One couple’s devotion to Christ in Uzbekistan.
In the ancient city of Bukhara, a new wind is blowing. Once a prominent stop on the Silk Road, the city is seeing a spiritual awakening centred on its only registered evangelical church. Playing key roles in ministry among the young people of the city are a young married couple, Muzaffar and Marina.
Muzaffar grew up in a family divided on theological grounds after his mother left the Islamic faith to follow Christ; his father remains a Muslim. Muzaffar was drawn to Christ through his mother’s witness and influence. Economic hardship prevented him and his mother from travelling into the city to attend a church but as Muzaffar grew older and began to earn money, he started to seek fellowship. This caused his father to turn against him and make his life very difficult, to the extent that Muzaffar eventually only travelled to church when his father was away.
Muzaffar met Marina while she was working as a cleaner in a hostel. She too had come to faith after her mother’s conversion from Islam, which took place when Marina was around seven years old.
The couple attended a Christian university supported by AsiaLink, and upon their return to Bukhara they began to serve the Lord through their local church. They established a city–wide youth programme seeking to win young people for Christ, and Muzaffar has since joined the leadership of the church while Marina heads up the fellowship’s livestreaming and social media activity. Moreover, the pair are actively involved in establishing a new children’s centre which they hope will increase the reach of their activities beyond the church walls.
Muzaffar and Marina boast few possessions and little wealth, but all they have is shared with their church and community as they pour out the love of Christ upon those around them. They covet your prayers for their ongoing ministry, and as a young couple, they are especially seeking wisdom from the Lord.
Support Muzaffar and Marina today through the Asian Workers Fund!