(an-uh-TOHL-yuh) - Give thanks to the Lord for the churches in the central Anatolia region! These churches are very young and small, but also growing. One of the local servants/leaders has moved to a different city for a while. Pray that the Lord will raise up local leaders for these churches. Pray that these excited young believers will grow in their faith and begin to serve the local church.

God calls His children to love others, not just their neighbors or those they might dislike, but also their enemies. They are to "pray for those who . . . persecute [them]" and "do good to those who hate [them]" (Matthew 5:44 NKJV) without expecting anything in return. God wishes that none should perish, "but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9 NKJV). These statements include members of the government in Afghanistan. They were all made in God's image, and He sent His Son to die for them, as well. Like everyone else, they are all sinners in need of a Savior. Please pray that they will replace their religion of working for their salvation with a real relationship with the one true God. Ask that they will turn from their wicked ways, repent, and receive Jesus and all the power that the Holy Spirit gives to those who know Him. Pray for the redemption of their souls.

(OOZ-beks) - Regardless of the culture or location, women have a unique ability to reach and teach one another. Pray that Uzbek believing women who meet together regularly will prioritize spending time in the Word together. Pray that they will see their relationships as a time to disciple one another and build each other up. As women spend more time in the Word, pray that this will change their interactions with their husbands and children, as well as with relatives and neighbors around them.

The Turkmen of Uzbekistan live mostly in the western part of the country near the border with Turkmenistan. They are descendants of ancient nomadic tribes. Their cultural heritage reflects their identity as herdsmen. They speak Turkmen, Uzbek, and some Russian. Although many Turkmen in Uzbekistan have integrated into Uzbek society, they continue to maintain their own customs, including traditional music, dance, and cuisine. They follow Sunni Islam. It's important for believers to engage Turkmen living in Uzbekistan with the gospel since access there is much easier than it is in Turkmenistan. Pray that God will open doors for Turkmen in Uzbekistan to have relationships with believers. Pray that He will provide a way for Uzbek believers to be accepted into Turkmen communities and have many gospel-sharing opportunities. Ask God to give Turkmen believers a heart to boldly share the gospel.

(KAH-zahks) - Because of the influence of Russia and the former Soviet Union, most people in Kazakhstan speak Russian. For many Kazakhs, especially in the north, Russian is their first language. Many of them face criticism from their own people for this and are pressured to learn the Kazakh language. Pray for these Russian speakers, asking that they will understand the truth of the gospel and feel accepted. Pray for believers to grow and to use the materials that are available to do so. Ask that they will share the good news with those around them.