Email:

Advent Prayer - Kazakhstan

To

Email address:

Separate multiple addresses with a comma (,). Maximum of 10

From

Your name:

Your email address:

Security test:
Please enter the numbers that appear here in the box below.

Security code:

Details provided here will never be used in any other context

Published: 00:01 GMT Standard Time - Tuesday 14 December 2010

Advent Prayer - Kazakhstan

Project(s): 24-775, 24-925, 00-360, 80-664

Country/Region: Kazakhstan, Central Asia

“I have come into the world as a light, so that no-one who believes in me should stay in darkness.”
John 12:46

Map showing the location of

Compared with most other Central Asian countries, Kazakhstan used to be relatively free in terms of religious freedom. However, the Government is now increasingly restrictive in the way that it treats the Christian population. In 2008 the Kazakh parliament passed restrictive amendments to the country’s existing religion law, establishing stricter registration procedures, banning unregistered religious activity and requiring all existing religious groups to re-register. In February 2009, however, the Constitutional Council declared the amendments unconstitutional.

The majority population of Kazakhstan is Muslim, but Christians make up almost 50% of the population. Two-thirds are from a Russian background but there are also some converts amongst Islam from Kazakh and other Muslim ethnic groups. Believers endure discrimination for following Christ and converts face pressure from their Muslim neighbours to reconvert. Yet amidst oppression there is sustained church growth, and the number of known believers among ethnic Kazakhs has also increased to some thousands.

Barnabas Fund supports the production of Christian literature in to help local Christians grow in their faith

Literature is very important in encouraging believers and spreading the Gospel in Kazakhstan. Barnabas helps to fund the translation and printing of Christian literature into a number of central Asian languages, including Kazakh, to train and equip Christians and strengthen the Church. We also help to cover the production costs of a popular children’s magazine in the Kazakh language to teach and encourage Christian young people in Kazakhstan.

Please pray for all those who are sharing the Gospel of Christ in , that they may remain bold despite harassment. Pray that many more will hear the message and will come to put their faith in the Lord Jesus. Pray that each Christian book or magazine will encourage and strengthen all those who read it. Pray that the Kazakh authorities will acknowledge that Christians should be allowed to meet without state interference. Give thanks that the government has withdrawn a draft Code that would further have restricted religious liberty in . Pray that any future changes to the religion laws will offer better protection and freedoms for all citizens.