Turkmenistan: Shining Christ's Light Amid Spiritual Poverty

Q: Is Turkmenistan a Rich or Poor Country?

While Turkmenistan has vast natural gas and oil wealth, government corruption and mismanagement have left most citizens in poverty. According to the CIA World Factbook, 40 percent of the population is unemployed, and 31 percent live below the poverty line, despite the country's resources.

Q: Is Turkmenistan a Dictatorship?

Turkmenistan is considered an authoritarian dictatorship. Power is concentrated in the hands of the president who rules with an iron fist. There are no real opposition parties, elections are not free or fair, and the government strictly controls all aspects of public life.

Q: Can Turkmenistan Citizens Leave the Country?

The government makes it very difficult for citizens to travel abroad. Getting an exit visa is prohibitively expensive and complicated for most Turkmen. The authorities want to prevent people from fleeing the oppressive conditions and poverty.

Mission Eurasia works in Turkmenistan and the other countries of Eurasia to train and equip young Christian leaders for effective ministry.

Turkmenistan: Shining Christ's Light Amid Spiritual Poverty

“In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I cried for help. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears.”

Psalm 18:6

Mission Eurasia and Turkmenistan

While Turkmenistan is one of the world's most repressive and isolated countries, Mission Eurasia is working here to train and equip young Christian leaders who can shine the light of the gospel throughout this Muslim-majority nation.

Join us in supporting our School Without Walls program in Turkmenistan and help us empower young leaders to share the gospel in this difficult land. Please pray for our graduates like Yusup who are boldly living for Christ despite the many challenges:

YUSUP’S STORY

“My name is Yusup. I am 29 and I live in Turkmenistan. When I was 16, I heard about Jesus for the first time from my friends and I started going to the underground church. I remember one day when we got together to read the Bible and worship God, police officers broke into the building, arrested us all, and took us to the police station. They beat me very badly and told me that if I continued going to the services, I would have huge problems—then they let me go. When I got home, my parents didn’t allow me to leave the house for a while after that. So, I stopped going to the underground church.

“The time went by. In 2017, I was invited to a birthday party and there I ran into my old friend who was a Christian. We used to go to the underground church together. He started telling me about the Lord, and my heart started beating faster. The fire to know about God was lit in my heart and my life again.

“After that encounter, I started going to underground Bible studies held in different people’s homes. That was when I was offered the opportunity to do a SWW course. Thanks to this course, my faith has been strengthened, and I started sharing about the Lord with others! Please pray for me, for my SWW studies, and for those with whom I am sharing the gospel so that they would come to know the Lord too. Pray the Lord would protect us and our underground SWW, as there are a lot of dangers and threats. We always take risks (by gathering), but we do it because we know that we need Christ to grow spiritually.”

Prayer Requests

Please pray for our leaders who are working tirelessly in one of the world’s most repressive and isolated countries to establish and expand our SWW program.
Please pray for those who are crushed by poverty and government oppression. Pray that they would find hope and freedom in Christ.
Please pray for our leaders who are ministering to the young people of the nation. Pray that, despite persecution and hardship, they would continue reaching the Next Generation.
Please pray that corruption in Turkmenistan would come to an end, and that God would put the righteous in places of authority.

Please give generously so that more brave believers like Yusup can be trained as leaders and share the hope of Christ with their countrymen. Your support makes an eternal difference in this nation so desperately in need of the gospel. Thank you for your prayers and partnership!

"In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I cried for help. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears." - Psalm 18:6

Please Help Us Bring Hope to Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan is one of the world's most repressive and isolated countries, yet Mission Eurasia is working here to train and equip young Christian leaders who can shine the light of the gospel throughout this Muslim-majority nation.

Join us in supporting our School Without Walls program in Turkmenistan and help us empower young leaders to share the gospel in this difficult land. Please donate today and make a difference in the lives of those who need it most.

