BUKHARA, Uzbekistan – Along the storied Silk Road, in the spiritual heart of Central Asia, an unlikely movement is quietly growing behind closed doors.
In Bukhara, a city revered in Islam with more than 2,000 years of history and home to the region’s oldest mosque, a small but determined group of Christians is worshipping, praying, and sharing the gospel with boldness and courage.
Nestled among ancient architecture and bustling bazaars, house churches are emerging, hidden from public view but alive with whispered worship and bold faith.
Once a thriving hub on the 4,000-mile Silk Road that connected China to Europe, Bukhara became a meeting point not only for goods like silk and spices but also for ideas, philosophies, and religions.
“Bukhara is an amazing city,” said Temur Hakimov of Full Gospel Church Uzbekistan. “Beautiful people. It’s a very historical place, over 2,000 years old, and is very important to our people.”
Today, Uzbekistan is an overwhelmingly Muslim country, with Islam deeply woven into its national identity and culture.
Historically, Bukhara served as a major center for the spread of Islam across Central Asia through its various religious schools, known as madrassas, and its majestic mosques, drawing students from around the world.
Although Christians make up less than 0.3% of the population, there are signs of openness and spiritual hunger emerging among Uzbeks.
“It’s difficult to provide systematic education for Christian leaders,” said Sergey Rakhuba of Mission Eurasia. “But in recent years, thanks to the current government, we’ve seen significant progress and potential.”
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His organization is helping train a new generation of Christian leaders through an innovative and informal program called School Without Walls.
“We don’t have classrooms, registration lists, or certificates,” Rakhuba told CBN News. “What we do have is living faith, deep experience, and a growing number of young Christians eager to be trained and equipped.”
Last year, Mission Eurasia hosted a forum in Uzbekistan, bringing together hundreds of passionate young Christian professionals committed to making a difference in their communities.
“I looked out at the room from the platform and was amazed to see that there were over 500 young Christian professionals gathered there, and probably 90% of them were representatives of the indigenous peoples of Central Asia,” Rakhuba said.
Egor Papov with the Bible Society of Uzbekistan says it’s all part of a larger shift.
“We are experiencing amazing changes today in Uzbekistan, and it all started several years ago with a new government,” Papov told CBN News.
The change began in 2016, when President Shavkat Mirziyoyev took office and ushered in a wave of modernization and reforms, including increased religious freedom. Christians credit the president for allowing more churches to receive legal permits than ever before.
Dr. Roman Tsoy, a local doctor and pastor, confirms the shift.
“Today, many Uzbeks are open to hearing about Jesus,” he said. “They want to read the Word of God, they ask us to pray for them, and invite us into their homes.”
In Bukhara, worship pastor Likov Oleg leads three house churches. He says music has played a powerful role in helping Muslims open their hearts.
“We are witnessing how God is miraculously touching people’s lives,” he said. “We sit on the floor, share tea, then sing and explain how Jesus touched our lives. Many Muslims then tell us about dreams they’ve had of Jesus.”
One man told Oleg, “I saw Jesus in a dream. He showed me His hands, I saw the nail-pierced prints, and He said, ‘Come to me.'”
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In the countryside outside Tashkent, believers hike miles through rugged mountains to gather in home churches. One such gathering includes Uzbeks, Kazakhs, Russians, South Koreans, and others.
“Lately, through the School Without Walls initiative, we’ve been emphasizing more on evangelism and reaching young people,” said Pastor Bemurzaev Baurjan of Source of Life Church. “And the church is growing.”
From the vibrant streets of Tashkent to the historic alleys of Bukhara, a spiritual shift is unfolding.
It’s quiet, often hidden from the public, and still vulnerable, but for those involved, it is a bold expression of faith in a land steeped in centuries of Islamic tradition.
Pastors tell us the shift is underway one house church at a time. For the believers here, it marks the start of a new chapter, one unfolding along the ancient path of the storied Silk Road.
