New Kazakh Law Restrictive to Missions

The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much (James 5:16).

Dear Precious Partners in the Gospel,

I am writing today to make you aware of a troubling new development in the nation of Kazakhstan, where SGA sponsors the key Almaty Bible Institute and 20 church-planting missionaries.

According to Pastor Franz Tissen, president of the Kazakh Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists (UECB), the lower chamber of Kazakhstan’s parliament has passed new legislation that would impose severe additional restrictions on missionary activity in the country. If signed by President Nursultan Nazarbaev, this law would . . .

• Establish quotas of missionaries allowed in Kazakhstan’s cities, capital, and regions.
• Forbid missionary activity by foreign workers without registration, and who are not representatives of religious organizations.
• Forbid distribution of religious objects, spiritual literature and other informational material with religious content to citizens in public places, public transportation, on the street or in private homes unless the person receiving the literature initiates the contact and agrees to receive the literature.
• Forbid the acceptance of financial and other donations by religious organizations from anonymous or foreign citizens and organizations.
• Forbid religious activities, meetings or gatherings with children under the age of 18 without written agreement from both parents or legal guardians.

In addition to these very alarming provisions, the proposed bill takes aim at the activities and registration of religious groups that have only a small number of members. The provision reads . . .

“A religious group is not allowed to establish a firm for publishing religious literature or production of religious objects; to establish, rent or possess places of religious worship and religious meetings that are easily accessible, as well as sacred places honored by the followers of another religion; or to preach and spread its belief outside of the religious group.”

In his letter to me, Pastor Tissen said,

“This is an absolute intrusion into the inner lives of believers, and limits us by laws and fines as we work to fulfill the Great Commission of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

He also appeals to all believers to join them in fasting and praying for the work of God in Kazakhstan.

Please make this a matter of urgent, ongoing prayer before the Lord. This is yet another indication that the doors for ministry are, indeed, continuing to close in the former Soviet Union. But our God is sovereign, and He alone can direct the hearts of the rulers of this world.

Thank you for praying, and for your faithful partnership with SGA.

Bob Provost
President, Slavic Gospel Association