In the Greater Caucasus region, business training is opening the door for development, discipleship and healing — on many levels.
In February 2025, three OM members from the Caucasus field visited Elchin,* who owns a small shop near Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan. Elchin opened the shop after attending a business training led by OM’s microcredit project in Azerbaijan and receiving a small loan. Through the project, Elchin also received discipleship training and learnt how to start Discovery Bible Study (DBS) groups. He continues to receive mentorship in both business and discipleship.
Elchin, his wife Ruqayya* and their daughter Leyla* are new believers. Their family lives with Ruqayya’s mother, who is a Muslim, like the majority of people in Azerbaijan. She is religious and practises namaz (Muslim prayers), but is open to learning about Jesus.
When the team members visited Elchin, they encouraged his family and shared verses from the Bible with them. As they were praying together, they asked Ruqayya’s mother, who was sitting in front of the oven, if she had a prayer request. She told them about a pain in her shoulder, and they asked if they could pray for her. She agreed, and they laid their hands on her and prayed for healing in the name of Jesus. Immediately, she was healed.
When Leyla saw that her grandmother was healed, she asked for prayer for herself as she had been suffering from pain in her whole body. The team members laid hands on her, prayed and she too received healing in the name of Jesus.
Please pray for Ruqayya’s mother — and extended family — to believe that Jesus Christ is Saviour and God. May these miracles open the door for spiritual conversations and opportunities to read the Bible together. Pray that God will use the business training as a way to connect and disciple more people in the Caucasus.
*name changed