Persecution in Central Asia

We are working with key leaders in Central Asia to "multiply church planters who will plant multiplying churches." This is an area where being a Christian is costly. Recently, I was able to spend time with these key leaders and see first hand the difficulty they face, but also the the tremendous fruit God is bringing in from the harvest. I receive these two updates today:



First Email: "Dear Friends, we have an urgent prayer request. Two of our church planters were taken to the police office directly during a children's camp, which was held in a secret place. Those two planters were held until midnight and then released. Probably now they will have to pay penalties. Please pray that our Father will give them His mercy."

These penalties are always prohibitively high. When believers cannot pay them, their property is confiscated in payment. This is a common form of intimidation. Here is another email I received today. Brother A is an indigenous leader and a good friend of ours. Of course, we are not using the name of the country or the individual for security reasons. 

Second Email:

"Two days ago, in the morning, policeman came to my mother-in-law's and took her out of the house. They took her to the police office and held her there around of 3-4 hours. She was questioned, then it was announced that someone complained against her, because she held meetings and was canvassing (sharing her faith) with people…

They told her to write an explanation. When she said that she didn’t have her glasses and without them she couldn’t see to write, they wrote an explanation for her and forced her to sign. Today they again called her, but she did not go.

We have another couple of believers that also were called for explanation; they are at the beginning of their faith life, now they are hesitant. The police want to put all the blame on my mother in law and fine her. Please pray for protection, may Father give peace and strength to those believers, and give them wisdom to know what to do in this situation. May God be glorified in this situation!

This year is breaking all records for searches and fines. Almost from the beginning of the year many houses of believers from cities and districts were searched, they imposed unrealistic fines from $1000 to $3000 dollars, though the minimum wage is 30 dollars a week. As I have written previously, one family was fined $6000. 

May Lord bless you, wish you God’s guidance and protection.

With gratitude,  Brother A."