One of the world’s most closed nations is about to open up for missionaries.
Well… kinda.
Turkmenistan, a former Soviet state, is showing signs it’s ready for tourism, which is a positive sign for missionaries who have been praying for the country to open up for decades. Not many people know much about Turkmenistan, but that is because it is about as inaccessible as North Korea, Yemen, or Eritrea, but the country surprisingly began to open up their visa process to tourists in April.
Turkmenistan has been a somewhat impenetrable Muslim nation, completely cut off from the rest of the world. According to the Joshua Project, of Turkmenistan’s 49 people groups, 16 are completely unreached.
Because of their huge oil reserves, Turkmenistan has been able to remain independent for many years, but their economic woes are simply too overwhelming to not need foreign investment. The nation is hoping that their openness to foreigners will help to bring in investments.
Independent travel does not seem to be an immediate option, but a visit with a tourist group might open the doors that Christians have been praying for for many years.
Exciting to see Turkmenistan opening up — praying this leads to more connection, understanding, and opportunity
GOD BLESS YOU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHd52mXKyJE – The Nile Flows North
Praise God! I’ve been praying for this nation continually since hearing how closed they were “randomly” when a YouTube short came my way.