SLAVIC GOSPEL ASSOCIATION

Kazakhstan Considers New Restrictive Religion Law

(LOVES PARK, ILLINOIS) – The lower chamber of Kazakhstan’s parliament has passed new legislation that would impose severe new restrictions on foreign missionary activity and evangelical churches. Kazakh president Nursultan Nazarbaev would have to approve the legislation before it becomes law.

According to Rev. Franz Tissen, president of the Kazakh Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists, the bill contains a number of troubling provisions. It 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 provisions, the proposed bill takes aim at the activities and registration of religious groups that have only a small number of members. It would sharply restrict the right to publish religious literature, and would also make it more difficult for a small group to obtain their own place for worship, or to preach outside of the group itself. 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. I appeal to all believers to join us in fasting and praying for the work of God in Kazakhstan.”

SGA president Dr. Robert Provost added,

“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.”

SGA is an interdenominational mission working in the former Soviet Union since 1934. SGA serves churches in the lands of Russia by sponsoring seminaries and Bible institutes, pastor and layleader training, provision of Russian-language Christian literature, and sponsorship of national church planters. SGA is the official representative of the Russian Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists (UECB) and a sponsor of the Eurasian Federation of the Evangelical Christians-Baptists.