Church Continues to Meet Despite Fine

 Brest, Belarus
Brest, Belarus
Members of an unregistered Pentecostal church in the town of Kobrin near Brest in south western Belarus have pledged to continue meeting for worship despite a fine levied against their pastor, Nikolai Rodkovich, according to a December 12 report from Forum 18.

Under Belarus' harsh religion law, any unregistered religious activity is illegal. According to his wife, Tamara, Rodkovich was told on November 23 to appear before the local administration, where they tried to persuade him to register his church. When he refused, he was fined 50,000 rubles (about $30.00 Cdn). He was given ten days to pay the fine or it would be deducted from his pay. This church has been in existence since 1952 and has around three hundred members.

Many churches in the former Soviet republics refuse to register, in part because of concerns about government interference as experienced under Soviet rule. Continue to pray for this church in Kobrin and other churches throughout Belarus facing persecution for their faith.

For more information on the persecution in Belarus, click here.

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