Kurds-Yazidis is one of the least reached Bibleless people group in the whole modern world. Practicing the ancient religion of their ancestors, they worship idols, and the chief one is satan.
The whole nation is divided into the three main castes which should never be mixed.
Yazidis categorically do not want to contact with the outward civilization, and as a result they often live without power, gas, communications. There are many specific traits of this people group, but very important one is that they are unwilling to accept any foreign religion, which causes them to treat others very negatively. Their attitude towards any non-standard for them form, whether it is clothing or hairdo… is very unkind. Their main occupation is the stock raising and farming.
The evangelization of this nation started back in 2002. Because of political and economic hardships, many Kurds left the country, but in 2016 the ministry resumed again. In a wonderful way God opened the door into the mountain villages.
A frequent visits and friendship, as well as work with the growing generation are the main directions in the ministry to the Kurds-Yazidis. The previous experience of fellowship with a children and young people has showed that they are willing to listen to the Good News once the relationships are built. There is an opportunity to do day camps, fellowships, spend time with kids and adults, as well as to hold weekly children’s meetings in the Yazidis villages.
Endless gratitude to our Lord for His grace and mercy which never ceases to surprise, change, and transform everything. Throughout the year, we have been building bridges with the different Yazidis. I have traveled to different places and we even held a conference trying to gather the Yazidi people together. But what happened in November was nothing short of a miracle!
I received a letter from one Yazidi. I had visited him and his family 14 years ago, when he was not a believer yet. He lives in the northern part of Armenia high in the mountains. There is no public transportation to that area and it is a very difficult journey to reach his village.
This Kurd became a Christian and attended our camps and conferences. Then, like all Yazidis do, he went to Russia to work and I lost contact with him. I knew that he was attending a Baptist church there. In November, he wrote me and said that he had returned from Russia a few years ago, and married. He and his wife, also a believer, have three children and live in his home village in northern Armenia. He is engaged in ministry there with the Yazidi people. Now, THAT is the Lord! All this time we were looking for a someone, and that person was right nearby! Eventually we connected by phone and the next day I went to see him.
What I saw not only greatly surprised me, but greatly inspired and confirmed the biblical principle, that God always has a remnant of the believers when it seems to us there is no one out there. When it doesn’t seem worth doing anything… That is when our great Lord surprises… praise Him for that! Then the Lord said: “Your friends are in difficult and severe conditions.” Nonetheless, this brother and his wife are meeting in an abandoned house with 38 Yazidi children. In that village, his father is gathering with 26 people for church worship. That is more than in his home village. The same in the Yazidis villages where access to outsiders was completely closed. Now, by the grace of God, all told, more than 200 children are meeting!
Friends, for the Yazidis, that is a large number. I would say that is a fantastic number! If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I would not have believed that in today’s situation, it would be possible to preach the gospel so openly to the Yazidi children. There is a very big prospect of influencing the Yazidi children with the Word of God. There are two villages that we visited secretly. We are so glad that God is at work, it’s obvious and there are three believing families there.
The level of life of many Kurds is very low. Children walk to the meetings from the nearby villages, therefore purchase of some food for those who come to listen to God’s Word is a life’s necessity.
God gives us a good time to celebrate Christmas holidays with the Yazidi children. It wasn’t easy to get to the village. You cannot get there by car. We finally reached our destination and the Yazidi children heard the Good News and received Christmas gifts.
Children often do not have necessities. The meetings are held in the construction truck. Many children came from their villages for Christmas in rain-boots (!). The boots were full of snow and one little boy had frostbites of his toes.
Brothers raise finances and humanitarian aid for each trip from different churches. This winter the pastor put a picture of a turkey on a holiday table instead of a real dish. He explained to his guests that his family refused from this dish in order to purchase Christmas presents for the Kurdish children. Many people liked this idea and were willing to donate as well. In spite of their constant efforts, Armenian churches, unfortunately, do not have much resources because of the unemployment and the crisis in the country.
We see the need for regular visits to the missionary points. Our brothers and sisters are trying in difficult circumstances to hold regular Bible study with the children; We visit them, we prepare games, treats and gifts for the holidays; We visit the families that are open to the gospel; We hold conferences for Yazidis; We want to organize medical assistance to the needy, as well as the plan to conduct sports activities with youth and children.
Now is a special time for ministry to these people who are within reach. Shepherds are coming down from the mountains, living in houses, and are very open. It is because of this we want to use the time to the maximum to visit them. On one hand, we are thankful for this, and yet on the other, we see how much work there is.
We are now praying specifically for the means of transportation that we need for the ministry, because we do not have our own.
We are praying for gasoline for the cars. At this stage, it is being carried out in modest means by our Yerevan central church with the personal car of the pastor, (he and his wife go with us on our visits.
Dear brothers and sisters, we are asking for special prayer support for our ministry as we are in special need at this time… because if we invest in the ministry now, God will grant us a bountiful harvest!
With love from Armenia,
Your brother Arthur Marandyan