DONATE

A Fervent Plea for Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan is one of our most difficult ministry fields, ranking 29th on the 2024 Open Doors World Watch List of the 50 worst countries for Christian persecution. The U.S. government classifies Turkmenistan as a "Country of Particular Concern," and Human Rights Watch condemns it as one of the most repressive and isolated countries in the world. Our colleagues there regularly face harassment and threats of arrest and imprisonment.

After gaining independence from the Soviet Union, Turkmenistan has essentially remained an authoritarian cult of personality. The first president was "president for life" until his death in 2006, and the next president—a former official under the first president—suspiciously won his second and third elections with almost the entire vote. After ending his presidency in 2022, his son won the ensuing election. Despite possessing 10 percent of the world's natural gas reserves and tremendous oil resources, widespread corruption and Islam keep Turkmenistan's people in both physical and spiritual poverty. These factors have caused massive emigration; however, the government has also actively prevented nationals from leaving.

Changed Lives

‘Yarovaya Law’ vs. Religious Freedom

Standing Firm in Faith: Religious Freedom Prayer Requests

Faith Under Fire: Turkmenistan’s Courageous Believers

Questions People ask about Turkmenistan

Is Turkmenistan a Rich or Poor Country?

Is Turkmenistan a Dictatorship?

Can Turkmenistan Citizens Leave the Country?

Is Turkmenistan Open to Tourists?

Turkmenistan issues only a small number of tourist visas each year. All tourists must be accompanied by a guide and have a detailed itinerary approved in advance. Independent travel is not allowed, and there are many areas foreigners cannot access.

Religiously, Turkmenistan is 94 percent Muslim, roughly 4 percent Christian—mostly Russian Orthodox—and roughly 2 percent non-religious. Approximately one-tenth of 1 percent of the population are evangelical Christian. Religious registration is highly prohibitive, and all religious literature is censored. Therefore, most evangelical church activity takes place underground.

Despite these harsh conditions, you helped Mission Eurasia introduce the School Without Walls (SWW) program in Turkmenistan nearly a decade ago. Fast forward to 2024 and you are still continually supporting our SWW training: this year for 23 leaders. Please pray for the safety and growth of these leaders and their families who are reaching their neighbors and relatives with the gospel and helping edify and grow the local church.

Nine Places to Visit in Turkmenistan

Ashgabat - The capital city is known for its grandiose white marble buildings, golden statues, and elaborate fountains. Key sites include the Ruhy Mosque, Independence Monument, and Neutrality Arch.
Darvaza Gas Crater - Also called the "Door to Hell", this burning natural gas field has been ablaze since 1971 when Soviet engineers set it on fire. The otherworldly glow of the fire against the desert darkness is an unforgettable sight.
Merv - This UNESCO World Heritage site was once one of the world's largest cities. The archaeological ruins span 4,000 years of history from the Persian Achaemenid Empire to the Soviet period.
Konye-Urgench - Another UNESCO site, this was once the glorious capital of the medieval Khwarezm Empire. It features the striking 60m-high Gutlug-Timur Minaret and several ornately tiled mausoleums.
Nisa - The ruins of the ancient Parthian capital of Nisa form another of Turkmenistan's UNESCO sites. Visitors can explore the remains of palaces, temples and tombs from the third century BC.
Yangykala Canyon - These dramatic 60m limestone cliffs extend over 25km, displaying striking bands of pink, red and yellow rock. Carved by wind and water over millennia, it's a remote and beautiful natural wonder.
Kow Ata Underground Lake - Located 100m below ground in a natural cavern, this thermal sulfur lake stays at 33-37°C yearround. The mineral-rich blue water is said to have healing properties.
Nokhur - This traditional village in the Kopetdag Mountains offers a glimpse into age-old Turkmen culture and lifestyle. The setting amid alpine meadows is idyllic.
Repetek Biosphere Reserve - This vast protected desert reserve is home to rare flora and fauna specially adapted to the harsh climate. The Repetek Natural Museum showcases the area's unique ecology and history.