The Uzbeks are a Turkic people group located primarily in Central Asia. The earliest ancestors of the Uzbeks, the Central Asian Turks, aided Genghis Khan in his conquest of Eastern Europe in the 1300s. Eventually, as unity between the Turks and Mongols faded, numerous warring kingdoms were formed. It was from several of these kingdoms that the Uzbeks descended. By the mid-1800s, most of the Uzbeks had been conquered by the Russians. They lived under czarist rule until the Bolshevik Revolution brought the communists to power in 1917. The new socialist government forced many of the Uzbek nomads and farmers to live on collective farms. When the Soviet Union broke up in 1991, Uzbekistan became an independent nation. At that time, some of them managed to leave for Western countries like Belgium in search of better jobs and education.

Most Uzbeks live in the Central Asian countries, especially Uzbekistan. A few have managed to migrate to Western countries like Belgium.

The number of Uzbeks in Belgium is so small that they escape notice for the most part. There are two Uzbek/Turkmen restaurants in Brussels, so some probably work in the restaurant industry while others work in the Uzbek embassy.

Uzbeks were traditionally Sunni Muslims, but Islam was weakened during the decades of harsh communist enforced secularism. There are mosques in Belgium where Uzbeks can meet other Muslims, but many of them are secularized. For many, Islam is part of their culture and identity, but not a heart-felt spiritual guide. Though they are a people group yet to be reached for Christ, the Northern Uzbeks do have Christian resources in their language: they have the New Testament, Old Testament Bible portions, along with the JESUS Film and other audio/visual productions.

The Uzbek people in Belgium need to submit to Jesus Christ so they can experience the abundant life He offers them in John 10:10.

* Scripture Prayers for the Uzbek, Northern in Belgium.

Pray that the Uzbek people in Belgium will have a spiritual hunger that will open their hearts to the King of kings. Pray for workers who are driving by the love and boldness of the Holy Spirit to go to them. Pray for a disciple making movement among them to begin this decade.