About the People

Located on the coast of the Black Sea, the democratic semi-presidential republic of Georgia is bounded to the north and northeast by Russia, to the south by Turkey and Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The country is made up of various interconnected mountain ranges and plateaus and possesses the deepest known cave in the world. Forests cover around 40 percent of Georgia’s territory, and its climate is extremely diverse. Agriculture and tourism are the principal economic sectors. Georgia has been famous for its physical education and is well known for its rich folklore, unique traditional music, theatre, cinema and art. Different opinions exist regarding the degree of political freedom in Georgia. It maintains good relations with its direct neighbors and is a member of the United Nations, the Council of Europe, the World Trade Organization and other entities. With a high unemployment rate and a relatively low median income compared to the rest of Europe, this is an opportune time to meet the real needs of Georgians.

With over 4 million people and only 250 Adventist Christians, Georgians are an unreached people group. According to The Georgian Chronicles, their ancestor was the great-grandson of the biblical Japheth. According to Orthodox tradition, Christianity was first preached in Georgia by the apostles Simon and Andrew in the first century. Today 83.9 percent of the population practices Eastern Orthodox Christianity and has fought to protect their Christian identity in the face of immense pressure from neighboring Muslim empires. These hospitable and sociable people give great importance to food and drink—best observed during a supra (a feast held by people in the Caucasus), when a vast assortment of dishes is prepared, always accompanied by large amounts of wine.

About the Project

Two missionary units are needed to establish centers of influence in urban environments where English language and lifestyle classes, both health-related and spiritual, can be offered.

People-Group Facts

• Population: 4 million
• Language: Georgian
• Religion: Orthodox