"Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." (Romans 12:19). Clearly, the Andi people of the mountains of Dagestan would not agree with this statement. Blood vengeance is one of their enshrined values, and cycles of violence, feuds and revenge have continued in their communities for generations. Acts of violence are almost considered a rite of passage into manhood. However, one Andi man, Aslan, has had a life-changing event where he met Jesus. He said, "What amazed me most was the amazing love of God." He also says that his heart was flooded with joy – a totally new experience for him.
These people live in a remote, mountainous part of the world and they are automatically hostile to outsiders.
A man with an argument can never win over a man with an experience! Any believer who has overcome the cycle of violence and vengeance can call the Andi people to Christ's higher calling. A disciple can challenge them to hear the Sermon on the Mount in Luke 6 and to see the superiority of the fruit of the Holy Spirit to the old ways of vengeance.
"Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause." Isaiah 1:16-17
Pray for this people group to surrender unconditionally to the Lord of lords.
Pray that many from the Andi people would embrace the only Savior and be happily surprised by joy and peace! Pray for a people movement to Christ among the Andi people. May Aslan lead many others to their true hope – Jesus—who rose from the grave to demonstrate his power over sin and death!
