For all their past plights, Kabardians embody some remarkable aspects of human beauty and strength. If a people's proverbs reveal their cultural values, attentive hospitality certainly ranks high. One can find a hundred folk sayings on the sacred duties of host-guest relationships in Kabardian "khabze," that is, their traditional norms of behavior or customary protocol. For example, "A guest is a messenger from God." or, "The guest of a Kabardian is as safe as if protected by a fortress."Honor for elders and those with recognized status is also a value. Youth are trained to serve and defer to elders. Kabardian national dances reveal their code of honor. The straight backs, regal movements and modest costuming all display a dignity and pride in Kabardian heritage. Yet this precious people have darkened hearts like all human beings. Equal to hospitality as a cultural value is the code of blood revenge. While not always literally practiced, it underscores a generationally ingrained defensiveness and unwillingness to reconcile offenses. Corruption in spheres of life from politics to academics to business degrades society. Attacks and counterattacks between rebels and military/police both claim innocent lives and exacerbate instability and deepen bitterness and mistrust in their home region. A small number have managed to escape that situation by emigrating to the United States where they hope to have a new start on life.
The Kabardians are a subgroup of the tiny Adyghe minority in the U. S. With such a small number within the U. S., the Kabardians blend in with other ethnic groups, often losing their identity. Each generation loses more of the past and becomes more like the American majority. However, they are maintaining their religious identity as Muslims.
Equal to hospitality as a cultural value is the code of blood revenge.
Kabardian people are completely of the Islamic religion. They worship Allah, whom they believe spoke through His prophet, Mohammed, and taught mankind how to live a righteous life through the Koran and the Hadith. Theirs is a works-based religion to pay the penalty for their sins. They do not yet know that the Lord Jesus Christ laid down His life for them, doing what no man can ever do for himself: pay for his sins.
The most pressing need of the Kabardian people in the United States is to understand the truth of the loving, Almighty God, who has made provision for them to become His children through full payment of their sins. Who will pay the price to tell them?
Pray for the circulation of translated Scriptures into Kabardian cultural circles in the U. S. and beyond. Pray for the completion of the entire Bible in Kabardian in the next decade. Pray that spiritual barriers that have kept the gospel from advancing would be broken down. Ask for divinely prepared Kabardian people who will believe the good news and lovingly, courageously share it throughout their entire relational network. Pray for a reproducing, culturally relevant movement of faith – that Jesus can be seen as "fully dressed in Kabardian clothes." Pray miracles, visions, dreams and other means would pave the way for a group response to Jesus.
Scripture Prayers for the Kabardian in United States.
| Profile Source: Joshua Project |
| Other PDF Profile |
