Pastor Balaev Released from Prison!

The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He wishes (Proverbs 21:1).

Dear Precious Partners in the Gospel,

It is with great joy and praise for our God and Father that I bring you news of the release of Zaur Balaev! This faithful Baptist pastor had been imprisoned in Azerbaijan since last spring after conviction on false charges of resisting arrest and holding illegal meetings.

Late in the day on Tuesday, March 18, we received news from Pastor Ilya Zenchenko, president of the Azeri Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists. He wrote that Ilham Aliyev, the president of Azerbaijan, had granted amnesty to some individuals serving prisons terms. This amnesty is in connection with ‘Novruz’; a holiday celebrated in many predominately Muslim nations. A newspaper article reporting the amnesty contained a list of names, and church-planter Zaur Balaev was one of those listed for release.

And now today, we have received confirmation that Pastor Balaev has indeed been freed. Balaev’s son and Pastor Zenchenko were there to meet him and took him to the local Baptist church for a joyful prayer service. He then departed for his home village.

Pastor Balaev’s health had been declining during his time behind bars. Please pray that the Lord will quickly restore him to his health and ministry in his home region, and that his release will bring great blessing and encouragement to his family and ministry.

Most importantly, pray with us that God will change the hearts of the leadership within Azerbaijan toward the freedom of Christians to worship and share the Gospel. Local and regional authorities have threatened other pastors with similar treatment if they continue with church-planting and other ministry. But we trust in God’s faithful promise to His people . . . I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it (Matthew 16:18).

Bob Provost
President, Slavic Gospel Association