Day 14 of Prayer, March 14
Pray for the Mazandarani in Iran
One of the largest unreached people groups in Iran is the Mazandarani. With a population of over 4.3 million, they live in northern Iran’s Mazandaran province, bordering the Caspian Sea. Agriculture dominates the economy of the entire Mazandaran region. Most of the Mazanderani are settled farmers who grow crops such as rice, wheat, barley, tea, fruits, and cotton. They also raise some cattle. In addition to farming, the Mazanderani are famous for breeding Arabian horses.
The mid-1970’s saw a number of agricultural reforms in the Mazandaran province. Farming became a large-scale business operation that included the production, processing, and distribution of agricultural products, as well as the manufacturing of farm machinery, equipment, and supplies. At the same time, major agricultural movements were encouraged by the influx of large investments that were made as a result of the oil boom. Many new businesses were introduced, including cement, textile, and cotton industries. Fisheries also sprang up all along the coastal areas. Today, the coastal fisheries of this region harvest some of the finest caviar in the world.
Even though many of the Mazanderani farmers are settled, some maintain the nomadic lifestyle of their ancestors. These nomads use the higher, cultivated regions for grazing their animals. Their herds include a certain breed of humped cattle (much like the Brahma), as well as buffalo, which are used as beasts of burden.
Although the Mazandarani were the last people group to be converted to Islam in present day Iran, the Mazandarani are now predominantly all Shia Muslim. Society in Mazandaran is organized according to the guidelines of traditional Islamic communities, where the family is the major social unit led by the father.
The fact that the Mazandarani language is not in written form currently presents obstacles for efforts in evangelism.
When you pray:
* Pray that the many from around the world will answer the call to go to Iran as long-term missionaries and share Christ with the Mazandarani and other people groups.
* There is a major university in the province that could provide a great opportunity for a linguist to go and create a written script of the Mazandarani language.
* Pray for increased availability of the Jesus Film and other oral evangelistic materials for the Mazandarani, and a hunger among them for the message of Jesus Christ.
The mid-1970’s saw a number of agricultural reforms in the Mazandaran province. Farming became a large-scale business operation that included the production, processing, and distribution of agricultural products, as well as the manufacturing of farm machinery, equipment, and supplies. At the same time, major agricultural movements were encouraged by the influx of large investments that were made as a result of the oil boom. Many new businesses were introduced, including cement, textile, and cotton industries. Fisheries also sprang up all along the coastal areas. Today, the coastal fisheries of this region harvest some of the finest caviar in the world.
Even though many of the Mazanderani farmers are settled, some maintain the nomadic lifestyle of their ancestors. These nomads use the higher, cultivated regions for grazing their animals. Their herds include a certain breed of humped cattle (much like the Brahma), as well as buffalo, which are used as beasts of burden.
Although the Mazandarani were the last people group to be converted to Islam in present day Iran, the Mazandarani are now predominantly all Shia Muslim. Society in Mazandaran is organized according to the guidelines of traditional Islamic communities, where the family is the major social unit led by the father.
The fact that the Mazandarani language is not in written form currently presents obstacles for efforts in evangelism.
When you pray:
* Pray that the many from around the world will answer the call to go to Iran as long-term missionaries and share Christ with the Mazandarani and other people groups.
* There is a major university in the province that could provide a great opportunity for a linguist to go and create a written script of the Mazandarani language.
* Pray for increased availability of the Jesus Film and other oral evangelistic materials for the Mazandarani, and a hunger among them for the message of Jesus Christ.