Sorani Kurd in United States


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Kurds are one of the largest ethno-linguistic people group in the world without their own nation. The homeland of the Kurds is in the Middle East, northwestern Iran, southeastern Turkey and the northern sections of Iraq and Syria. After WWII Kurds began to migrate from the violence and turmoil of their native land to countries in the West. About 10,000 central Kurds now make their home in the USA. Many live in San Diego and Memphis, TN. Some Kurdish families in the USA now speak English in their homes while others still speak Central Kurdish, Sorani. The majority of Kurds speak Northern Kurdish or Kurmanji. Kurds in and from Iraq speak Sorani. Sorani is written in Arabic script while Kurmanji is written in Latin letters. About one sixth of the Kurds in the USA speak Sorani.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The traditional occupation of the Kurds in their homeland was that of nomadic herding of goats and sheep. In the USA, they have had to take on new jobs such as construction, owning restaurants, small businesses and in manufacturing. Kurdish parents encourage their boys and girls to obtain a college education. Family is an essential part of Kurdish culture. The relationship between family members is close. The clan and community are more important than the individual in traditional Kurdish society. The Kurdish father is the traditional head of the home. Traditionally a Kurdish man and woman in love could not marry without both their families' permission. That policy is changing due to the individualistic nature of American society. It has always been unthinkable for an unmarried Kurdish couple to live together as Americans typically do. A woman in Kurdistan was not considered an adult unless she was married and had children. In the USA a Kurdish woman may pursue a professional career and not marry. Kurdish women and girls are supposed to dress modestly. Dressing immodestly would dishonor her family. Kurdish families in the USA often have more children than the typical American family. American Kurds tend to live in nuclear families while in Kurdistan, the land of the Kurds, they lived in extended families up to four generations under the one roof. Respecting older people is integral part of Kurdish culture. Hospitality and family honor are significant features. Many young people have started to put their own interests before that of their family and community. American school systems train young people to be independent. Kurdish families, who have moved to Western countries, have faced pressures to change. Maintaining Kurdish values and adapting to their new Western country is a difficult balancing act every Kurdish person living in the USA must face.


What Are Their Beliefs?

About 75% of the world's Kurds claim to be Sunni Muslims. Smaller Kurdish groups include Shia, Sufi, Christian and Yazidi. Sunni Kurds tend to be more tolerate of other faiths than other Muslims. Sunni Kurds try to obey the teachings of the Koran and the prophet Mohammad. They believe that by following the Five Pillars of Islam that they will attain heaven when they die. However, Allah, the supreme God of the universe, determines who enters paradise. Sunnis pray five times a day facing Mecca. They fast the month of Ramadan. They attend mosque services on Friday. If a Muslim has the means, he or she will make a pilgrimage to Mecca once in his or her lifetime. Muslims are also prohibited from drinking alcohol, eating pork, gambling, stealing, using deceit, slandering, and making idols. The two main holidays for Sunni Muslims are Eid al Fitr, the breaking of the monthly fast and Eid al Adha, the celebration of Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son to Allah. The Kurdish New Year on March 21 is celebrated as a major holiday by all Kurds regardless of religion.


What Are Their Needs?

The Kurds living in the USA must understand that biblical Christianity is not just a Western religion. They must see that their good works and devotion to family will not gain them the forgiveness of their sins or eternal life. Newly arrived Kurds need to learn English and new job skills in order to fit into their new nation.


Prayer Points

Pray the Lord leads American believers to build friendships with Kurds and tell them about their Savior. Pray that God creates a hunger for the Bible and spiritual truth in the heart of the Kurdish people living in the USA. Ask God to raise up a Disciple Making Movement among American Kurds in this decade. Pray that Kurdish leaders are willing to investigate the claims of Jesus Christ.


Scripture Prayers for the Kurd, Sorani in United States.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Kurd, Sorani
People Name in Country Kurd, Sorani
Natural Name Sorani Kurd
Pronunciation kerd
Alternate Names Central Kurd; Kurdish; Sorani
Population this Country 41,000
Population all Countries 3,950,000
Total Countries 5
Indigenous No
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 11126
ROP3 Code 101922
ROP25 Code 304412
ROP25 Name Kurd
Country United States
Region America, North and Caribbean
Continent North America
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Nashville (Elysian Fields), Dallas / Ft. Worth (South Arlington)   Source:  Global Gates 2021
Country United States
Region America, North and Caribbean
Continent North America
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Nashville (Elysian Fields), Dallas / Ft. Worth (South Arlington).   Source:  Global Gates 2021
Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
100.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Kurdish, Central (41,000 speakers)
Language Code ckb   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Kurdish, Central (41,000 speakers)
Language Code ckb   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Kurdish, Central

Primary Language:  Kurdish, Central

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1894-1993)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1994-2011)
Bible-Complete Yes  (2016-2020)
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) Online
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings DAVAR Partners recording, complete Bible DAVAR Partners International
Audio Recordings Online Scripture / NT General / Other
Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories One Story
Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories Story Runners
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Sorani Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Rock International: King of Glory Rock International
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Biblical answers to your questions Got Questions Ministry
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
General Zume Training Zume Project
Mobile App Android Bible app: Kurdish, Central YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Kurdish, Central YouVersion Bibles
Text / Printed Matter Bible Gateway scripture Bible Gateway
Text / Printed Matter Jesus Messiah comic book General / Other
Text / Printed Matter Rock International: King of Glory Rock International
Text / Printed Matter Tools for faith conversations Campus Crusade for Christ
Photo Source TheKurds.net 
Map Source TheKurds.net  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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