Population:               912,090|
Language family:      Northeast Caucasian
Region:                       Central Dagestan, Northern Caucasus  
Capital:                       Makhachkala
Religion:                     Sunni Muslim
Bible portions to date: John (1979), Mark (1996), Luke/Acts (2000), Proverbs (2005, 2007), NT (2008), Genesis (2011), Ruth/Esther/Jonah (2017), 1-2 Samuel/1-2 Kings (2021), Daniel (2023)

Bible portions on IBT website: NT, Genesis, Proverbs, Ruth/Esther/Jonah, 1-2 Samuel/1-2 Kings, Daniel
Audio recordings on IBT website: NT (FCBH), Ruth/Esther/Jonah, Proverbs 31:10-31
Videos: Avar promo video, Jesus film, LUMO Mark and Luke films, Prodigal Son cartoon (YouTube), Ruth video (YouTube), “The wife of noble character” (Proverbs 31:10-31) (YouTube), Jonah in 4 parts (YouTube).
Apps: Scripture app (Android, iOS)
Long term plans: Bible

The Avars are the largest people group in Dagestan. There are also Avars in Northern Azerbaijan and in Turkey. They are Sunni Muslims, and also along with the traditional Sunni Islam they practice a special type of Sufism. There is historical evidence that the ancestors of the contemporary Avars were Christians. During the 4‑5^th centuries A.D., Christianity was propagated among the Avars by neighbouring Georgia. Islam was introduced later by the Arabs, who invaded the area in the 8^th century. Islam prevailed and became established in the area by the 15^th century. But there are Christian believers among the Avars who are very dedicated and want their people to hear the Word of God. A young Avar Christian believer said, “When God speaks to us in the mother tongue we are touched at a deeper level. That’s why it is so important to have God’s Word in the Avar language. A person who becomes a Christian believer is considered in our culture to be ‘Russian’, not Avar. Since the New Testament is now available in Avar, faith will come closer to our people and they will understand that this is for the Avars too!”

NT translation: New Testament was published in 2008. In 2025 we plan to start the revision of the NT.
OT translation: We are planning to publish the whole Pentateuch in 2025.

Your donation of 20 USD will allow us to print and deliver to the reader 5 copies of Pentateuch in the Avar language.