Pomaks send mixed messages to survive

When a Pomak says no, he shakes his head up and down; when he says yes, he shakes his head back and forth. This cultural anomaly is not just a random characteristic–it has a history that goes back to the very core of Pomak identity.

When the Turks invaded Bulgaria 500 years ago, they forced many to convert to Islam under threat of death. Three hundred years later as Orthodox Christians re-took some of the territory, the Pomaks were again forced to convert or die. Their identity became a pawn in the fight for power, so they learned to adapt. They agreed among themselves to give the answers required of them while holding to the truth of who they were.

If asked about their Muslim beliefs, they would shake their head ‘yes’ to appease the interrogator, while saying no quietly to themselves. When asked if they changed their name from Muslim to Christian, they would say yes, while shaking their head ‘no.’ In this way, they protected their soul while avoiding persecution.

Crossing Signals Today

This survival instinct is still in tact today. The Pomaks live in a synchronistic world that includes Easter and Ramadan, mosques and churches, burkas and jeans. Known by the Bulgarians as Muslims and by the rest of the world as Bulgarians, the Pomaks are living between two worlds.

In village K, in the Rhodope Mountains, Vladimer* takes time from renovating his school building to visit with Mark*, a Southern Baptist (SB) volunteer who is working to reach the Pomaks for Christ. Vladimer has been to visit Mark in America and Mark and his wife have spent extended time in Village K fostering friendship and offering assistance.

When Vladimer was asked about his beliefs, he admitted to knowing little.

“I know only a little about Muslim,” he said. “I know mostly that God sent prophets to tell us to obey Him.”

When questioned on his willingness to receive help from Christians in his Muslim village, Vladimer responded, “Communication with others is normal, even by our Imam. We believe in the same God, so there is no problem.”

At the same time, Islam classes are now being held for children because more radical middle-eastern Muslims have taken an interest in village K. Also, the mosque in the center of Village K is new.

A Need to Hear the Truth

Peter*, an International Mission Board missionary working among the Pomaks described these Bulgarian Muslims as “hanging out in their Islamicism.”

“Many of these people accepted this Islam and they don’t really know what they believe,” Peter said. “They haven’t really been pushed to become some kind of Islamic nation, but when they’ve heard the Gospel, it has been shrouded in ‘you either accept our religion or you die;’ so they haven’t felt the peace and hope that comes from knowing Jesus Christ either.”

The goal of Peter and Mark and the other SB churches partnering with them is to introduce the Pomaks to the true Christianity.

“We need to grab their hearts and show them that there’s something better out there,” Peter said. “We want to love these people and bring them hope.”

Through providing English teachers, serving as an educational resource for Vladimer and retaining a consistent presence in village K, SB believers are hoping to introduce the true Gospel to the Pomak people.

Please pray for the Pomaks to accept the truth with open hearts and minds. Pray about your involvement in reaching them for Christ. To find out more about ministry among the Pomaks go to hope4rhodopes.com.

*Names have been changed for security purposes

Posted by Karen Pearce on Nov 4, 2008

Similar: Bulgaria, South Europe