In Azerbaijan, some women struggle to find good jobs as cultural and familial expectations close certain doors of opportunity. Yet when women start their own businesses, there is more freedom for them to flourish.
OM has a business training project to help people start small businesses and become financially independent. They also offer microloans to national believers who successfully complete the training, like Mariam.* After receiving training and a small loan, she opened a small market in her neighbourhood, where most people were Muslims.
Mariam wanted to have a successful business, but more than that she wanted a fruitful one. Having also received discipleship training from OM, she desired to use her market for the Kingdom. She sold groceries, such as bread, sweets and tea.
Shortly after opening her shop, she hired Sama* to help her. Sama was not a perfect employee. Sometimes she came to work late and made mistakes, but Mariam showed her love and grace. This surprised Sama, who was a Muslim. One day she asked Mariam, “Why do you always show me love? Even though I’ve made a lot of mistakes, you haven’t fired me.”
Mariam replied, “God loves me, and I love you. I also want to teach you that you can work better.”
Sama had a lot of questions about Mariam’s faith. During work breaks, Mariam patiently showed her the answers to her questions in the Bible. After three months of discipleship, Sama became a Christian.
They decided to hire another woman, Ariana,* to help them. Similar to Sama, she was a Muslim when she began working in the market, and she became curious about Jesus after spending time with them. They treated her with love and kindness. When she made mistakes, they showed her grace. After about a year, she also decided to follow Jesus.
Now the three of them — three sisters in Christ — work on a rotation: two work in the market, one in the morning and the other in the afternoon, and the third does ministry outside of the market. The next day, they switch, and a different person does outside ministry. Focused on discipleship of women, their ministry is varied. Some days they meet and share the good news with women who are interested in Jesus. Other days they read the Bible with believers to encourage their spiritual growth. They disciple women both in their own neighbourhood and in distant villages where they have connections.
Please pray for many women to experience Jesus’ love through these sisters. May this business shine as a bright light in the neighbourhood. May more businesses with a heart for ministry start in the Caucasus.
*name changed
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