Aghul in Russia

People Name:	Aghul
Country:	Russia
10/40 Window:	No
Population:	34,000
World Population:	34,000
Primary Language:	Aghul
Primary Religion:	Islam
Christian Adherents:	0.01 %
Evangelicals:	0.01 %
Scripture:	Portions
Ministry Resources:	Yes
Jesus Film:	No
Audio Recordings:	Yes
People Cluster:	Caucasus
Affinity Bloc:	Eurasian Peoples
Progress Level:

Introduction / History

The beautiful Aghul people live in 21 villages within a semi-autonomous republic inside of Russia, called Dagestan. Dagestan means “land of Mountains”. The Aghul people speak Aghul language which is within the Lezghi language family. The Aghul also learn Russian language in the schools. Ethnically, the Aghuls are close to the Lezghin.

Since 1997, there is an international social network of Caucasus Region Partnering (NCRP) of Christ-honoring ministries, within and beyond Russia, functioning to assist the Body of Christ working together to represent Jesus honorably among all the Caucasus people groups, including Dagestan. The motto of this network is “honorable relationships at the speed of trust”.

What Are Their Lives Like?

The Aghul live a rugged mountain lifestyle, proud of their highly-esteemed toughness. The societal qualities of grace, forgiveness, compassion are typically in short supply. In summertime, the Aghul shepherds with swarms of sheep traverse the lowland territories and temporarily block roads and congest small villages, before they pass on through—heading either further downhill or back up into the high Aghul elevations.

Though Aghul men are renowned shepherds, many also work in construction in urban centers during the winter season, while the women of the family keep mountain village households going during the long winter months.

What Are Their Beliefs?

The Aghul are entirely Muslim, actively practicing Sunni Islam, regularly inviting Arab religious leaders to teach. The Aghul were converted to Islam after the Arab conquest of the 8th Century. The Aghul have active international cross-flow of Islamic teaching, with forms of Islam from the Arabian peninsula.

What Are Their Needs?

The Aghul language is like a rare butterfly and, so, linguistic services & language preservation are most appropriate.

Jesus was clearly thinking of precious ones like the Agul when it's recorded, "...he looked on the multitudes with compassion, because they were distressed and downcast, like sheep without a shepherd" (Matt.9:36). The Agul, more than most, would vividly understand what it's like for “sheep to be without a shepherd.”

There are currently very few known Agul believers, but there is more hope. Through long perseverance, the Gospel of Luke has been completed in Agul, both in written and audio form. A second publication on the Parables of Luke was also prepared, with illustrations. The Lord’s Prayer has been translated into Aghul language.

Prayer Points

Pray for OBT (Oral Bible Translation) process to achieve some full audio books of the Bible.
Pray for people of peace (Lk.10:6) to notice when representatives of the gospel of grace come near to them.
Praise to God for answers, after 25+ years of prior prayer for “the right people at the right times,” Dagestani-background Christ-followers as well as Azerbaijani-background Christ-followers are building honorable trust relationships in the midst of Aghul culture.