this webpage has been edited to enhance the detail of the cross in the stone.”
Gifts toward specific efforts show us what you are excited about. Occasionally, we may redeploy gifts as we follow God's leading with urgent opportunities or changing international contexts. Any gifts received beyond the goal go toward a similar project or our team support.
Annual Dig
Our annual dig investigates a medieval Christian community discovered eight years ago at a site in Central Asia. The project combines evangelism efforts and professional research in a location where there are few believers. Workers are uncovering lost Christian history from 700 years ago. Your gift will help mobilize local believers to participate in the physical work of the dig and share the gospel with local villagers.
Refugee Project
This project ministers to refugees who have fled the recent regime change in their own country and relocated to a nearby Central Asian country. Many of these families are scattered across the world, feeling trapped and unable to return home. Your gift will provide basic necessities, including food and housing for the refugees as they seek a more permanent solution. Gospel-sharing opportunities abound, and some have become believers.
Ark Office
Your gift will provide a workspace that is vital for the work we are seeking to accomplish. The funds will cover annual rent, utilities, and supplies for an office where our team can process recent finds and do further investigation and research.
Expanding the Gospel’s Reach (Travel)
Our work results in a lot of travel as we seek to share the gospel, disciple new believers, nurture churches, and develop leaders. Your gift helps us get to the people who most need the gospel and discipleship. It also enables us to attend trainings so we can grow in the missionary task ourselves by sharpening personal skills, biblical knowledge, and application.
Though he has worked with our team for several years, Dig 2025 was different for Rahim*.
After years of hearing why gravestones and other artifacts portray a cross, this year Rahim understood and embraced the Cross and put his faith in Jesus.
He excitedly told his wife about Christ, who soon professed her own faith in Jesus. He told workers on the field crew, who listened but made no comment. Rahim also shared Jesus with a friend, who is still contemplating the gospel.
Rahim and his wife have begun attending church services and spending time with believers so they can learn more about following Jesus.
Significant progress has been made in the historical investigation, as we discover more sites, artifacts, and connections to the eastward spread of the gospel from Jerusalem across Central Asia and into the Far and Middle East.
Local believers are excited to learn and share how Christianity existed in their region long before Islam. As we unearth new evidence, the story gains momentum.
God is using your generosity to this ministry to share the gospel with people like Rahim, as we work to uncover the history of the Church of the East in Central Asia.
Please continue joining us in prayer:
Thank you for faithfully giving and praying for this ministry. God is using you to help us engage the lost and strengthen local believers.
*Name changed
Our month-long dig began with one man named Ali* as a believer but ended with two men named Ali following Christ. The first Ali came from a life of mafia activity and constant fighting and drinking. Eventually, his wife fled with their preschooler to another region, where she heard the gospel and was saved. God transformed her life so completely that she invited Ali to join her and work on the construction crew of a local church. The time Ali spent with his wife and other believers showed him the power of Jesus, and he accepted Christ as Savior, stopped drinking, and began sharing his testimony whenever he could.
Ali’s love for Christ is evident in any interaction with him. As he served with our team at our most recent dig, Ali played Christian songs by artists who use traditional Central Asian musical instruments and sing in the local language. Those on the dig could not help but hear the salvation message again and again. One of those who heard the songs was another Ali. After listening to Ali’s Christian music, the other Ali repented and asked Jesus into his life. Now, there are two believers named Ali!
Your generosity enabled more than 10 people to hear the gospel through our dig. On the final day of work, drone flights delayed our crew. For over an hour, they sat with Ali as he shared his testimony of God’s transformation in his life. Because of the faithful intercession of believers like you, the Word of God was proclaimed and lost Central Asians heard it.
Ali’s home church committed to praying three hours a day for him as he shared his testimony at the dig. What a harmony of prayers Heaven heard, as your prayers joined with those of believers here in Central Asia, unified in asking our Father for Central Asia to become a beacon of His Light into the darkest corners of the world.
Please continue partnering with us in prayer:
Thank you for joining us in using historical investigation to reach and engage unreached peoples in Central Asia. Your partnership allows us to share Christ throughout our region.
*Names changed for security
The goal represents the cost of our team’s ministry activities for this calendar year. The Cooperative
Program and Lottie Moon Christmas Offering® (LMCO) fully fund our living expenses. The goal amount resets
every January 1st. All gifts completed through this form are directed to our team’s ministry strategy.
100% of all gifts received are used overseas as we reach the unreached with the gospel together. Click here to learn how this is made possible through
the Cooperative Program.
Giving to one of our specific team efforts allows us to know what you are excited to see God complete within
our ministry. Occasionally, we may need to redeploy gifts within our team strategy as urgent opportunities
arise, as we do our best to follow God's leading, or adjust to changing international contexts. Any gifts
received beyond the posted goal go toward a similar project or our team support.
100% of all gifts received are used overseas as we reach the unreached with the gospel together. Click here to learn how this is made
possible through the Cooperative Program.
Our living expenses are fully provided by generous churches and individuals participating in the Cooperative Program and Lottie Moon Christmas Offering® (LMCO). These gifts enable us to remain on mission without interruption. Your support is a partnership with these churches, providing for us and our colleagues through LMCO. Our team receives recognition when partners give below to make our presence here possible.
The Lottie Moon Christmas Offering® is a registered trademark of WMU.
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