Kyrgyzstan

Being Kyrgyz equals being Muslim. Local society, relatives, employers can react strongly against Kyrgyz becoming Christians. They are viewed as traitors to the Kyrgyz traditions. Restrictions on Kyrgyz Christians are much harsher than on Russian Christians. All religious organizations have to register with the State Agency for Religious Affairs (SARA). A minimum of 200 founding members is required for registration and many of the Kyrgyz Christian fellowships do not qualify for registration. Several Protestant churches continue to wait for registration in spite of numerous applications. Although some institutions and churches obtained registration, it is evident that it is difficult to get; the process is very cumbersome and may take several years.

Examples of Persecution:

• An evangelist who was sharing the Gospel with individual people was beaten by an Imam. He drives a taxi to earn his income, and is now facingstrong resistance from his coworkers.
• In recent years, regular visits and check-ups of churches were taking place, and several expatriate Christians were deported.

Open Doors is: helping the Church in Kyrgystan to grow, and promoting worldwide prayer for believers.

Please Pray:

• Pray for Christians in Kyrgyzstan to walk without fear and have peace of heart through Jesus.
• Pray for indigenous people to hear the gospel message and come to know the love of Christ.