Christian Transformative Witness in the Current Context of Uzbekistan: A Search for a Contextual Missional Paradigm

This thesis explores the emergence and development of an indigenous Uzbek contextual missional paradigm by examining the missionary experiences, practices, and reflections of Indigenous Uzbek Evangelical Christian communities within Uzbekistan’s unique socio-political, cultural, and Islamic context. Addressing a significant gap in global Christian scholarship on indigenous Evangelical communities in Central Asia, particularly in Uzbekistan, this research investigates how these minority house churches, primarily composed of Muslim-background believers, have developed distinct contextual expression of mission amid ongoing persecution, marginalisation, and state control. While identifying the trajectory of mission thinking among these communities, the study also documents how the formation of the indigenous paradigm remains ongoing and continues to mature. Employing a qualitative ethnographic methodology, this research draws on field interviews and participant observation to analyse and uncover the practical and theological contours of the nascent and local Uzbek Evangelical witness. The findings reveal five core mission themes: Exemplary Living, Evangelism, Community Development, Hospitality, and Fostering Strong Communal Bonds and Residential Ties —coalescing around a culturally resonant, kinship-centred framework. This thesis proposes that the “kinship motif” (or “Kin-dom” paradigm) is foundational to the emerging Uzbek theology and practice of mission, enabling believers to navigate societal hostility and embody a transformative Christian presence within their relational networks. By critically engaging global missiological models and approaches, the thesis constructs a contextualised missional paradigm for Uzbekistan and offers recommendations for strengthening the churches societal engagement. It seeks to enrich both local ecclesial practice and the broader field of missiology, contributing fresh emic perspectives to the global discourse on Christian mission in Muslim-majority, post-Soviet contexts.