People group profile · PG024092
The Ahiska Turks of Azerbaijan
The Ahiska Turks of Azerbaijan, numbering about 27,000 people, are Unengaged and Unreached. They are ethnic Turks whose identity is rooted in the Ahiska (Meskheti) region of southern Georgia, near the Turkish border. Their modern history is defined by forced deportation, repeated displacement, statelessness, and diaspora.
They are a diaspora people in the Turkic people cluster of the Turkic Peoples. Their primary religion is Sunni Islam, and they primarily speak Turkish.
Fast facts
- Country
- Azerbaijan
- Population
- 27,000
- Affinity group
- Central Asian Peoples
- People cluster
- Turkic
- Primary language
- Turkish (tur)
- Primary religion
- Sunni Islam
- Strategic Progress Index
- Unengaged and Unreached
- Evangelical
- No Known Evangelicals
- GSEC
- Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
- Lostness priority
- Frontier Unreached People Group
- Also known as
- Meskhetian Turk, Turkish Meskhetian, Ahiska Turk, Turkish Ahiskan
- Region
- Western Asia, Asia
Where they live
Gospel status
The Ahiska Turks are Unengaged and Unreached, which means fewer than 2% are evangelical Christians, and there has been no reported church planting activity in the past two years. In GSEC terms, this people group is less than 2% evangelical, some evangelical resources are available, but there has been no active church planting among them within the past two years.
- Congregations exist No
- Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted
Next steps for the Ahiska Turks
- Pray that God would send workers to this people group
- Begin sowing the gospel and seek out people of peace
- Plant the first churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice
Primary religion
Sunni Islam · Islam
100% adherents
Primary language
Turkish · Turkic family
100% speak Turkish
Gospel resources in Turkish
- Bible available
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
- Magdalena (Turkish)
- The Savior (Turkish)
Bibles
- Halk Dilinde 2012 · audio, text
- Kutsal Kitap 2009 · audio, text
- New Turkish Bible Translation · video
- Yeni Antlaşma 1987, 1994 · audio, text
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Ahiska Turks
- Matthew 9:37–38. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest field.
- 2 Timothy 2:2. Pray for faithful local leaders who will teach others, so that the church multiplies.
- Ephesians 5:8. Pray that those walking in darkness will turn to the light and live as children of light.
- Romans 10:14–15. Ask God to send messengers, so that people can hear, believe and call on the name of the Lord.
Ahiska (Meskheti) Turk in other countries
The same people (ROP3 115687) is reported in 5 other countries.
| People group | Country | Population | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ahiska Turks | Uzbekistan | 197,000 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Ahiska Turks | Russian Federation | 80,000 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Ahiska Turks | Kyrgyzstan | 18,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Ahiska Turks | United States | 11,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Ahiska Turks | Ukraine | 8,000 | Unengaged and Unreached |
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