Azerbaijan
May 23rd

“Azerbaijan, offer yourself to God as an instrument of righteousness!”

Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. (Romans 6:13,NIV)

》 Country Profile

Continent | Central Asia
Population | 10.35 million
Area | 86,600㎢, Located on the coast of the Caspian Sea in southern Asia, between southern Russia and Iran.
Capital City | Baku (2.4 million)
People Groups | Total 39 groups, Azerbaijani 89.4%, Lezghi 1.9%, Armenian 1.3%, Russian 1.3%
People Groups Unreached | 23 (96% of the population)
Official Language(s) | Azerbaijani
Total Languages | 35
Bible Translations | Completed 19, New Testament 4, Partial 5
Religion | Christian 3.2% (Orthodox 2.5%, Independent Church 0.2%), Islam 84.4%, Non-religious 12.2% Evangelical 0.3 % 26,000 people

》 About Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan, once under Turkish rule, was annexed by Russia following the Russo-Turkish War and later integrated into the Soviet Union for 70 years starting in 1922. After gaining independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, Azerbaijan faced a decade of internal coups and the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict within its borders. Ilham Aliyev, who succeeded his father as president in 2003, consolidated an authoritarian regime by strengthening national security laws, extending presidential terms from five to seven years, and removing term limits. He has been in power for four consecutive terms since 2018. Despite the return of territories previously occupied by Armenia, sporadic military clashes continue in the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

Economically, Azerbaijan has significantly reduced poverty and developed its infrastructure with revenue from oil and gas. Since 2006, pipelines transporting oil and gas to Turkey have boosted exports. The country has also seen growth in tourism due to its relatively low costs and liberal atmosphere compared to other Islamic nations, attracting many Middle Eastern visitors. However, Azerbaijan’s heavy reliance on oil and gas, coupled with underdeveloped and opaque policies, weak financial and public sectors, presents challenges. Recognizing the limitations of an oil-dependent economy, the government has aimed to diversify by promoting petrochemical manufacturing, agriculture, and pharmaceuticals. However, the 2020 military conflict with Armenia and the COVID-19 pandemic led to economic stagnation, compounded by social issues such as high youth unemployment and divorce rates.
Azerbaijan’s GDP per capita is approximately $13,700.

》 Scripture Focus

》 Prayer Points

1. Christians make up 3.2% of Azerbaijan’s population, including approximately 26,000 evangelicals who continue to grow in number, for which we are grateful. Despite government persecution, including the illegal confiscation of church buildings, congregations like the Baptist Church, Grace Church, and Word of Life Church in Baku persist in gathering for worship. House church meetings, though not officially documented, remain active, particularly in the capital, though less so in rural areas. Government informants often attend these gatherings, and raids are common. Possession of banned religious materials can result in fines. A lack of training for house church leaders leaves them vulnerable to misinterpreting Scripture and external heretical teachings. Pray that Azerbaijan’s small community of believers will steadfastly live as those “dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus,” offering their lives wholly to God as instruments of righteousness.

2. Foreign Christians and missionaries face significant challenges due to anti-conversion laws. Many pursue mission work through development projects, education, or private businesses to create opportunities for sharing the Gospel. Local churches, Bible schools, and house church networks are dedicated to spreading the Gospel across the country. However, activities such as teaching children, publishing religious materials, or engaging in religious discussions with foreigners are heavily restricted. Over the past 20 years, the government has amended its religious laws 13 times to obstruct church registrations and criminalize the distribution of religious literature with severe penalties. Missionaries often face deportation, denial of visas, or expulsion, while converts frequently endure opposition from their families, social discrimination, and job loss. Pray for missionaries, workers, and believers in Azerbaijan to stand firm in the Gospel, knowing that “death no longer has dominion” over them, and to continue boldly sharing their faith.

3. The Gospel must reach every city and village in Azerbaijan. Many untapped opportunities exist to demonstrate God’s compassion to refugees from repeated conflicts and the impoverished suffering from economic disparities. Workers are needed to evangelize Caucasus ethnic groups, including the Lezgins, Avars, Tsakhurs, Kryz, and Budukhs. Similarly, efforts must expand to share the Gospel with minority Indo-Iranian groups like the Talysh, Tats, and Kurds. Pray for the message of the cross to bring salvation to the unreached peoples of this land, that they may know the grace that reigns over sin, breaking its power.

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