All articles in category Central Asia
By John Birnie
February 2009
Kazakhstan
Missionary Spotlight – Fresh challenges in Kazakhstan
Fresh challenges in Kazakhstan ‘The doors may not always be open!’ It was a sobering comment, made during a presentation by a Christian worker who knows the Central Asian context very well. It was also a considered comment, reflecting the changing scene in those spiritually needy republics, and specifically highlighting a critical development in the country of Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan was part of the Soviet Union communist empire and subject to the imposed scientific atheism of that regime. With the collapse of Communism around 1989, Kazakhstan became an independent republic and freedom of religion was written into its constitution. Evangelical believers, a tiny...
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By Sergey & Beth Babenko
February 2009
Kazakhstan
Missionary Spotlight – Kazakhstan at the crossroads
Kazakhstan at the crossroads Today Kazakhstan enjoys the most freedom of all among the former Soviet republics. So much so that it is due to take the chairmanship of the OBSE (The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe) in 2010. However, there are attempts being made by political and religious leaders in Kazakhstan to restrict all religious activity apart from Islam and Russian Orthodox Christianity. A repressive law has already been passed by parliament, but the president is yet to sign it. Kazakhstan is a presidential republic and so the president has the final word regarding which laws make it onto the...
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