People group profile · PG024630
The Ossetians of Turkmenistan
The Ossetians of Turkmenistan, numbering about 2,600 people, are Unengaged and Unreached. They are an Eastern Iranian ethnic group indigenous to Ossetia, a homeland that is politically divided between North Ossetia-Alania in Russia and South Ossetia, a Russian-occupied territory of Georgia.
They are a diaspora people in the Persian people cluster of the Persian-Median Peoples. Their primary religion is Sunni Islam, and they primarily speak Iron Ossetic.
Fast facts
- Country
- Turkmenistan
- Population
- 2,600
- Affinity group
- European Peoples
- People cluster
- Persian
- Primary language
- Iron Ossetic (oss)
- 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
- Region
- Central Asia, Asia
Where they live
Gospel status
The Ossetians 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 Ossetians
- 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
40% adherents
Primary language
Iron Ossetic · Indo-European family
100% speak Iron Ossetic
Gospel resources in Iron Ossetic
- Bible available
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
- JESUS (Osetin)
Bibles
- 2002 Institute for Bible Translation, Moscow · video, audio, text
- 2004 Institute Bible Translation, Moscow · audio, text
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Ossetians
- 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.
- Matthew 9:37–38. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest field.
Ossetian in other countries
The same people (ROP3 107699) is reported in 5 other countries.
| People group | Country | Population | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ossetians | Russian Federation | 445,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Ossetians | Turkiye | 44,500 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Ossetians | Uzbekistan | 11,000 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Ossetians | Azerbaijan | 3,400 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Ossetians | Kazakhstan | 2,800 | Unengaged and Unreached |
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