The
freedoms we treasure, and sometimes take for granted, are unknown in many parts
of the world, including here in Kazakhstan Central
Asia .
The
first account is by one our Kazakhstan Evangelical Christian Seminary workers;
a young wife, and mother of three. She has found freedom in Jesus from her
former life in Islam. Jesus has made her bold and compassionate – really free!
“Last
week I went to our local administration to register our students. (Note –
People in the nation cannot move anywhere without the written permission of the
government.) Our director had previously visited the district administration
for permission to register our students in this local administration. But our
Akim (Title of Local Administrator) said that in order to gain his approval, we
must subscribe to some newspapers. It doesn’t matter whether you want them or
not.
His
appointment Secretary was a rather affable woman. But when I said that I’m from
the Seminary, she said first I need talk to Akim. He was angry. He talked to me
rather familiar. He said: “Your director said that you have no money to subscribe
to my newspapers. You think I believe you? Nothing of the kind! Any of you
earns at least $50 a month. No money! People on my staff work for government
and earn only $25 a month, not like you. How many students you want to
register? ” I answered 23 people. He said: “It doesn’t matter, as you are so
poor I will let you subscribe to the cheapest magazine, it will cost only 50
cents for each person wanting to be registered. Poor people!”
I was
calm, though he tried to humble me. I wonder how he can’t understand that he is
not right. He makes people to subscribe newspapers even if they don’t want them.
Every person, in spite of his economic abilities must subscribe to a newspaper
or magazine. While I was waiting for my appointment, a poorly dressed man came
in for approval of his document. He said that he is ready to subscribe, he
likes reading newspapers, but now he has no money. The Secretary told him he
can’t be served without subscribing, and told him to return when he will have
money.
As I
returned to our Seminary I asked God to bless that Akim. Maybe he thought that
he could make us humble, but he doesn’t know that we are humble before God, not
before him. Amen.”
The following is written by a
foreign Christian worker who has worked in this country for many years:
Upon
our arrival back from our home leave, we learned that all was not well. All of
the Kazakh church planters were being prosecuted for starting "illegal"
churches. You may remember that 10 months ago, these churches applied for legal
status (registration) but the government refused to register them. Now they are
prosecuting them for meeting without being registered. They are being
threatened with 3-5 year prison sentences and
are
scared. Several of the Kazakh families are ready to give up and return to their
home churches in different parts of the country (but, so far, they are sticking
with it).
Over
the last 4 weeks, all of the Kazakh church planters we work with in our region
and neighboring region have been called into the KNB (formerly the KGB) at various
times and interrogated (sometimes lasting for hours). They also keep telling
the pastors, "Don't hold any more meetings - in your house or
anywhere!" but of course they keep meeting - just more secretly, sometimes
in smaller groups in various locations.
A
TV crew showed up (with KNB officers) at one of the churches last weekend and
filmed the service. Then they showed it on local TV this past week and made all
sorts of false accusations/lies against the group (saying they are a cult, take
kids from their parents, etc.). We have seen this happen in other cities and
the purpose of it is to turn the
tide
of public opinion against the believers and make relatives of these Christians
fearful that their family members are involved in some sort of cult. The
television coverage warns people not to get involved with the group because it
is dangerous.
The
pastor of one of the churches, who was also a student at the university, was
called to a meeting with the president of the university and all his teachers.
They told him that if he renounced his faith in Christ, he would be allowed to
continue his studies. During this
meeting,
there were also 2 members of the KNB present who publicly mocked and humiliated
him with all sorts of false accusations. The pastor/student did not renounce
his faith and was subsequently kicked out of the university. The KNB also told
many of his friends at the university, "If you join this "sect"
and follow Jesus, you will be
kicked
out of school also." Please, please, please pray for these Kazakh church
planters.
So,
there is plenty of reason to pray. Please join us in this, won't you? Ours
isn't an isolated case. We are hearing of heated persecution in different parts
of the country.
When
you read about persecution in the Bible it sounds sort-of exciting and adventurous,
but when you are close to it, and have an adult Kazakh pastor sitting in your
living room, in tears from the stress of it and the stress on his family, it is
heart wrenching. At times it brings us to tears to see their suffering. We and
the Kazakhs are trying to "rejoice" in it, as we are encouraged to
do, but it easier to "say" than "do" sometimes. Please pray
that we all can keep the right attitude.
For
the following 4 pastors of churches in the our province:
For
Pastor K. He has received the most harassment and was kicked out of the
university. To add to his stresses, his wife gave birth to their first child
this summer and the child is sick and has been hospitalized on and off since
birth.
For
Pastor A. His wife is weary of the persecution and wants to go back to their
home church. They haven't had any water in their home all summer and sometimes
walk a half mile to carry it in pails. Pray for rest/refreshment for them as
they are now going home for a needed 2 week vacation (their home is 1000 miles
away).
For
B and D, two of the Kazakh church planters that got married last weekend.
For
Pastor M and his family. That he will not be fired from his teaching job as a
result of this persecution. The KNB has visited his school several times and
pressured the principal to fire him, but he hasn't.
Pray
that family members of believers would not forbid the believers from going to
church as a result of the media coverage.
Pray
that the Kazakh lawyers and human rights defense organizations we've contacted.
Praises:
Praise
God that despite the persecution, Kazakhs still keep coming to Christ (Pastor M
reported that just last Sunday, 5 days ago, three more elderly Kazakhs prayed
to receive Christ at their Sunday service.)
Praise
God for 2 new Kazakh "tentmaker" church planters who have just joined
us.
It's
always great to get fresh reinforcements.
Until
He is done with us here, Mark and Dayna Blair
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