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In 1991, there were only 40 known Christians in Azerbaijan. Today, more than 10,000 Jesus followers live out their faith in the Muslim-majority country. Ali* and Zahra* are two of them.
Married in 2024, Ali and Zahra previously worked with OM in Baku, the capital, before moving to another city in Azerbaijan. The reason: to share about the hope found in Christ with those who had never experienced it.
Before making the move, the couple spent months travelling between Baku and the new city, making connections, reaching out and asking the Lord where He wanted them. Both felt that the city was indeed the right place. “I really love [this city] and love its people because they’re my people,” Zahra shared, having grown up in the area. Though Ali grew up elsewhere, he felt that “God [gave me] this endless love in my heart toward the city.”
Ali and Zahra use various avenues to connect with people, including social media, prayer walks and aid distribution. Once a relationship has been established, the couple invites people to go through Scripture together in a Discovery Bible Study (DBS) and learn more about Christ.
“Most of the people we meet with — the seekers — have been found through the social media ads,” shared Ali.
OM’s media ministry in the Caucasus region connects with people through ads and posts on various social media platforms. Those interested in a free Bible can request and receive one; sometimes through the mail, other times, through a face-to-face meeting with a Jesus follower, such as Ali or Zahra. In Azerbaijan, various religious books are sold in stores and online, but “they’re really expensive,” Ali explained. “When people see that someone is ready to give them [a Bible] for free, they welcome it.”
When arranging a time to hand over the Bible, recipients are invited to have a 10 or 15-minute conversation. Some people are suspicious, wondering why, but Ali and others involved in the ministry reply that they want to ask a few questions. Ali’s favourite two questions to ask are: “Why are you interested in reading this book?” And “What does this book mean to you?” “I mostly use these two questions, but some extras arise due to the context and conversation,” Ali said.
“Many people ask, ‘Why do you give the Bible freely?’” recalled Zahra. “My answer is that this book really changed my life. The reason why I continue sharing the Bible is because it’s a powerful book, and I think everyone should read it in their lifetime at least once.”
Social media has proven to be an effective way to share the hope of Christ with people in Azerbaijan, “because the soil is already prepared,” shared Ali. “People know that they’re going to get a Bible and the conversation will be about Christianity and Jesus Himself.”
To respect local culture, men talk with men and women with women. If the recipient is interested in learning more, Ali, Zahra or others involved in the ministry ask if they would like to read the Bible together, and if there is someone else they would like to invite. Not every person says yes, but each person who does is a celebration.
Between DBS meetings, Ali or Zahra check in with participants, inquiring if they are applying what was discussed in the DBS and sharing it with others. “Sometimes people would say they forgot or it’s so busy that there was no time,” said Ali. “This is why we continue talking with the person during the week and giving them a gentle reminder.”
Four of the six DBS groups the couple meets with were formed from contacts made through distributing Bibles. The groups range from singles to families to groups of friends. Tunar* meets one-on-one to do DBS with Ali and has started sharing the hope of the Bible with his roommates. “We’re really hoping that he can start doing DBS with them and be a second-generation group,” Ali said. The couple dreams of seeing each group grow and multiply as people share the good news with others.
One of the ways Zahra and Nilay*, another Jesus follower, make connections is by going on prayer walks throughout the city. “We can simply approach strangers and ask for their prayer needs and pray for them,” shared Zahra. “It also helps us to launch the conversation. And after the prayer, sometimes, the question in their mind is: Who are they? So that’s how the relationship starts.”
During one prayer walk, Zahra and Nilay wrote down encouragements on slips of paper. Each woman they met that day was offered the choice between a piece of paper or a candy. Often, those who took the paper said that the words were relevant to their lives and something they really needed to hear.
After receiving some funds from their church, Ali and Zahra organised aid packages containing staple items to give to 17 families during the holiday season around Easter and Ramadan. From the 17 families, the couple stayed in touch with five families and started a DBS with two of them. Inci* is the mother of six daughters and one son. After meeting her family, Zahra offered to teach the children English. Twice a week, Zahra and Ali visit, spending an hour studying English and an hour going through Scripture together.
One of the group’s regular prayer requests was a job for Inci’s husband. After a few months, their prayers were answered, and he got a job.
Zahra and Ali have noticed a difference in the 17 families over the course of their journey with them. When they first met, the families often only discussed the challenges they faced. As the couple visited regularly and built relationships, mindsets started to shift. People were less focused on their physical needs and enjoyed spending time together. Through Ali and Zahra, they felt the love and care of Christ and began to look to Him for their needs.
Though they’ve only been working in their new city for a short time, Ali and Zahra have seen people change as they experience the hope and freedom found in Christ.
Join with us in prayer for Jesus followers in Azerbaijan, for strength and opportunities to grow. Pray for those who request a Bible, that they will read it and see the Truth. Pray for those working to share the hope of Christ, for encouragement and perseverance.
*name changed
**statistics from https://operationworld.org/locations/azerbaijan/
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