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.
Breaking News. Spirit-Filled Stories. Subscribe to Charisma on YouTube now!
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.
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.
To order Jonathan Cahn’s new book, The Avatar, visit Amazon.com.
“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.
Paul an Uzbek leader here 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,” Paul 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.
A local pastor we interviewed 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 Alex 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.”
Join Charisma Magazine Online to follow everything the Holy Spirit is doing around the world!
One man told Alex, “I saw Jesus in a dream. He showed me His hands, I saw the nail-pierced prints, and He said, ‘Come to me.'”
To read the full story, visit our content partners at CBN.
Reprinted with permission from cbn.com. Copyright © 2025 The Christian Broadcasting Network Inc. All rights reserved.
