Two reports have come from Forum 18 in the past week, demonstrating the difficulties facing Christian organizations in Kazakhstan.
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The industrial city ofTemirtau |
In the northern Kazakh town of Temirtau, a Christian orphanage has been forced to virtually cease operations after government authorities complained about the conditions in the orphanage and claimed that it was not registered with state justice agencies. Authorities claim to have inspected the Baptist-run Hope orphanage and found the conditions to be "atrocious." This claim comes despite testimony from people in the town, as well as workers at a state-run orphanage in the same town, who claim the conditions at the Hope orphanage are much better than at their own institution. The founder of the Baptist orphanage, Dmitri Yantsen, denied that registration is required, stating that other local orphanages are not registered and have not been bothered. Yantsen and others believe the pressure against the orphanage is related to the increasing pressure against religious organizations in the country.
In another development, in southern Kazakhstan, authorities have attempted to close a seminary operated by the South Korean-led Synbakyn Protestant church. Most of the members of the church are ethnic Koreans. The church was able to successfully argue that a church-run educational institution does not fall under the authority of the ministry of education and the seminary has been allowed to continue operations.
Pray for Christians in Kazakhstan, as they face pressure from authorities. Pray for peace and the knowledge of God's protecting presence in the midst of their difficulties.
For more information on the situation facing Christians in Kazakhstan, click here.
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