The Mingrelian of Turkey and Georgia speak two different languages, both of which are unwritten. Although they are closely related, they are not mutually intelligible. Most of the Mingrelian in Turkey also speak the Turkish dialect of their region.

In Turkish folklore, the Mingrelian have a reputation for plundering and piracy. They were notorious as kidnappers, and until the 1800's, they engaged in slave hunts targeting young children. Today, however, they are respected as industrious, educated, adventurous, and trustworthy people.

What Are Their Lives Like?
Traditionally, the Mingrelian have earned a living by fishing, farming, and breeding livestock. The fertile lowland soil of their area enables them to produce crops such as tea and tobacco. From the forests, they also obtain lumber for shipbuilding. Many of them, in the past and present, have been bakers, cooks, and sailors.

A few Mingrelian still lead a semi-nomadic lifestyle, taking their flocks to summer pastures in the mountains. Some also tend orchards, keep bees, and hunt to supplement their diets. Since the 1960's, growing tea has become an important industry. Previously, the only bulk export was hazelnuts.

The Mingrelian attach great importance to education, sending both girls and boys to school. A large number of them have even become doctors, teachers, and engineers. Others have become businessmen and have secured much of the real estate market in Turkey.

In the mountainous areas, the Mingrelian live in yayla evi, or "mountain houses." In other parts of Turkey, they live in regular houses or apartment buildings. Their basic diet consists mainly of hamsi (fish), vegetables, and meat.

The traditional clothing of the Mingrelian men consists of coarse, tight-fitting brown jackets with loose sleeves, and baggy brown woolen pants tucked into slim knee-high boots. Bandanna-like coverings for their heads are knotted on the side and hang down to the shoulder. Traditionally, the men often carried some type of weapon, even while at work in the fields. These included rifles, pistols, powder horns, daggers, and coils of rope for snagging slaves.

The Mingrelian are noted for their unique dances. Men's dances vary from solemn, calculated footwork to vigorous foot movements while dropping to a crouch. Accompaniment is either by a kemancha (a fiddle held upright on the knee), or by an oboe and a doli (a drum).

What Are Their Beliefs?
At the beginning of the sixth century, the Mingrelian were converted to Christianity. Many of their cousins, such as the Mingrelian of Georgia, are still Eastern Orthodox Christians. However, in Turkey, only 2% of them are still Christian.

In the fifteenth century, the Ottoman Empire conquered the area that is now Turkey. This resulted in the conversion of many Mingrelian to the Sunni branch of Islam. Today, 98% of the Mingrelian in Turkey profess to be Muslim and are traditionally known for their conservatism in the Islamic faith. Although Turkey is officially open to all religions, people who profess any religion besides Islam are frequently ostracized and are not considered to be "true Turks."

What Are Their Needs?
There are currently no missions agencies working specifically among the Mingrelian of Turkey. The Bible, Christian broadcasts, and the Jesus film are not yet available in their language. Their need for the Gospel is great, but the tools to reach them are few. Urgent prayer must be made if the Mingrelian of Turkey are to have an opportunity to hear the Good News.

• Ask the Lord of the harvest to send forth laborers to the Mingrelian of Turkey.
• Pray that Christian radio broadcasts, evangelical literature, and the Jesus film will be made available to the Mingrelian.
• Pray that God will reveal Himself to the Mingrelian through dreams and visions.
• Pray that God will give the Mingrelian believers boldness to share Christ with their own people.
• Take authority over the spiritual principalities and powers that are keeping the Mingrelian bound.
• Ask God to raise up prayer teams who will begin breaking up the soil through worship and intercession.
• Ask the Lord to save key leaders among the Mingrelian who will boldly declare the Gospel.
• Ask the Lord to bring forth a triumphant Mingrelian church for the glory of His name!

THE PEOPLE

• People name: Mingrelian
• Country: Turkey
• Their language: Laz (Chan)
• Population: (1990) 116,100
  (1995) 128,200
  (2000) 140,300
• Largest religion: Muslim (Shafiite) 98%
• Christians: 2%
• Church members: 2,565
• Scriptures in their own language: None
• Jesus Film in their own language: None
• Christian broadcasts in their own language: None
• Mission agencies working among this people: 0
• Persons who have heard the Gospel: 30,800 (24%) Those evangelized by local Christians: 10,300 (8%)
  Those evangelized from the outside: 20,500 (16%)
• Persons who have never heard the Gospel: 97,400 (76%)

• Country: Turkey
• Population: (1990) 56,097,700
  (1995) 61,945,200
  (2000) 67,747,900
• Major peoples in size order: Turk 66.2%
  Northern Kurd 8.8%
  Turkish Kurd 8%
  Crimean Tatar 7%
  Levantine Arab 1.8%
• Major religions: Muslim 99.4%
  Nonreligious 0.3%
  Christian 0.2%
• Number of denominations: 34