by Dag Smemo and Andrea Rhodes

From lush mountains and orchards in the north to dry, rocky plains in the south; from dusty villages with no running water, to the high-rise buildings and sophisticated shops and restaurants of Baku: Azerbaijan is a country of extremes. And while its rich oilfields pump out millions of barrels of oil a day, producing much of the country’s wealth, many of its eight million people are poor.

Although most Azeris (98 per cent) are nominal Muslims, the country is largely secular – one of the legacies of decades of Soviet rule. The Christian community here is small – an estimated 10,000 people – and many are relatively new in their faith. Many of those in Christian leadership here are truly pioneers, having been among the first Azeris to become Christians in the early 1990s after the fall of communism.

Christian outreach

To serve the people of this land of contrasts, Kitab Shirketi, or ‘The Book Company’, which is responsible for Bible work in Azerbaijan, has been working since 1994 to make the Word of God available in imaginative and innovative ways. In doing so, it has come to be seen by churches of all denominations and other Christian organisations as a cherished and respected partner in carrying out Christian outreach.

An important part of its work is the provision of publishing services to a variety of organisations, individuals and churches who publish Scriptures or books about Christianity in the Azeri language. Over the years, the Publishing Preparation Team, which is made up of translators, proof readers, editors, designers and typesetters, has had a hand in the publication of hundreds of Christian books and has helped Kitab to build up a reputation as a highly professional publishing outfit. Kitab has also helped prepare many audio and video products in Azeri.

Kitab is also involved in intensive Bible translation work. The Azeri Old Testament was published in 2004, and the revised Azeri New Testament is due for completion in 2007. It is also involved in the translation of the Bible into Udin, a minority language spoken by around 10,000 people in Azerbaijan and neighbouring countries

All walks of life

But publishing and translation are only part of the work undertaken by Kitab, whose staff members travel the length and breadth of the country to take the Scriptures to people from all walks of life. From visiting the scattered refugees from the war in Nagorno-Karabakh, to organising concerts in some of Baku’s largest music halls, Kitab Shirketi is involved in a range of grassroots Bible work as it strives to serve the country’s fledgling Christian community and bring the Bible message to people who have never heard it before.

The following six stories offer a glimpse into Kitab Shirketi’s work among refugees. Stories about other aspects of Bible work in Azerbaijan will follow in the next few editions of World Report. (WR 407/21 - 12.06) [27 photos]