This summer, seven students and one staff member from Oak Hill College travelled to Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. The trip aimed to help students reflect missiologically about how Jesus may be served in these contexts as part of Oak Hill’s desire to see the church, in the UK and around the world, flourish. Tim, a student on the trip reflects on their time and some lessons for us all:
Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan are strange and beautiful places seemingly in between worlds. They feel strikingly modern in their shopping malls and glitzy districts, yet also raw and traditional in bazaars and potholed roads. Islam is a strong cultural marker, though less evident in daily practice. Soviet influence lingers – especially in Kazakhstan – while young people are increasingly drawn toward Western ideas.
Tourism, missiology-style
There was a glut of historic sites to visit, and each of them gave crucial insights into the Uzbek mind – an essential background to have if one is to serve there cross-culturally. In Tashkent, the statue of Amir Temur loomed, his motto in English: “Strength in Justice”. Lionised as a devout Muslim and empire-builder, his ruthlessness told another story.
In Bukhara, blistering heat surrounded an ancient city centre of Islamic treasures. The Kalon Tower – spared by Genghis Khan – stood beside a mosque now filled with souvenir stalls and carpet traders. Although there are many outwardly impressive signs of Islam’s dominance, and people certainly outwardly consider Islam to be core to their sense of identity, the inner and lived reality is far more nominal and superficial.
This reflects Islamic spirituality in the region: outwardly dominant but inwardly thin. Calls to prayer were rare, and local believers noted how shallow people’s knowledge of their own faith often was. Islam here is nominal, folk-infused and, among younger generations, increasingly unattractive.
This leaves a sense of opportunity. With Soviet Communism receding and Islam’s dominance less firm, space is opening. The internet is reshaping faith for young Central Asians, exposing them to doubt as well as new ideas – including the gospel.
All this being said, the great sense of opportunity also comes with a serious note of caution. Local believers noted how conversion from Islam (however nominal) to Christianity often comes at great personal cost. Persecution such as threats, attacks and ostracism from friends and family is commonplace, and the Uzbek authorities in particular still like to keep a very close eye on gatherings of Christians. Moreover, local believers also reported that an alternative response to nominal, half-hearted Islam is to double-down on a more conservative and fundamentalist form of the faith.
By all accounts, this stricter kind of Islam is becoming increasingly attractive to local people and Muslim leaders from other parts of the world are wasting no time in sending imams to propagate it. Exciting as spiritual opportunity may be, it is very clear that Central Asia, spiritually-speaking, hangs in the balance.
“M-work” in Central Asia
For those serving here, mission work is deeply relational. Hospitality eases the way, but overt critiques of Islam are counterproductive. Instead, missionaries embed themselves in language and culture, building friendships where faith conversations can unfold naturally. One local missionary told us of a long-term friendship whereby her good friend’s eyes were spectacularly opened to the truth that only a sinless substitute could pay for her sin, which is exactly what God incarnate was willing and able to do. And so another entered the Kingdom, a precious Kazakh sister.
Our short-term trip made this relational depth stark. We depended on translation apps, English speakers, and patience for our cultural clumsiness. Real fruit requires years of dedication. Perhaps some of us will be called to give just that. Even so, God gave us reminders of His presence through unexpected conversations and gospel opportunities.
There are many more stories – border chaos, sheep’s head meals, early morning prayer walks. But the deepest impression was of the believers we met. Islam in Central Asia remains highly visible, but we also saw the humble marks of the Spirit of God at work.
There was no grand architecture, no proud history of military largesse, no obvious displays of external religiosity. But in their homes we witnessed joyful hearts, vibrant family life, abundant food and humble prayer. We heard testimonies of sharing Jesus when you’re essentially the only Christian around.
We enjoyed listening to husbands and wives singing in Kazakh a simple worship song, praising our Lord Jesus. We saw, in essence, a tiny but powerful branch of the Kingdom of God bursting out of the mustard seed in a faraway land. God is there. God is on the move.
As our host told us as we closed the evening off: “Tell people at home that there are Kazakh Christians. We are here. Pray for us.” Our team is committed to exactly this. Might you be?
