1 Timothy 2:1

Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men.

Archeology

Archaeological finds continue to document that some of mankind's earliest steps towards civilization include: the development of agriculture, domestication of many common farm animals (sheep, goats, hogs and dogs), record keeping (the token system), development of domestic technologies (weaving, fired pottery making and glazing), metallurgy and urbanization.

These have all taken place in Kurdistan. Some of these finds date back to between 8,000 and 12,000 years ago (4). This could have something to do with the fact that Noah’s Ark also came to rest in what would be considered Kurdistan today.

Distinctly Dimili

The history of the Kurds (Kurdish & Dimili) is intricately woven throughout that of the Middle East which would include current times as well. Although not specifically mentioned in the Bible, historical evidence points to their involvement in many Biblical stories especially related to the Assyrian, Babylonian and Medo-Persian kingdoms mentioned in the Old Testament.

When we take a look at Kurdish history in general and lay that along side the history of the Dimili we see that the Dimili are considered a separate group as early as 2 AD by Ptolemy who mentions the Delumioi and Kadousioi who were possible ancestors of the Dimili. In 205 AD the language of the Dailamites (ancestors of the Dimili) were distinguished from the Persian language by Istakhri.

   
J.C. Ryle

There are few children of God who not often find the season of prayer a season of conflict. The devil has a special rage against us when he sees us on our knees.

Historical Dimili Settlements

By the middle of the 6th century we get insight as to the location of the ancestors of the Dimili which is described as inaccessible mountains and the middle course of the Tigris river, the same area inhabited by the Dimili today. From the 1600’s on, the Dimili (or their ancestors the Dersim) lived in a state of unrecognized independence while remaining in the midst of the Ottoman Empire. Each tribe had its own assembly, which along with other tribal assemblies made up Dersim's general assembly. This general assembly’s decisions were to be accepted and followed by all the Kurdish tribes and armed units.

History of Christian influence

When we look further we realize that Christianity actually has a long history among the Kurdish people as well. In 100 AD two of Jesus' Apostles, Thaddeus and Bartholomew may have passed through this region on their way to Armenia. In 460 The Nestorian Church historically based in the mountains of northern Kurdistan began its missionary endeavors further east from Byzantine Christianity. By 1248 The Nestorian church with its metropolitan center in Kurdistan, developed with extraordinary rapidity, its missions spreading across the whole of Asia, as far as Tibet, Sin Kiang, Mongolia and Sumatra. (Nezan, A Brief Survey) Both the Armenian and Eastern Orthodox denominations have churches scattered throughout Kurdistan leaving a testimony of a once vibrant faith in the area. So historically the Kurds have a basis for the acceptance of the Christian faith and we can pray that they would accept it once again.