The daily life of House (Secret) Church in Central Asia
Please pray for Revival Church in Karaganda, central
Kazakhstan. The church has fewer than 50 adult members, making it too small to be able to apply for state registration and so it does not officially have the right to exist. Several members of the church have been fined after attending a birthday meal together which was raided by police. They were interrogated for three hours, and some were charged 50 MFIs (about one month’s wages).
The Kazakhstan government is constantly working to increase its control over the whole of society. Churches are monitored by the state. Unregistered churches are frequently raided and fined. Christians from Muslim backgrounds often keep their faith secret, as they face huge pressure from their families and communities if their new faith is discovered.
Despite the persecution, there are Muslims turning to Christ in Kazakhstan. In the last 30 years, 15,000 indigenous Kazakh Muslims have become Christian.
A DEVOUT MUSLIM TURNING TO BE A CHRISTIAN
Roman* was a devout Muslim who decided to visit the local Baptist church to see the ‘betrayers of the real faith’ during Ramadan. “By ‘betrayers’ I meant ‘Christians with a Muslim background’. I decided to go to the church service during Ramadan because I considered myself to be a devout Muslim. I wanted to prove my faith to Allah.”
\""FOR THE FIRST TIME I HEARD ABOUT A GOD WHO LOVED ME.\""
- ROMAN, A BELIEVER FROM A MUSLIM BACKGROUND
The church service started, but Roman couldn’t force himself to stand up and cause a scene. The words that were spoken touched him. “For the first time I heard about a God who loved me. I never knew that the almighty God loved me even though I am not perfect. That thought seriously never entered my mind. I always felt guilty. I felt that I had to earn His attention.”
*Name changed for security reason
PLEASE PRAY
- Pray for believers who have been raided or fined by the police. May peace and protection from the Lord rest on them.
- May the Church in Kazakhstan be faithful to the Lord and shine for Jesus in the midst of persecution.
- Ask the Lord to reveal Himself to Muslims who have no hope of eternal life.
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