February 27 - Pray for: Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan remains a politically volatile nation. The conflict with Armenia remains unresolved, with both sides manipulating the suffering of many for their own advantage. Regional tensions - involving Russia and its southern republics, Turkey, Georgia, Iran and with NATO - complicate matters further. Azerbaijani military spending is at an all-time high, and no long-term solution to any problem has been found, with most players being intransigent on key issues. Pray for stability and a genuine will to make peace in and around Azerbaijan.

The Church faces intensifying opposition, even as it grows. Many churches find intimidation, surveillance and obstructionist tactics increasingly common. Despite these, there is relative freedom to share the gospel sensitively - many Azeris are Muslim out of cultural affiliation rather than deliberate choice. Pray that Christian witness to the majority Muslim population may be with humility, wisdom and love.

Nagorno-Karabakh existed as an almost entirely Armenian enclave from the end of the first Nagorno-Karabakh War in 1994 until September 2023. While formally part of Azerbaijan, it functioned as the Republic of Artsakh. After the victory of the Azerbaijan armed forces, virtually the entire population of Armenians fled Artsakh to Armenia. Allegations of ethnic cleansing and even genocide were brought against Azerbaijan. Pray for the end of ethnic-based conflict in the region; this will take a true work of God. Pray that the centuries of hatred might be overcome through Christ, the one who reconciles.

The unreached:

• Most Azerbaijani towns and villages have never been evangelized.
• The poor and displaced. Employment opportunities (outside of the fortunate few in the oil industry), clean water supplies and long-term solutions related to the 800,000 displaced are all needs. There are many untapped ways of showing Christian compassion to them.
• The Caucasus peoples are mostly Muslim and unevangelized. The only exceptions are Georgians and Udi, who are traditionally Orthodox. Pray for the Lezgi, Avar, Tsakhur, Kryz and Buduq peoples, the most populous of these peoples.
• The Indo-Iranian-speaking minorities of Talysh, Tat and Kurds are unreached.