Pray for the establishment of God’s kingdom in this largely Muslim nation.

Name: Republic of Azerbaijan

Area: 86,600 sq km

Caucasian republic on the Caspian Sea, including a 5,632 sq km enclave, Nakhichevan, between Armenia and Iran, and the disputed 4,400 sq km region of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Population: 8,933,928

Annual Growth: 1.11%

Capital: Baku

Urbanites: 52.2%

HDI Rank: 86 of 182 (UN Human Development Reports 2009)

Peoples: 40 (63% unreached)

Official language: Azerbaijani

Languages: 34

Largest Religion: Muslim

Answer to Prayer

An Azeri Church has emerged, although not without trials. A reasonable estimate places the number of Azeri Christians in the country at 6,000; a more verifiable total would be 3,000. Either one marks solid growth since 1991 – when there were a mere 40 Christians. Azeri Christian music, literature, poetry and other expressions of worship and culture are beginning to flourish. The number of ethnic Azeris in Iran who follow Christ is much higher.

Challenge for Prayer

The economic boom associated with oil will not last long, and is predicted to dry up before 2025. The bonanza sees Baku blossom with wealthy elite and luxury goods. Outside of the capital, little effect is observable. Promised economic reforms have lagged, but it is vital that the current wealth is invested heavily into long-term infrastructure and into developing other sources of income.

Source: http://www.operationworld.org/azer