The ancient silk road, famed for the transportation of exotic spices, silks, and other valuables in the ages past, winds its way through Central Asia, including Tashkent, Samakand and Bukhara, all cities in the beautiful nation of Uzbekistan.
In this past year the Uzbek Bible has been published. Riding on the back of the completion of such a momentous task, the next step in the process is to develop strategies for scripture engagement. Our contacts were eager to create tools that would both assist with this and also share the love of Christ with the 30 million Uzbeks.
We had lots of discussion back and forth with our contacts, to decide what type of resources were the best to develop. It turns out that both Prophet Daniel and Job are well known to Uzbeks.The official tomb of the Prophet Daniel is in Samarkand. It’s a long story, but his remains were brought from Babylon after it was conquered by Amir Timur centuries ago. Also there is a spring called “Job’s Spring” which has a legend connected to Job. He is known to Uzbeks as the ‘Patient Prophet’. Legend has it that there was a severe drought in the land, and when he struck a rock, water flowed out of it and the drought ended. Both monuments set up for these men are visited by many Uzbeks every day.
Both the book of Daniel and Job were utilized to spark interest into these men’s real life stories that were transformed by their faith in God and His great power and love. So we set out to make ‘documentaries with a difference’ – sharing the beauty and history of Uzbekistan with their own people and giving insight into these two characters. The films tie together scripture and Uzbek culture in unique ways to express how the Gospel’s not foreign (not Russian) and Jesus is their way to salvation.
Our team enjoyed the delicious food and hospitality of this country and her people! We were blessed and inspired by the believers and their stories of faith, miracles and profound love for Christ and seeing their people come into the Kingdom of God.
