Reaching Muslims

Ministry in the North Caucasus

Shukhrad Obidov is the pastor of the only Christian church in the predominately Muslim western region of the North Caucasus where he lives. He was born to a Muslim family in Tajikistan, where, after the collapse of the Soviet Union in the 1990s, a severe civil war began at the hands of Islamic extremists. “For many years,” Shukhrad explains, “the country was engulfed in murder and chaos. The most terrible thing, however, was that they connected and justified their actions with the name of God. This became the beginning of deep disappointment with Islam, and with all my former beliefs, traditions and ideals.”

Shukhrad and his wife soon immigrated to Russia where they settled with their family. His wife began attending a Christian church and he would occasionally read passages from her Bible but his heart was not stirred. “Then I lost my job,” Shukhrad recalls, “and some serious problems appeared inside our family. I realize now that God was using these circumstances to knock at the door of my heart.” He began to read the Bible and ask questions about Jesus. But he was afraid because he feared his Muslim relatives would despise, mock, or even persecute him if he became a Christian.

Despite these fears, he decided to attend church with his wife for the first time. He heard a sermon about Peter coming to Jesus on the water, despite the raging storm surrounding them. “The Holy Spirit cut me to the heart, I fell on my knees right between the pews. Nothing and nobody could stop me from going to my savior.” Shukhrad says.

About a month later, his pastor suggested he attend North Caucasus Bible Institute. Shukhrad and his wife prayed about it and felt that God was leading them there. “I consider the years of my study the best time in my life. I was able to grasp the word of God in depth and be instructed in my faith by the best possible teachers. I also met students from many nations: Russians, Balkarians, Kabardinians, Ossetians, Moldovians. Our friendship and mutual encouragement continues still.”

Shukhrad had planned to return to Central Asia as a missionary but the Lord led him to stay in the North Caucasus and pastor a church. “When I experience hard times in my ministry,” he says, “I am encouraged by the fact that God is with me. I can see and sense his strength and am filled with joy because I responded to his call.”

There are hundreds of students at Moscow Theological Seminary with stirring stories like Shukhrad’s. Please prayerfully consider giving to Russian Leadership Ministries to help provide scholarships so these students may go on to impact Russia with the good news of Jesus.