PeopleGroups Initiative

People Group Profiles

“All nations will come and worship before you."

- Revelations 15:4

Karachay of United States

People Group Info

Total Population: 5,100

ROP3 Code: 104628
IMB Affinity Group: Central Asia Peoples
Affinity Bloc: Eurasian Peoples
People Cluster: Caucasus
Language: Karachay-Balkar - (krc)
Religion: Islam - Sunni
Country of Origin: Russia

Photo courtesy of Joshua Project.
Copyright © Bethany World Prayer Center

Majority Located Where

New York-Newark-Jersey City, NJ - 850

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Brief Profile

The Karachay people are a Turkic people descended from the Kipchaks, and share their language with the Kumyks from Daghestan. In Turkic, "Karachay" means "Black River".

Karachay people value very independence, and have strong traditions and customs which dominate many aspects of their lives: e.g. weddings, funerals, and family pronouncements. However, they also value loyalty to both their immediate family and their "tukum". Traditionally, they lived in communities that were divided into families and clans ( tukum). A tukum is based on a family's lineage and there are roughly 32 Karachay tukums. Prominent tukums include: Aci, Batcha (Batca), Baychora, Bayrimuk (Bayramuk), Bostan, Catto, Cosar (Çese), Duda, Hubey (Hubi), Karabash, Laypan, Lepshoq, Ozden, Silpagar, Teke, and Toturkul. They also value never offending a guest.

The majority of the Karachay people adhere Islam, specifically being of the Sunni tradition.

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Prayer Points

Pray for Karachay in the United States evangelical Christians who will share a living relationship with both an ultimate and intimate God.
Ask God to send evangelical Christians to engage the Karachay people.
Ask God to work through dreams and other miraculous ways to bring the Karachay to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

People Group Resources

Central Asian Peoples - Short Videos
Short videos in mother tongues of the people groups in Central Asia.

Learning Resources

Learn more about "Any-3"
Any–3 provides biblical principles and practical steps that have equipped hundreds of Christians to witness confidently and effectively. Over the past decade, thousands of Muslims have been engaged with the gospel.

Learn more about "Learning Paths"
Online Courses for embracing, encountering and engaging diaspora people. Work at your own pace. Begin anytime and complete the course according to your schedule. Interactive, Hands-On Application.

Learn more about "Reaching the Nations"
This book delineates five disciplines Christians should develop in order to effectively reach the nations. More specifically, it will guide Christians to develop an engagement strategy in their locale.

Loving Muslims Small Group Study
This Loving Muslims booklet is a two-week group study that takes a deeper look at Christ’s command to "love our neighbor."

World Religions - Beliefs Overview
An overview of major world religions and cults - their beliefs and practices.

Overview of Islam
Overview of Islam and its sub-groupings. Developed by the North American Mission Board, SBC. Includes generalized witnessing tips.

Other Resources

Prayer Guide for Unreached Peoples
A 30 day guide to pray for unreached people groups.

Prayer Guide using the GOSPELS acronym
A prayer guide that utilizes the acronym GOSPELS to pray for workers among diaspora.

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Country	City	Metro Area Name	State / Prov.	Baseline Population

United States	Paterson	New York-Newark-Jersey City	NJ	850