More than any other Central Asian people, the Kyrgyz have clung to their traditional way of life as nomadic cattle breeders. They have also maintained their tribal organization. The basic unit of their society is the "extended family," which consists of between five and fifteen families who have all descended from a common ancestor. Villages are formed by combining five to seven extended families. Above the villages are numerous clans and tribes.

What are their lives like?
The Kyrgyz have been forced to adapt to the rigorous conditions of daily life in Tajikistan. Climate and altitude are both extreme, with heavy snow covering the ground for as long as nine months of the year, and temperatures sometimes falling to minus 40 degrees F. To avoid the long bitter winters, the Kyrgyz travel from place to place, living in thick felt-covered tents called yurts. They move these homes only short distances during the winter months, taking shelter by the sunnier edges of the mountains. Then, they move to the plateaus for grazing during the summer months.

The Kyrgyz depend entirely on their animals for survival. They have particularly hardy and adaptable breeds of sheep, goats, yaks, horses, and camels. Not only are the animals used for food and exchange, but they also provide the only means of transportation in the region. The people, like the animals, must be able to endure these harsh conditions. Outsiders visiting the region are often vulnerable to altitude sickness (which causes severe headaches), nausea, and breathing problems. Such incidences can even be fatal.

The Kyrgyz women enjoy more freedoms than do most other Central Asian women. For example, they are not required to wear veils; they are allowed to talk to men; and they may freely ride about on the grasslands. Although they work hard, their position in the household is considered important and respected.

The men devote themselves almost entirely to caring for the animals. They dress in baggy leather pants and coarse shirts. Outer coats made of cotton or wool are also worn. Embroidered felt skull caps are common; however, on important occasions, the wealthier men may wear tall steeple-crowned hats made of felt or velvet and embroidered with gold. Their favorite gear includes their belts, saddles, and bridles, which are sometimes covered with gold and precious stones. While the women dress in the same style clothing as the men, their shirts are usually longer and go all the way down to their heels.

Music and story telling are important parts of the Kyrgyz culture. They also make a wide variety of musical instruments. Verbal folklore has been very well developed over the years. Folk tales are often sung, accompanied by a three-stringed guitar called a dombra.

What are their beliefs?
Islam penetrated Central Asia during the late sixteenth century. The Sufites were almost entirely responsible for turning the Kyrgyz to Islam. The rapid spread of Islam was aided by the strong clan system of the people.

Today, the Ferghana Valley is one of the most religious regions of Central Asia. However, in reality, the Kyrgyz sometimes have more of a social attachment to Islam than a spiritual one.

What are their needs?
The harsh nomadic lifestyle of the Kyrgyz has made them nearly inaccessible with the Gospel. Today, there are no known Kyrgyz believers living in Tajikistan, even though four missions agencies are working among them.

Prayer Points

• Ask the Lord of the harvest to send forth laborers into Tajikistan.
• Pray that God will raise up prayer teams to go and break up the soil through worship and intercession.
• Ask God to grant favor and wisdom to the missions agencies that are targeting the Kyrgyz.
• Pray for effectiveness of the Jesus film among the Kyrgyz.
• Ask God to anoint the Gospel as it goes forth via radio to the Kyrgyz.
• Pray that God will reveal Himself to these precious people through dreams and visions.
• Ask the Holy Spirit to soften their hearts towards Christians so that they will be receptive to the Gospel.
• Ask the Lord to raise up strong local churches among the Kyrgyz by the year 2000.

THE PEOPLE

• People name: Kyrgyz
• Country: Tajikistan
• Their language: Kyrgyz
• Population: (1990) 66,300
  (1995) 76,500
  (2000) 87,400
• Largest religion: Muslim (Hanafites) 45%
  Nonreligious 45%
  Atheist 10%
• Christians: None
• Church members: None
• Scriptures in their own language: New Testament
• Jesus Film in their own language: Available
• Christian broadcasts in their own language: Available
• Mission agencies working among this people: 4
• Persons who have heard the Gospel: 19,100 (25%) Those evangelized by local Christians: 0
  Those evangelized from the outside: 19,100 (25%)
• Persons who have never heard the Gospel: 57,400 (75%)

• Country: Tajikistan
• Population: (1990) 5,287,200
  (1995) 6,101,000
  (2000) 6,927,600
• Major peoples in size order: Tajik 59.6%
  Northern Uzbek 23.5%
  Russian 7.6%
  Tatar 1.4%
  Kyrgyz 1.2%
• Major religions: Muslim 88.1%
  Nonreligious 5.9%
  Atheist 3.4%
• Number of denominations: 14