Kurds
The best of everything for our Kurdish friends
Blessed is the nation whose God is the
Lord,
The people whom He has chosen
for His own inheritance.
Ps 33:12
This is a promise from God for the Kurds and every people group - not only is He calling out those who are Christ's inheritance among the Kurds, but also, His desire is to bless the Kurds with all good things in Christ.
The Kurds are one of the largest people groups in the world without a land of their own - estimates of the number of Kurdish people around the world vary between 10 and 40 million, perhaps 20 million is a good guide. The Kurds have many social and political problems. The Kurds also have one great blessing from God in Christ Jesus to hear about.
Geography
Assuming a total of 20 million the distribution of the Kurds in 1996 was probably:
Turkey 9.8m 49%
Iran 5.0m 25%
Iraq 3.3m
16.5%
Syria 0.9m 4.5%
Europe 0.6m 3%
CIS 0.2m 1%
Other 0.2m
1%
In Europe there are large numbers of Kurds in Germany, the Netherlands, France, Switzerland, Austria, Belgium and other countries including the UK. Particular centres in the south of England are Haringey and Croydon.
Language
There are a number of Kurdish dialects, Kurmanji is the main one, many of our friends speak Kurmanjiki which is very similar, and others include Sorani and Zaza. Kurdish is mostly a spoken language, also printing and public use of Kurdish is or has been forbidden by those countries with the largest Kurdish populations. For written materials, as well as spoken use with the younger generation, other languages (for example Turkish) can be more helpful, depending on the region of origin.
Problems
Many of the Kurds who have left Kurdistan have had to do so because of persecution and are seekers of political asylum. There are tensions (and in Turkey, war), between some Kurds and governing forces. Kurds experience discrimination such as in education and national service. Torture is common. Areas of Kurdistan are oil-rich and therefore highly prized.
Blessings
We have seen God bless our Kurdish friends in their every day needs, education, health, work and immigration matters and can join with the apostle Paul in confirming "my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus" (Phil 4:19). We too are blessed to have such friends in the family of the church.
Room for all
People you can meet and things you can be and do:
Prayerful
Look for what Father is doing and by agreeing with Him, be His friend and partner on earth. Consider how He will bless each Kurdish person you know of. Consider how He will direct each event that affects them. Praise Him, because you know He is so good.
Give special attention to those Kurdish people reaching out to their relatives and friends and doing the work of translating the Scriptures.
Joining in
Ask God to bring you into contact with Kurdish refugees in your area.
Come and meet our Kurdish friends. You are welcome any time. Come and pray with us too.
Join us Sunday evenings as we go to join in worship in English and Turkish in North London.
See if you get invited home with a Kurdish family or to visit a local Kurdish Association.
Adaptive
If you play a part in a church activity that Kurds attend consider how you can make it more accessible to them.
You can arrange to borrow any of the following multi-lingual resource kits to help you:
Consider, can you substitute lamb or beef for pork in your church catering? Pork is often offensive to Kurdish people.
Going
Maybe God is calling you to serve Him among the Kurdish population in the UK, Europe, Kurdistan itself, or elsewhere. This might mean:
Jesus said, in effect, (see Lk 10:2).
"there are plenty of Kurdish people ready to benefit but I want more people to be willing to go and take Me to them"
Maybe He is asking you to research needs, or make a prayer journey, or equip Kurdish believers to make disciples and establish churches.
More information
For more information or to join in
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