Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan and the largest city in Central Asia, is the main economic and cultural center of the region. It is a city of 2.6 million people that mixes modern and Soviet era architecture.
After falling to Arabs in the eighth century, Uzbekistan was seized by the Mongols in the Middle Ages and finally gained its independence after the dissolution of the USSR in 1991. Since then, Uzbekistan has dramatically improved in most aspects of life, even being awarded the world’s most improved economy in 2019.
Despite such progress, the church has been largely oppressed in the nation. They are forced to register with the government, which can restrict and control the activities and expression of the worshiping community. The government punishes anyone who tries to reach Uzbeks or other Muslim people for Jesus.
“Then Paul went into the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God.”
Acts 19:8 (BSB)