Bezhta are almost entirely Sunni Muslim, but they can hear the gospel from neighboring Georgians or Russians … but not from their Muslim community. However, after exposure to the gospel, a Bezhta "man of peace" endeavored to publish the Gospel of Luke into his language, which had yet to be written. The Bezhta Gospel of Luke, published in 1999, and later Proverbs stand as the only two published books in the Bezhta language!

Ministry Obstacles: The Bezhta live in the mountainous southwest corner of the Russian province of Dagestan, as well as in two Georgian mountain villages across the border. They often face violence in their remote homeland. Remote mountainous regions prevent people from hearing new ideas, and violence deters people from entering their homeland. Christianity is the religion of the Russian "enemy" which adds a third obstacle to the gospel.

Scripture Focus: "Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble"
- Psalm 107:2

Prayer Focus: Pray for this people group to call out to the Lord to redeem them from sin, their main enemy. Pray for the Holy Spirit to direct and empower the few Bezhta Christ followers, using them to establish His presence in their families and villages. Pray for the Bezhta to find the truth and embrace Jesus Christ as their Lord and Redeemer. Pray for the living and active word of God to reach the hearts of the Bezhta. Pray for the audio Proverbs in their language to be widely circulated, heeded, and embraced. Pray for the Lord to anoint, protect, and empower someone to lead the Bezhta into the ways of Christ.